Hot Air Balloons
It’s more than just a bunch of hot air! A trip in a hot air balloon can provide an amazing flight with beautiful views – while relying on some basic principles of weather and science. Each of these activities meets a variety of state and national standards for technology and core subject areas.
Grades K-2
Explain to students the basics of how hot air balloons work (hot air rising in cool air). Discuss other ways this scientific fact impacts students (heating their homes, weather, etc.). Though it isn’t a reliable or fast way to get from one point to another, hot air ballooning can be an exciting adventure with amazing views. Have students use Graphics software to draw a picture of what they think they would see from a hot air balloon. How would things look different from up in the air?
EasyTech units: Beginning Graphics
Grades 3-5
Have students work in groups of three to launch a Hot Air Balloon Company. Students should use the Web to research how hot air balloons work, as well as to see other company Web sites. Then they should: 1) Use Presentation software to create a multimedia presentation to show prospective customers. Have students consider the images, words, and ideas that would best compel someone to take a hot air balloon ride; 2) Use Word Processing software to write a waiver for customers to sign. Have students consider the types of events (weather, accidents, lack of steering control) that would be beyond their control and that they would include in the waiver.
EasyTech units: Web Browsing Basics, Presentation Basics, Word Processing
Aha!Science units: Force: Pushes and Pulls, Weather
Grades 6-8
Have students use the Web to research companies that offer hot air balloon rides, adding at least 10 (with names and mailing addresses) to a new database file. Then have students use Word Processing software to write a personalized letter to the companies, inviting them to join a tourism group for their state. The letter should reflect knowledge of how hot air balloons work, should follow proper letter formats, and should include places to personalize with names and states. Have students use Mail Merge functionality to merge the letters with the database they created.
EasyTech units: Web Browsing, Multimedia and Databases
