Hot-Air Balloon Flight

Hot-Air Balloon Flight lesson plan

Let your creativity soar as you build a hot-air balloon replica.

  • 1.

    Place an empty paper cup in a bowl of water. Why do you think the cup floats? Experiment to see if the cup will float top-side down or when filled with water. Investigate the scientific concept of buoyancy using electronic and text resources.

  • 2.

    Research to discover how hot-air balloons float. Use resources to find out how hot-air balloons maneuver through air streams in the atmosphere.

  • 3.

    Use crumpled recycled newspaper, paper cup, and straws to build a replica of a hot-air balloon. Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. Tear sheets of newspaper in strips. Mix equal parts Crayola® School Glue and water. Cover the crumpled ball with newspaper dipped in the glue mixture. Place the covered ball on the paper cup to dry overnight.

  • 4.

    Paint the balloon in bright colors and designs with Crayola Washable Paints and Paint Brushes. Dry.

  • 5.

    For the hot-air balloon basket, cut construction paper with Crayola Scissors and glue it onto the paper cup. Dry. Decorate the basket with Crayola Washable Markers.

  • 6.

    Glue the ends of the straws inside the hot-air balloon and inside the cup. Dry.

Benefits

  • Students investigate the basic scientific principles involved in hot-air ballooning. <b>Close adult supervision is required to ensure safety.</b>
  • Students use materials to build hot-air balloon replicas based on their research findings.

Adaptations

  • Use Crayola Washable Markers to draw pictures showing how hot-air balloons fly. Label drawings and include ideas about why they float and how they maneuver from one point to another.
  • Interview a hot-air balloon pilot about how balloons fly. What safety measures do pilot and passengers take? What kind of weather is best for flying? Find out about long flights, such as the first nonstop around-the-world flight in a hot-air balloon compl
  • Younger children and those with special needs made need to work with a partner, taking turns holding balloons and cups while applying pieces of paper and paint