Balloon Flight

Content Objectives

Students will:

• Learn about the concept of hot air balloons.
• Access prior knowledge and build background about hot air balloons.
• Explore and apply the concept of hot air balloons and how they fly.

Language Objectives

Students will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of hot air balloons and how they fly.
• Orally use words that describe the characteristics of hot air balloons.
• Extend oral vocabulary by speaking about hot air balloons and how they fly.
• Use key concept words [helium, hot• air; curvature, atmosphere, altitude, hover, propel, aloft].

Other

Explain

• Use the slideshow to review the key concept words.
• Explain that students are going to learn about:
• Hot air balloons.
• The history of hot air balloons.
• Characteristics of hot air balloons and how they fly.

Model

• After the host introduces the slideshow, point to the photo on screen. Ask students: What do you see in this photo? (hot• air balloons). How many? (25). Have you ever been in a hot• air balloon? (answers will vary).
• Ask students: How are hot• air balloons an unreliable source of transporation? (They work with the wind. You can't take them to everyday places like school. They take a long time to get to another place.)
• Say: In this activity, we're going to learn about hot air balloons and how they fly. Where would you like to take a hot• air balloon to? (answers will vary).

Guided Practice

• Guide students through the next three slides, showing them how hot• air balloons were invented and how they fly. Always have the students describe the benefits of hot• air balloons.

Apply

• Play the games that follow. Have them discuss with their partner the different topics that appear during the Talk About It feature.
• After the first game, ask students to talk about additional things that they have seen float or sink. After the second game, have them discuss any experiences they have had with taking a ride through the sky.

Close

• Ask students: Would you like to fly in a hot air balloon? Why or why not?
• Summarize for students that hot• air balloons are a very fun mode of transportation. Encourage them to think about what it would have been like to see the first hot• air balloon.