Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art: Hot Air Balloon Replicas

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students investigate the science behind hot air balloon flight. In a lecture and demonstration, they observe how helium-filled balloons are affected by the wind. Using basic household items such as newspaper, paper cups, and balloons,...
Lesson Plan
DiscoverE

Pilot a Balloon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Balloons will go where you want them to. Young pilots first add paper clips to a balloon to make it neutrally buoyant. They then use cardboard to steer the balloon in different directions, taking air pressure into account.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Helium Balloon Race

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students determine the force of a helium balloon that allows it to rise a specific distance.  In this helium lesson students calculate the amount of paper needed to construct a weight and determine the density of a piece of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloons

For Teachers K - 12th
Students explore the different types of balloons.  In this materials lesson students can complete several experiments including building their own hot air balloons, making balloon animals and experimenting with static...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bag Balloons

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students demonstrate that heat can change air. They determine that hot air rises. Students construct a working model of a hot air balloon. They understand that there are two ways that a balloon can rise: it can (1) be filled with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gases Lighter and Heavier than Air

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the concept of air density. In this air density lesson, students fill balloons with helium and carbon dioxide. Students determine which gases are heavier or lighter than air.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latex Helium Balloons: Any Alternatives?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils discuss the latex balloon release controversy and review suggested alternatives to the latex balloon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fun with Balloons

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders design their own hot air balloon. In this science lesson, 5th graders investigate how factors like weight and sizes affect a balloon's lifting power. They also write math problems based on facts written in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE TRAVELS OF BABAR: An Adventure in Scale :Building a Model Hot Air Balloon

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students encounter basic facts about helium and hot air. They compare the weight and size of different materials. Students work collaboratively in teams. They create their own model balloon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

See The Wind!

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students learn about wind at different altitudes above the earth. In this wind lesson plan, students use kites or balloons with attached streamers to observe the wind speed, wind turbulence and shear at different elevations. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1st Grade - Act. 16: Dancing Mice

For Teachers 1st
First graders creating mouse attached to a helium balloon, and dance around to the sound of some fun music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

See the Wind

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students explore alternative energy sources. In this wind energy lesson, students will investigate the difference in the speed and smoothness of wind at different altitudes above earth. Students will use kites, helium balloons,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Can You Tell One Clear Gas From Another?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders perform experiments to determine the identity of an unknown gas sample. In this chemistry lesson, 5th graders fill balloons with air, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. They use mass and reactivity to identify the gases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lawnchair Larry Flies!

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students research and experiment to discover the lifting power of helium gas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Puppets

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the art of puppetry. They design and create their own puppets using helium balloons. They create the three dimensional features for their selected mammals and felt shirts. They perform an impromptu play citing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solids, Liquids and Gases - Part 2

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students experiment with balloons, soda water and raisins to find out about the states of matter.  In this solids, liquids and gases lesson plan, students complete a group activity with balloons to recognize the state of matter in...
Lesson Plan
Santa Monica College

Lewis Structures and Molecular Shapes

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Learners practice drawing Lewis dot structures, build molecules with model kits, and predict molecular shapes using VSEPR theory. The combination of written work and hands-on reinforcement benefits young scientists.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Up, Up and Away with the Scientific Method

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners utilize the scientific method to design a way for a balloon to be suspended between the floor and the ceiling.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Convection in a Pan

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners watch a demonstration using a plastic bag and a hair dryer to create a hot air balloon. After the demonstration, they discuss the results and whether or not hot water behaves the in the same manner as hot air. They conduct...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fitness Day

For Teachers K - 8th
Students in grades K-8 participate in a school wide fitness day. On this day all students and staff walk for 20 minutes or one mile around cones placed around the playground. Drawings, a balloon release and other activities surround...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's All in the Wrist

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners conduct experiments with balloons, pennies, marbles and cups to help them understand the concept of centrifugal force or Newton's Law of Motion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is the Matter?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore and identify phases of matter and compare the particle motion in solids, liquids, and gasses.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Doctor DeSoto (Steig)

For Teachers K - 3rd
William Steig's story of a witty mouse couple will have scholars intrigued as they listen for new vocabulary words and context clues. Doctor DeSoto can be found on YouTube in case you don't have it. Emerging readers expand...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

The Submarine

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Submerge yourself in the study of slope. Scholars investigate a situation involving slope and the rate of change of a submarine. An additional example further explores the concept of slope by changing one of the conditions of the submarine.