This week, our family started a unit on flight. As we investigate various flying machines, we’ll read biographies and study relevant art history.
As requested by my daughter, we started with hot air balloons. I asked her if she knew how a hot air balloon works. Since she is only 6, explanations here are kept to a minimum.
Outlined below is part of our hot air balloon lesson this week.
1. We started about by looking at photos of hot air balloons and learning the parts of a hot air balloon:
This site has terrific photos and an easy explanation for younger children.
Other pages on this site go into more detail with even more photos, for older children.
We learned there are different configurations for the basket.
As always,
HowStuffWorks.com has a thorough explanation and photos.
We completed the first page in this lesson. Plus, looked up the following instruments found onboard
hot air balloons Altimeter, pyrometer, compass. We took out our compass, and I taught my
daughter how to read it.
2. We then discussed why hot air is used to make a hot air balloon float. We lit a candle and discussed what we observed:
What is the flame doing to the air around it? (making it hot)
Can you see the hot air? (My daughter mentioned he moving flame, but I asked her to look above
and around the flame, can you see the air? No)
How do you think we could “see” the hot air moving around the flame?
3. To “see” the hot air, we cut a piece of paper in a spiral shape, attached a thread to it and held it over the flame. After about 20 seconds, the spiral began to spin because of the air movement around the flame. As simple as this demonstration seems, it was new and fascinating to her. (Yes, I had to remind myself not to meddle and try to complicate activities to fit MY perceptions!)
We then held the spiral in the freezer and discussed the lack of movement and discussed why there isn’t movement with the cold air?
My daughter completed
page 2 of this lesson to help her understand air molecules and temperature.
For older students,
HowStuffWorks.com has a very detailed explanation.
4. We started our paper maiche hot air balloon project. We blew up a balloon and covered with strips of newsprint dipped in glue and water. We’ll make the basket from a paper cup, attached to the balloon with chenille sticks.
Once the newsprint dries completely, I’ll have my daughter attach labels for the different parts of a hot air balloon to her model. I feel projects like this satisfy her need to do art and fulfill my desire to help her internalize the “science” information.
5.
Our biography for this week was Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier.
We enjoyed the book :Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride" by Marjorie Priceman.
Thank you for visiting. See you next week on The Porch.
Michelle
Michelle and her husband have been homeschooling for 10 years. They are the owners of Treasure Box Press. Michelle holds a Master's degree in Child Development and Family Studies. She serves as the Judge Advisor for the North Carolina FIRST (www.usfirst.org) Lego League and a judge for the www.FIRST.org World Festival. She is the author of numerous Sam's Science Adventures, available through www.TreasureBoxPress.com. She spent 15 years in the biotechnology industry before turning her heart toward home.
