Hot Air Balloon Investigation

It was hot air balloon season in Charlottesville.  Each morning as we passed our green sharing ball around the circle several kids were telling us about the hot air balloons they had seen on the way to school, and the rest of the kids were excitedly shaking their hands and heads in agreement. This morning routine continued for several weeks, so our next investigation was born.

We began by drawing and telling each other stories of hot air balloon sightings or anything else we already knew about them...

And we compiled our knowledge into an anchor chart...

Then we began looking closely at photos of real hot air balloons, noticing the details, and sketching what we saw...

We added color, painted backgrounds, and filled our room with some gorgeous hot air balloons in flight...

It's always important to engage in initial conversations, storytelling, and art projects in order to build collective enthusiasm for a topic.  Once I was sure all the kiddos were invested in and excited about our new topic, it was time to begin wondering.  I was so impressed by the quality, depth, and variety of their questions...


Each new investigation precipitates several library visits so I can collect as many books as possible related to our new topic.  Non-fiction books are invaluable for helping little ones learn about a topic, and I love to weave quality fiction books into our investigations as well.  However, in light of the fact that there aren't many hot air balloon stories out there and that my group of kiddos this year is extremely imaginative and loves to tell stories, I decided to create our own.  I introduced them to the concept of a circle story, we practiced as a whole class, and then we broke up into smaller groups to write and illustrate our hot air balloon adventures...

We added our books to to our classroom library, and they are beloved!

Next it was time to begin finding out the answers to our wonders.  We used books, videos, and a few first hand "expert" accounts to help us learn all about hot air balloons.

A video taught us how hot air balloons take off, and we created memory bracelets to help review and retell the sequence of events...
  

We learning about the parts of a hot air balloon...

All about how the balloons and baskets get made...

Experimented to learn how the warm air makes the balloon rise,

And worked with partners to discover, illustrate, and teach the class even more fun facts about them...

In the process of watching a video of the world's largest balloon launch, we discovered that not all hot air balloons look like you'd expect.  In fact, there are some pretty wild ones out there.  We were inspired to design our own creative hot air balloons.  They created a lipstick balloon, a guinea pig balloon, a nail polish balloon, a puppy dog balloon, a cake balloon, and more.  Don't you just love how creativity comes so naturally to young children!!

Hot air balloons even started creeping into their independent choice time play...

Believe it our it, this entire investigation happened in just a two week period between Thanksgiving and winter break!  The time constraints meant that this investigation would be much shorter than most, but it certainly wasn't any less engaging or meaningful for the kiddos.  

As a final project (and in order to consolidate everything they had learned), the kiddos did what they do best...they created. Whenever the kids are presented with some type of building challenge they literally dive right in.  Their ability to focus and maintain that focus amidst a busy classroom for such a long period time is nothing short of remarkable for such young children.  They plan, try out, plan again, try again, ask for suggestions from friends, help each other out, share great ideas, inspire each other, compliment each other, and celebrate their successes (and even their ability to overcome their challenges) along the way. When their balloons popped no one shed a tear.  They just got busy thinking of other ways to mimic a balloon shape. 

Making is such a joyful and meaningful venture for children...for SO many reasons!!

I have a feeling these kiddos won't ever look at a hot air balloon again without noticing, wondering, and appreciating what impressive creations they truly are!