This document provides an overview of hot air balloons and their history and uses. It discusses some of the earliest balloons in the late 18th century and their use in military aviation. It also outlines records set by balloons, such as the first transatlantic and transpacific crossings and the first around the world flight. The document notes that balloons are now used for activities like astronomy research, logging, recreation, and weather forecasting. It includes examples of how balloons can be integrated into math, art, and writing lessons. It concludes by providing instructions for how to make a simple hot air balloon model.

1. Flying Talk..Talk with Air, Part 1:
Hot Air Balloons
Lynne H. Hehr
STEM Center for Mathematics and Science Education
Arkansas NASA Educator Resource Center
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

2. Montgolfier Balloon
1782
-
1783

3. Balloons In Military Aviation

4. Explorer II
1935
1st use
of
aerial photography

5. World’s Largest Balloon

6. High Altitude Balloons

7. Facts
• 1960 – world original space dive: Joseph
Kittinger high altitude parachute jump
• 1978 – Double Eagle II 1st balloon (helium) to
cross the Atlantic Ocean
• 1981 – Double Eagle V 1st balloon to cross the
Pacific Ocean
• 1999 – first around the world flight
• 2012 – Supersonic Skydive by Felix Baumgartner

8. Balloon Uses Today
• Study astronomy, magnetic fields, cosmic dust,
biology
• Warfare
• Logging operations – for hauling logs
• Fun and Sports
• Weather forecasting
• War against drug traffic

9. Integration - Mathematics
Balloonists like to fly together. Sometimes
there will be 40 to 50 balloons “flying”
together. Each balloon basket can carry 3 or
4 people. If there are 45 balloons and 3
passengers in each balloon basket, how
many passengers are there all together?

10. Integration - Art
Supply art supplies and have your students
draw pictures to put on the sides of hot-air
balloons that will fly over your city to
advertise the best-ever chocolate chip ice
cream.

11. Integration - Writing
Balloons are a most unusual flying machine.
As a class pretend that you are taking a trip
in a balloon. Write a tale of your trip.

12. How To Make A Hot Air Balloon
• Glue 4 tissue sheets together – 8 times
• Fold all glued sheets lengthwise
• Stack all sheets along fold
• Top with pattern and clamp together
• Cut all sheets along pattern edge
• Glue, glue, glue
• Top with tissue “lid”
• Bottom it with straw circle