The Aeronauts Lesson for Upper Elementary: Hot Air Balloon Engineering Design Challenge

The Aeronauts by Amazon Studios
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13 Ratings
 873 Downloads 1028 Views Updated: Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - 2:02pm
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The Aeronauts at the fair

Check out The Aeronauts lesson for upper elementary for a fun way to engage your students in learning.

Overview: Engineering Design Challenge 

Using only the materials provided, student teams will design and create a hot air balloon that will lift off of the ground and ascend to a designated height. 

Learning Targets: 

  • Students will collaborate to achieve a common goal. 
  • Students will design and build a working model of a hot air balloon. 
  • Students will describe the properties of gases and how a hot air balloon works. 
  • Students will learn and implement the Engineering Design Process while creating a model of a hot air balloon. 

 Created by the AFT Science Cadre.

Want more lessons inspired by The Aeronauts?

Check out more free lesson plans and resources on Share My Lesson on The Aeronauts by Amazon Studios page. 

 #3 Top Partner Lesson of 2019

Lesson Plan Resources

PDF icon Aeronauts Upper Elem 6E_Outline copyedited.pdf 166.6 KB
Lesson Plan
PDF icon Design Challenge Evaluate.pdf 38.2 KB
Handout
PDF icon Design Portfolio for Hot Air Balloon.pdf 371.5 KB
Handout
Team-Based Learning
PDF icon EDP escape room directions.pdf 101.5 KB
Lesson Plan
Teacher Instructions
Team-Based Learning
PDF icon EDP guiding question display.pdf 789.9 KB
Handout
PDF icon Engineering Design Process Poster copyedited.pdf 1.8 MB
Graphic Organizer
PDF icon Rubric for Design Challenge Evaluate.pdf 42 KB
Rubric
File EDP puzzle 2.docx 366.3 KB
Activity
PDF icon EDP puzzle 4.pdf 2 MB
Activity
PDF icon EDP puzzle 5 cryptogram.pdf 100.1 KB
Activity
File EDP escape room directions.docx 16.4 KB
Activity
Project Based Learning
Team-Based Learning
File puzzle 4 phone message.docx 46.8 KB
Activity
PDF icon puzzle 3 edp.pdf 10.9 KB
Activity
PDF icon puzzle 1 pdf.pdf 340.4 KB
Activity
File EDP puzzle 6.docx 18.1 KB
Activity
Team-Based Learning
File EDP puzzle 7.docx 137.4 KB
Activity
Team-Based Learning
File EDP puzzle 2 post it.docx 31.1 KB
Activity
Team-Based Learning
PDF icon EDP puzzle 5 version 2.pdf 100.3 KB
Worksheet
Standards: 
3-5-ETS1-1
Lesson tags: 
Good for Parents
Creative Commons License: 
Attribution Non-commercial NoDerivative CC (BY-NC-ND)
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Reviews

m.grahamvecellio_2320601's picture
m.grahamvecelli...
December 2019
5
The series of lessons can be used so many ways focusing on the science and/or the engineering. The variety of media and resources is relevant. The teacher hints allow access to background information and is easy to understand too.
Tracy Lynn Jack M.Ed's picture
Tracy Lynn Jack M.Ed
December 2019
5
This is an engaging and frankly, fun lesson that gets kids excited about STEM.
Pleasantl.mann_1759219's picture
Pleasantl.mann_...
December 2019
5
OHHH MYYY GOSH! What is not great in this lesson! Absolutely easy to follow and tons of materials listed for the designing your own air balloon! Thank You!
PanfaloneL's picture
PanfaloneL
December 2019
5
Very thorough!
Geraldine Clark's picture
Geraldine Clark
December 2019
5
Very engaging. Opens up for students to utilize the engineering design process in multiple ways.
Kirstenkernc's picture
Kirstenkernc
December 2019
Lots of fun ideas for elementary. Videos and games a nice addition.
tteston_3298779's picture
tteston_3298779
November 2019
5
Great lesson I love the escape room portion. My students love these type of challenges.
maryclare.flores_3295641's picture
maryclare.flore...
November 2019
5
I'm really impressed by this lesson plan. It's an extremely engaging activity and the videos really help students with disabilities focus and visualize, while being engaging for all students. With any lesson, there are usually a lot of little things that you don't realize you need to prepare like anchor charts and guiding questions you want on the board; this lesson plan already includes that! Can't wait to use it.
Susan Jonely's picture
Susan Jonely
November 2019
5
These outstanding lesson plans will help any teacher lead students through the engineering design process as they discover how hot air balloons function. The videos are sure to capture student interest and create excitement as students collaborate to design and produce a functional hot air balloon.
Christyn_M_3096977's picture
Christyn_M_3096977
November 2019
5
This lesson looks like the perfect addition to my unit on weather and climate. I can't wait to get started.
kesrm3's picture
kesrm3
November 2019
5
The combination of all the videos are very effective. They draw the students' attention and give them a solid background on which to work on the challenge.
abernier's picture
abernier
November 2019
5
The Escape Room portion is an awesome addition to the lesson plan. My students love to do Escape Room challenges.
marszalek3's picture
marszalek3
November 2019
4
I really like the puzzles you can use outside of the science lesson.
elizabethbuckholtz's picture
elizabethbuckholtz
November 2019
5
I especially like the design portfolio. What a great way to guide elementary students through the engineering design process and get them in the habit of journaling!
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