Grade Level(s): 3rd and 4th
Subject Areas: Literature
Social Studies
Math
Science
Learner Outcomes:
Students will:
1. Read Chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15 of Ben and Me.
2. Acquire vocabulary used in the story.
3. Locate Paris on a map.
4. Learn why hot air balloons rise.
5. Learn the importance of following directions.
6. Learn and/or reinforce measurement skills.
Time Frame: 4-5 45 minute time periods
Materials: Ben and Me
by Robert Lawson
various materials for a hot air balloon
world map
student copies of world map
markers, crayons
Hot-Air Henry Reading Rainbow video
a copy of Hot-Air Henry by Mary Calhoun
Technology Tools: Merriam-Webster
Online
digital camera
Teacher Notes: Parent volunteers could aid the students in the construction of the hot air balloons. Be sure to watch The Weather Channel prior to scheduling the day of the launch.
Procedures:
1. Introduce the vocabulary for this lesson and have students access
Merriam-Webster
Online to look
up the definitions to vocabulary words. Read Chapters 12-15 of Ben
and Me and participate in the discussion
questions. The book ends with this lesson. It would be
appropriate at this time to review what students have learned about Ben
Franklin, the man, his time, his accomplishment, and his contribution to
our country's history and our daily life. Point out that they have
learned how to search for Franklin information on the Internet, on multimedia
encyclopedias, and in books. If they wish to do further study of
him, they now have the skills. This may also serve as a springboard
for researching other characters in history that may be of interest to
them.
2. Locate Paris, France on a world map. Give students a copy
of a world map and have them locate Philadelphia and see it in relation
to the location of Paris. Discuss the differences in travel
between the 1700's and now.
3. Ben Franklin was in Paris for the first successful hot air
balloon launch in 1783. He witnessed it from his hotel room.
4. Discuss hot air balloons and how they
work. Another
source of additional information is accessible at Air
Travelers -- Hot Air.
5. Have students construct their
own hot air balloon. This project can be done in small groups with
the aid of parent volunteers. Hot
Air Balloons provides
a list of the necessary materials and detailed instructions.
6. Using a digital
camera, take pictures of the launches. These can be posted on a class
or school webpage. Pictures of students proudly displaying, launching,
or watching them in the air could be used as wallpaper on classroom computers.
Enrichment Activities:
After viewing Hot-Air Henry, ask
students to think about what it would be like to ride in a hot air balloon.
Talk about how they might feel if their pet were aloft alone in one.
(Students who have fish may not want to think about this.) Give students
a choice of writing assignments: They can either pretend that they
themselves are on a hot air balloon trip or that their pet, like Henry,
is accidentally flying in one. What might be the thoughts of your pet?
How would you feel alone in a hot air balloon? Use these questions
to motivate them. This creative compositon should be at least a page.
Evaluation/Assessment:
(If the balloon goes up, so does
their grade!) (Just kidding.)
Evaluation
will be an on-going process throughout this lesson. Students will
be expected to participate in reading, discussing, learning vocabulary
and participating in their group's balloon construction and launch.
West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:
English/Language Arts
Listening/Speaking 3.1, 3.2
Reading Comprehension 3.15, 3.16, 3.19
Reading Vocabulary 3.38
Writing 3.43
Study Skills 3.75
Computer Technology 3.85
Mathematics
Measurement 3.39
Social Studies
Geography 3.29
History 3.39
Study Skills 3.46
Science
Scientific Processes/Thinking Skills 3.20, 3.28, 3.9
Science Themes and Subject Matter 3.42, 3.47
References:
Ben
and Me by Robert Lawson
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Created by
Deborah
Lamp
Jane
Richards
Debbie
Thomas
Blennerhassett Elementary, Parkersburg, WV