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Students launch tissuepaper hot air balloons
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RONAN – Students in Jane Whaling’s fifth grade classroom at K. William Harvey School spent three days building large balloons, as part of a classroom science project. The balloons were comprised of colorful tissue paper and glue. Whaling used the balloons to teach students about air pressure, and how molecules traveled.
Her husband, Tim Whaling, brought his propane stove and long pipe to pump hot air into the balloons..
“(After we’re done) we will reflect on what did and didn’t work,” Whaling said.
As they began launching, other classrooms came outside to watch with high interest. Youngsters began giddily cheering when each balloon drifted away. Balloons were subject to tearing and holes, with students patching them in between launchings. Some balloons soared, while others only managed to fly a few feet. The difference between high fliers and low drifters were how many holes were present in the hot air balloons. Even just a slight tear or tiny hole kept some balloons grounded.
