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#2926. Global Balloons

Geography, level: Middle
Posted Wed Sep 3 16:54:45 PDT 2003 by Roger Barefoot (rogerbarefoot@yahoo.com).
CM Eppes Middle School, Greenville, NC USA
Materials Required: round blue ballons
Activity Time: @55 minutes
Concepts Taught: Understanding latitude, longitude, continents, and oceans

Objective: Students should understand latitude and longitude and be able to show knowledge of the different continents and oceans.

Materials: Blue ballons, permament markers of various colors, string or yarn, globe or atlas.

Procedure: Divide students into groups of 2 or 3. Have the students blow up the balloons to the point of being large enough but still relatively soft. Students are to draw the equator, prime meridian, Tropic of Cancer, and the Tropic of Capricorn on their balloons with the tied part of the balloon as the top. Students then draw and label the continents and oceans on their balloons in relation to their maps or globes. They can color their continents or leave them outlined. Then tie some string or yarn around the tied off part of the balloon and hang them from the ceiling of the classroom. They make interesting conversation pieces as well as decorating the room. They usually stay hanging for about 2-3 weeks before loosing air or getting popped. Students really enjoyed this project.