Hot Air Lesson Plan

I like to feature historically based picture books such as Hot Air as they become available. Marjorie Priceman, illustrator of Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, focuses on an historic balloon flight in 1783, complete with barnyard animals sure to entertain young students. Students find the notion of ballooning farm animals to be quite entertaining.

OBJECTIVE
Students will "explain the information that historical timelines convey..." --Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework

MATERIALS

Hot Air by Marjorie Priceman
tape
copies from book

SET UP AND PREPARE
Turn to the end papers at the back of the book. Enlarge and make copies of the following headings and their respective illustrations: November 1782 - Avignon, France, December 14, 1782 - Annonay, June 4, 1783 - Annonay, September 12, 1783 - Paris, September 19, 1783 - Versailles. Also make a copy of the last paragraph, focusing on November 21, 1783.

DIRECTIONS
Review the headings with students, spreading out the copies as you go. Explain that students will be helping to create a timeline from the copies. As students decide the order in which to arrange the headings, use the tape to hang the papers in the correct order.

SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS
Timelines can prove to be a difficult concept for young students. To help them better understand the lesson, it may be helpful to create a timeline based on the school day.

LESSON EXTENSION
Hand out copies of the end papers so that students can make their own timelines.

Use papier mache to create miniature hot air balloon mobiles.

Related Resources
www.storybookart.com/meet_mpriceman.html

About the Author

Jeremy Brunaccioni is a kindergarten teacher in Massachusetts.

Teacher Store

The Teacher Store

Guided Reading Content Areas Level X

Visit the Scholastic Guided Reading Programs website for more information.

Scholastic Guided Reading Programs deliver the materials you need to help ALL students become strategic and independent readers who love to read! The programs were created and carefully leveled by Dr. Gay Su Pinnell, America's leading authority on guided reading. The instruction ali

$299.95 You save: 25%
Supplementary Collection | Grade 6