‘Great Balloon Race’ STEM activity

The ‘Great Balloon Race’ is a cross curricular unit where year 8 students take what they learn in HASS about Biomes and use it in a series of activities in English. It has the students take part in a fictitious competition whereby they fly their hot air balloon to Biomes throughout Australia, documenting information about the Biome, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. In week two students participated in a STEM activity where they were divided into groups and provided materials to build their own hot air balloon. They had no access to the internet, or instructions on how to make their balloon and had to work together to design a balloon that could fly. The activity was a huge success with students demonstrating great communication, critical thinking and teamworking skills while working towards success.

Wayne Elliott
Teacher