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Balloon Parade Engineers

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Grades K-230-40 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Kids build a balloon figure on a rolling base and work to keep it balanced through a mini parade route without any tip-overs. A big, bouncy way to explore balance and stability.

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Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Prep: 8 minActivity: 40 min1 session~$1/groupOne table or a small area of floor spaceBeginner-friendly

Setup

Gather balloons, cardboard, craft sticks and clear a small work surface. Read the Balloon Parade Engineers mission aloud, then place the supplies where children can choose and compare them safely.

Activity

  1. Look at pictures of giant parade balloons and discuss how they stay balanced above their moving platforms.
  2. Build a small balloon figure attached to a rolling cardboard base with a craft-stick frame for support.
  3. Roll the base slowly across a table, discovering the balloon tips over at a turn, then widen the base or add a lower weight to balance it.
  4. Lead a mini parade of the finished balloon figures across the parade route without any tipping over.

Done when: Children complete the core mission and lead a mini parade of the finished balloon figures across the parade route without any tipping over.

Materials

small balloons, craft sticks, cardboard base, tape, small wheels or bottle caps

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Disclosure: Materials links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Steps

  1. Look at pictures of giant parade balloons and discuss how they stay balanced above their moving platforms.
  2. Build a small balloon figure attached to a rolling cardboard base with a craft-stick frame for support.
  3. Roll the base slowly across a table, discovering the balloon tips over at a turn, then widen the base or add a lower weight to balance it.
  4. Lead a mini parade of the finished balloon figures across the parade route without any tipping over.

Standards it satisfies

  • NGSS · K-2-ETS1-3

    Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.