MY BALLOON - Descriptive Writing

MY BALLOON -
Teaching Paragraphs to locate the balloon being shown:
1. My balloon is round and big. It is colorful. The colors are as bright as the sun. It has a wicker basket underneath. There are many people around my balloon.

2. My balloon is shaped like a top. It is very colorful and has stripes. I love my balloon.

3. My balloon is full of hot air. It has bright, sunny colors. There is a vertical threading of white going through it. It has a horizontal color design.

4. On this cloudy fall morning, my balloon has been flying for over an hour and we are preparing to land. Looking out over the rough, wet landscape, I can see my balloon reflected in the river. The side that is reflected has bright rainbow colors that are subdued by the rippling water of the Rio Grande. The vertical stripes of brilliant color on the pear-shaped balloon converge at the top in a patch of white. As you and the chase crew approach, which balloon will you come pick up?

IDEAS FOR WRITING...STORY STARTERS
What would you like to escape from? What would your balloon look like? Describe what you would see from your balloon. What would you take with you? What perilous adventures will you survive? Would you like to travel alone or with someone? Where would you go in your hot air balloon? Draw and describe your own balloon invention.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BALLOON VOCABULARY FOR STUDENTS TO VIEW.
Ground Crew - the people who help get the balloon ready to fly, help hold it down and follow it on the ground to help the balloon land.
Gondola - the basket under the balloon where the passengers ride.
Rip Panel - a long section of the balloon bag that can let air out very fast when opened.
Neck - the bottom of the balloon that leads to the opening.
Pilot - the person who flies the balloon.
Hare and Hound - a balloon race. the pilots of balloons are the "hounds." They try to land as close as they can to the official "hare."
Altitude - the height of something or how high the balloon flies.
Envelope - the bag that holds the hot air.

BRAINSTORM WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE BALLOON OR ANY NOUN - USE WORDS THAT STATE COLOR, SIZE, SHAPE, AND MISC.

ART THAT COMPLIMENTS WRITING PROJECT:
Materials: permanent magic markers, cardboard cut to size of overhead plastic, overhead plastic.
Directions: Students draw a black/white picture of their balloon showing everything in detail that would go with their descriptive paragraph. Place overhead plastic on top of drawing. Trace of the lines of the balloon using permanent black marker. Color the balloon and surrounding area with permanent markers. Crinkle foil and smooth out again. Cover heavy cardboard with the foil and place plastic balloon drawing on top. It is incredible and easy.