[world]Earth Balloon®

We're scheduling for the 2005-06 school year. Call or email for the best available dates!

The Earth Balloon travels to schools everywhere. This year we will visit approximately 200 schools across North America. Call, 763-785-7876, or email to schedule an Earth Awareness Program visit for your school!

Inside the Earth Balloon students learn about the interior of our earth.

With the Earth Balloon, students can learn about: Time Zones, Planets, Rain Forests, Eco Systems, Tectonic Plates, Ring of Fire, Pollution, Geology, Geography, Water Conservation, Endangered Species, Scale, Ozone, Oceans, Continents and the Equator, Great Circles.

Imagine leading your students to the center of the earth. This can now happen in your school's gym with the Earth Awareness Portable Classroom, or the Earth Balloon. The Earth Balloon is a 22' (6.7m) diameter highly detailed hand painted model of our physical earth.

The Earth Balloon is scaled at 1" = 30 miles. At this scale our moon would be a 6' diameter ball 229 yards away. The sun would be 2,400 feet high and be nearly 50 miles away. Students can see the view that the astronauts see as they view the earth from an orbit of 165 miles (5 1/2"). They can measure Australia from east to west and see that it is over 2,400 miles (80") from coast to coast.

Notice that cities (black circles) are located near a source of water. Note where the areas of desert are located, (beige) and what happens as the Nile River flows through the desert. See the different types of terrain (savannah, tundra, deciduous forest, rain forest, mountain ranges, deserts, ice cap). Notice the differing shades of blue, denoting ocean depth. Find where the earth's highest mountain peaks are located (black triangles).

Entrance to the Earth Balloon is at the International Date Line, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This is the line that marks every new day's beginning. The Earth Balloon is constructed of 24 panels or gores, representing one panel for every time zone*, or hour of the day.

As you glance around the interior of the Earth Balloon you can see the earth in its entirety for the first time. You are able to see the continents and their true relationship to one another on the earth, not distorted as flat map projections show them. It is easy to see the rain forests (dark green) are located within 30 degrees of the equator. You can see how the Aral Sea in Russia and Lake Chad in Africa are shrinking due to mankind's impact on the environment. The class discussions generated are endless.

Curriculum has been designed for all grades and age levels K-12, with exciting and innovative lesson plans and activities.

Earth Balloon, Inc. Earth Awareness "Tour Guides" visit schools all over the earth, guiding students to a better understanding of our planet.

The Earth Balloon is also available for purchase as a complete interactive module.

*Time zones do not necessarily run every 15 degrees longitude and therefore the seams   represent time zones in a general manner. Actual time zones will vary somewhat from the seams on the Earth Balloon. 

Traveling Earth Awareness Enrichment Program Costs:

- $995 per day*, all inclusive (no hidden costs). One or two days.

- $950 per day - Three or four consecutive days.

- $900 per day - Five consecutive days.

The Earth Balloon can accommodate up to 14 thirty student classes per day. The cost of an Earth Balloon visit can be less than $2.50 per student!

* Rate applies for a typical school day. After hour and parent evening programs are available at an additional rate of $150 for one hour, or $250 for 2 hours. To minimize travel costs a minimum of 3 days must be scheduled in your area (outside of Minnesota and Wisconsin) for an Earth Balloon visit.  This can be 3 days at one school or it may be separate schools in the area we travel to combined for 3 or more days.

Lease rates are available for qualifying educational agencies (school systems, museums, etc). We supply the globe and materials - you supply the instructor.

Included in the "Earth Awareness" enrichment program are the following:

 

Interactive activities keep everyone involved!

Even the youngest students will think of the earth in a new way.


For a brochure and additional information: info@earthballoon.com

Copyright © 2000-05, Earth Balloon, Inc.

(763) 458-7035