Balloons
Four corners Series
What’s inside...
Balloons explores different sizes, shapes, and colors of balloons and their various uses. It is a Report text covering Science and History themes for Year 2, and is part of Four Corners, a series that provides cross-curricular coverage including science, history, geography, and mathematics. The series supports curriculum standards and offers resources to engage students with vibrant photography, diverse topics, and comprehensive teaching support.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-7
Length
16 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the balloons in the story represent?
How did the characters feel when they lost their balloons, and how did they react?
Can you think of a time when you lost something important? How did you feel?
What would you do if you were in the characters' shoes and lost your balloon?
How do you think the story would change if the balloons were a different color?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the story, linking it to their personal experiences.
Ask your child to describe the balloons and characters, fostering their descriptive language skills.
Discuss the moral of the story and its implications in real life, helping your child understand empathy and resolution.
Use the book's illustrations to engage younger children, asking them to point out colors, objects, and actions.
Take turns predicting what might happen next in the story, enhancing your child’s imagination and anticipation skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Sharing and Cooperation
Explanation: In 'Balloons', the characters learn to share their colorful balloons with others, demonstrating the joy of cooperation.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to share toys and collaborate with peers during playtime, fostering a spirit of generosity and teamwork.
Example Lesson: Embracing Diversity
Explanation: The diverse colors of the balloons in the book symbolize the beauty of diversity and the importance of accepting differences.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to appreciate and respect individual differences among their friends and in their community, promoting inclusivity.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The characters face challenges with their balloons but come together to find solutions, showing resilience and creativity.
Real-World Application: Children can use these problem-solving skills to navigate their own challenges at school or in social settings, enhancing their critical thinking and adaptability.
Example Lesson: Joy of Giving
Explanation: The act of giving balloons to each other makes the characters happy, underscoring the happiness found in giving rather than receiving.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the value of altruism and the positive emotions associated with acts of kindness.
Example Lesson: Impact of Actions on Others
Explanation: The story illustrates how the characters' actions with the balloons affect everyone in their community, teaching the consequences of actions.
Real-World Application: This helps children see how their behaviors and decisions can influence others around them, encouraging them to act thoughtfully and considerately.