Our 2nd Annual LaunchED Lift Off K-12 Design Challenge is inspired by the balloon festivals around our beautiful state of Colorado.  Students learned the physics behind how hot air balloons rise and fly in our blue skies. They then created their own unique hot air balloon designs that they thought people would be excited to see at a hot air balloon festival.

Students learned about the concept of buoyancy and how the hot air inside the hot air balloon is less dense than the air surrounding it which allows them to float in the air. The pilots follow airstreams to travel longer distances.

1st Grader Natalia – showed creativity by drawing a whole hot air balloon festival

3rd Grader Liam – showed creativity and attention to detail in his raccoon hot air balloon design

7th Grader Annalicia created a hot air balloon festival scene with her favorite characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas. So creative!

4th Grader Flabio – created space themed hot air balloons to represent LaunchED at a hot air balloon festival!