* My kindergarten children make hot air balloons with paper mache'. 
 First, they cover a blown up balloon with paper mache'. When dry, they 
 paint(decorate) it, glue three pieces of string at the bottom, and 
 connect the string to a paper cup(punch holes in the top of the cup 
 and tie.) A milk container or berry basket can also be used instead of 
 the cup. A teacher sews a piece of thread through the top of the 
 balloon for hanging. They look beautiful. 

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 We do hot air balloons every year when we do our unit on transportation. I
cut a balloon shape out of white posterboard. Yoy can make this any size you
want, Ours are usually about 6 inches high. The children decorate both sides
with markers or crayons. I then cut a paper lunch bag about 1/3 up from the
bottom. This will be the basket.  The kids then make lines on both sides of
this to resemble a basket. Punch 2 holes on the bottom of the balloon shape.
one on each side, and a hole on the short shde of the paper bag(the side that
is still folded.) Attach the basket to the balloon with string or yarn.  I
also punch a hole on top so these can hang. HThe children also make people
they cut out to put in the balloon. We the sing "Up,up and Away In MY
Beautiful Balloon."
 
*  You need the
plastic berry baskets. Have the children decorate them by weaving things into
the plastic. Then take material and either tie dye it ofr have the children
use markers to decorate it. Then take the corners and attatch them tot eh
basket. That becomes a hot air ballon. You can also use the basket bottom and
then papier Mache  half of a ballon and then attatch it to the basket after
painting it.