Materials

• Oak tag or construction paper (12" x 18")
• White drawing paper (9"x12")—Cut out two large balloon shapes for each child.
• Yarn
• Glue and clear tape
• Markers, crayons, watercolors, tempera paint, etc.
• Book binding materials: hole punch and yarn, ribbon, or binder rings

1. Follow the story with an activity to encourage children to design their own special balloon. Provide each child with one balloon shape and art materials. Encourage the children to decorate the balloon. Children can use watercolor, tempera paint, or markers and crayons. Collage materials can also be used to decorate the balloons. Glue a short amount of yarn to the bottom of each child's balloon.
    
   
2. Invite the children to share their balloons with their classmates during group time. Encourage the children to describe how they decorated their balloons.
    
   
3. Explain to the children that they will make a class book similar to Jamie Lee Curtis's story. On a sheet of 12" x18" paper write the following: Where do balloons go when you set them free? It can happen by accident. It's happened to me. Read the page to the children. (Set the page aside. This will be the first page for the children's class book). Ask each child to close their eyes and imagine that their balloon floated away. What special place will their balloons go to?
    
   
4. Provide each child with the second balloon shape and drawing materials. Ask children to create a drawing that depicts the special place their balloon has gone. Using the back of the child's decorated balloon, record each child's description of where their balloon went.
    
   
5. Give each child a large sheet of oak tag or construction paper. Place the paper in a vertical position. Write the following page heading on the top of each child's paper: "(Child's name) balloon sailed away..." Glue the child's drawing onto the paper. Cover the drawing with the decorated balloon. Use glue or tape to secure the right side of the balloon to make a lift-the-flap page for each child.
    
   
6. Invite the children to create a cover and title for the class book. Organize the pages of the book and bind together using yarn, ribbon, or binder rings. Invite the children to read their completed book during story time. Include their book in your classroom library. Invite families to read and experience the children's artistic and literary accomplishment.