Leo's Balloon to the Edge of Space

Ages 6–8

When Leo's science club launches a balloon toward the stratosphere, he must track it across the sky and race to recover its camera before the wind carries the footage away forever.

Kids learn how air pressure and altitude make a balloon grow bigger and bigger until it pops, and how GPS tracking and teamwork turn a big science plan into a real discovery.

Leo loved two things: clear blue skies and big questions. Today's question was the biggest yet. "How high can a balloon really go?" he asked, tying the sneaker of his mustard-yellow jacket-and-overalls outfit by the school field. "High enough to touch the edge of space," said Ms. Alma, wheeling out a cart of gear. "Higher, wider, farther — let's find out!" Leo grinned.

Nita spread a big paper map on the table, red string marking the wind's path. "The jet stream blows fast up high," she said. "We'll need it to guess where our balloon lands." Oskar grinned, holding a shiny GPS box. "And this little box will shout back its exact spot!" Leo tapped the compass at his neck. "Higher, wider, farther — let's find out!"

Together they clipped the tracker, the altimeter, and a tiny camera onto the balloon's harness. "This dial will tell us how thin the air gets," Nita explained, tapping its round face. Leo checked every knot twice, his fingers steady with care, the little brass compass swinging as he leaned in close.

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