Best practices in Common Core Standards, gifted education and 21st Century Learning Skills . . .

This cross-curricular applied math activity addresses the Common Core Standards in a fun way for everyone. Balloon Mystery Messages is applied math, engineering and design, writing, geography, research skills, and internet and computer technology bundled in one mighty cool set of activities.

In Balloon Mystery Messages, students practice long division and 4+ digit multiplication as they solve the puzzle of a message tied to a mysterious balloon which has landed in their back yard. We’re just getting started! The mysteries work both ways—as each student writes his or her own mystery and sends off a balloon from a random “location” on the map to a classmate. More applied math practice and hands-on engineering and design is included when students construct a miniature trundle wheel and roll it across the map’s scale of miles--following highways, and calculating distances. There is still more to our curricular journey as students practice summary writing, geography, alternative measurement strategies, and internet and computer technology while researching a tourist attraction.

This activity is a perfect practice challenge for 5th graders, a great mystery for 4th grade gifted and talented classes, and appropriate for 6th grade as well.

In this lesson you receive all the instructions you’ll need to lead the way, ready-to-print student activity sheets, sample responses and answers, and a full list of Common Core Standards referenced throughout the activities.