Hot Air Affair

 

The Hudson Hot Air Affair is the premier winter ballooning event and winter festival in the Midwest.  Thousands of visitors head to Hudson, the first full weekend in February.  Here are some fun facts abot the Hot Air Affair you can share with your students:

• About 35 colorful hot air balloons, including special shaped balloons participate in the Hot Air Affair.
• The largest number of balloons was 56, and the fewest number was 2 (due to bad weather).  
• Balloonists traditionally come from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northa nd South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska.  
• Balloons have included Garfield, a chicken dinosaur, stagecoach, bulldog, Smokey Bear, Wally the Clown Fish, a rubber ducky, penguin, United Van Lines truck, Pepsi can, Uncle Sam, and Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot Balloon. 
• The event began in 1990, organized and sponsored by the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce.  
• No hot air balloons rides are sold.

Fun Facts About Hot Air Balloons:

1. The hot air balloon is the oldest form of flying technology that can successfully carry people.  The earliest use of hot air to make objects fly was made in Ancient China, with paper lanterns sent into the air for signaling.
2. The first hot air balloon to carry a person was in 1783, in Paris.  THe passengers were a sheet, duck, and rooster and was attached to the ground by a rope.  The first free flight, with people, was a few weeks later.
3. How does it work?  The air is made up of molecules,  When the air is cold, these molecules are closer together.  When the air is hot, they move away from each other.  So, in the same space, there are fewer molecules in hot air.  Hot air is therefore lighter than cold air, which makes it rise and carry up the balloon when the air inside it is heated.  
4. Hot Air balloons can carry more weight on a cold day, which is why the Hot Air Affair is in February.  The winds are typically calmer, too.
5. The air inside the balloon is heated with a burner, which uses bursts of fire to keep the air hot.  The fire is fueled by propane.  The heated air is kept inside the balloon by its fabric.  This is called the "envelope" and is usually made of nylon.
6. The basket is usually made of wicker, and can come in many sizes.  A large balloon can carry up to 36 people!

Videos to watch:

How Do Hot Air Balloons Work? (SciShow Kids) - gr. 2-5 (3:50)

How Do Hot Air Balloons Work? (Thinking Captain) - gr. K-5 (2:27)

What is a Hot Air Balloon? (Science for Kids) - gr. K-5 (1:30)

Hot Air Balloon (Things that Go TV!) - gr. K-1 (1:40)

How Hot Air Balloons Work (HowStuffWorks) - gr. 2-5 (1:12)
 

National Compliment Day - January 24th

Compliment: a verbal or written remark that expresses admiration, respect, or praise for another person or group.

Studies show that compliments can actrivate the brain's reward center, promote positivity, and help build overall good mental health.  So let's take advantage of Wednesday, January 24 - National Compliment Day! Last week I challenged you to write a thank you to someone.  This week I challenge you to give at least one compliment (verbal or written) to someone each day (family, friends, colleagues).  Try to be specific, maybe even including a specific time or event.  This is a great community builder, no matter where you are.  Here are some to print and hand out (add a note on the back) if that's of interest to you - Compliment Cards.

Something else to think about...while it's easy to give compliments, sometimes it's harder to receive them.

 Here are some tips for accepting a compliment:

• Avoid rejecting the compliment - but rather, express your gratitude.  Accept the compliment as you would a gift, saying "thank you!"  When someone compliments you, they tell you how your behavior or actions impacted them, and sometimes that may make the person feel vulnerable.  Let them know you appreciate that they took the time to share their thoughts.
• Redirect compliments meant for someone else.  If someone compliments something you didn't do, redirect them to the right person while supporting their desire to give a compliment.  It's also thoughtful to share a compliment you heard about someone else - it's always nice to hear that someone has acknowledged you!

Consider keeping track of the compliments you receive.  I think we all find that it's much easier to remember the negative thoughts and experiences more than the positive ones.  Compliments and happy memories seem to fade more quickly than criticism or painful or embarrassing experiences.  Create a "joy box", a box filled with encouraging notes from friends and family, and anything else that makes you smile.

A compliment to all of you from me - thank you for making Willow such a great place for students, staff, and families.  I am reminded of this over and over!

Have a great week -

Sue

Thank it Forward this week!

 7 Mindsets: Attitude of Gratitude - Week 3: Thank it Forward

Gratitude is good for you!

What is Thank it Forward?
Thanking it Forward means to show people we are thankful for who they are and what they do for us.

How can we apply what we're teaching to our own lives?
This week's challenge... Write ONE note/email to someone, thanking them for something they've said or done to make your day/week better.

Good luck!  And have a great week!

Sue

7 Mindsets: Attitude of Gratitude

 Attitude of Gratitude

During the month of January our social and emotional curriculum focus is on an Attitude of Gratitude. Take a minute (or 6!) to watch this kid-focused video to highlight the idea of gratitude - especially with this week's focus, Be More Grateful.

Here's an overview of this week's focus. An overview of the weekly focus for this whole month will be shared in the family newsletter this week.

Week 2: Be More Grateful - We all have the choice to focus on the good or the bad in life. If we focus on the positive things, they expand and guide us down the path to our dreams. If we spend our time in regret, jealousy, and anger, then the negatives multiply and we likely find our dreams sidelined and our goals unattained. We must simply be more grateful, reflecting as much as possible on the godo things we have in our lives now, as well as those that are coming to us.

Try this!

There are 3 parts to gratitude:

• First - feeling grateful for the good things in your life.
• Second - expressing your gratitude to the people who have made your life better.
• Third - reflect and then adopt new behaviors as a result of interactions with those who have helped you, and the things you are grateful for. Make gratitude your default position!