Map Adventures: Lesson 1

Story: Nikki's Adventure

Nikki was thrilled to finally visit the special park her mother had been telling her about. When they arrived, she could hardly believe her eyes.

Park Entrance

Standing on the sidewalk in front of the entrance, Nikki could barely see over the hedge that formed a border around the park. She could just make out the top of a red-and-white tent and the head of a dinosaur statue. She heard carousel music, the quacking of ducks, and children laughing and playing. The air smelled like popcorn, hot dogs, flowers, and fresh straw.

Park Hedge

The most exciting sight of all, though, was a huge hot-air balloon swaying gently in the breeze just outside the park. It was anchored to the ground by ropes tied to stakes hammered into the earth. It was the biggest balloon Nikki had ever seen, and she wanted a closer look at the basket hanging beneath it, attached by thick ropes.

Hot Air Balloon

The man who sold rides on the balloon was busy reading his newspaper. While Nikki's mother walked over to speak with him, Nikki wandered toward the basket for a better look—she had never seen a hot-air balloon up close before. The basket had tall sides, with ropes running from its rim up to the balloon above. Standing on her tiptoes, she tried to peek inside. To see better, she pulled herself up onto the edge of the basket, but she lost her balance and tumbled in headfirst.

While Nikki's mom kept talking with the balloon operator, a breeze picked up, and the balloon slowly began to rise into the air. Down on the floor of the basket, Nikki discovered a leather bag filled with tools balloonists use for navigation: a map of the park, a compass, and a telescope. Just then, she felt the balloon wobble. Looking over the edge of the basket, she was startled to see how far below the ground now was.

The ropes meant to keep the balloon tethered in place had come loose and now dangled uselessly beneath it. From her height, Nikki could see across the whole park: a boat drifting toward a bridge, a flag rippling in the wind, children riding the carousel horses as they spun in circles, and farm animals gathered in the shade of trees in the barnyard.

The balloon kept climbing. Soon Nikki was floating directly above the park, high enough that she could no longer see the sides of the buildings below—only their rooftops. The red-and-white top of the carousel now looked like a fancy pie from above. She was seeing the world the way a bird does.

Then Nikki noticed another rope, this one dangling loose inside the basket itself. She grabbed it to steady herself—but this released air from the balloon, and it began to sink slowly back toward the ground. She watched as the balloon drifted toward a large fenced pasture inside the park, where it finally landed. Nikki's trip through the sky had been an amazing adventure, but she was relieved to have her feet on solid ground again and to see her mother waiting for her.

---

Example for Teachers: Hot Air Balloon

Activity Sheet 1 — Cut and Color