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The Twenty-One Balloons Literature Guide & Activities

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As part of our unit on flight, we will be reading a spectacular story by William Péne du Bois called The Twenty-One Balloons. In this story, Professor William Waterman Sherman just wants to be alone.  So he decides to take a year off and spend it crossing the Pacific Ocean in a hot-air balloon the likes of which no one has ever seen.  But, when he is found after just three weeks floating in the Atlantic among the wreckage of twenty hot-air balloons, the world is naturally eater to know what happened.  How did he end up with so many balloons...and in the wrong ocean? Let's find out!

Use the links and other resources below as we explore the wealth of TRUE, historical facts that are embedded throughout the book.  You're going to love it!
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About the Author - William Péne du Bois

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William Péne du Bois won the Newberry Medal for The Twenty-One Balloons!  Learn more about his like and work at the following websites:

  • Wikipedia
  • Encyclopedia Britannica 
  • Scholastic
  • Wendy Watson's Blog

Introduction

1. What are the two ways of traveling? Which do you prefer? 

2. Describe travel in the future as the professor sees it. 

3. Why is balloon travel the best mode of transportation? 

4. What are two reasons the professor decided to go for a balloon ride? 

5. Find out more about Krakatoa: 

Questions and Answers from USGS volcano site       

The Legacy of Krakatoa

Describing the Eruption

Volcanic Images of Krakatoa

Windows to the Universe

Mike Bubb

Dr. George P-C - The Great Explosion

Krakatau (from Indonesia) 

NationMaster Encyclopedia article

Wikipedia


Krakatoa

Discovery Channel

Volcano Lesson Plans
  • Make a map of the region. 
  • Make a travel poster or brochure. 
  • How could you get to Krakatoa today?
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1883 Eruption of Krakatoa.
Images from Wikipedia.
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Chapter 1

1. Why did the professor refuse to speak to the press about his adventure? 
2. What do you think happened to the professor and his balloon? 
3. List the newspaper headlines. Then make up some of your own.

Chapter 2

4. How did San Francisco prepare for the professor's return?
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