Almost every child at one time or another has experienced the wonder, and later, a sense of loss, from a helium balloon. The emotional attachment most students have to helium balloons can be used to focus them on a variety of Physics concepts.
Adjust the balloon’s weight until it neither sinks nor rises and introduce it to one or more classes (physics and/or science) during the day. There is much value to using the balloon to focus discussion on scientific literacy and scientific investigation skills.
Encourage students to recall, use, and integrate a variety of concepts from previous courses.
Use this demonstration as a reach ahead activity for topics yet to be discussed.