Students at Austin Steward Elementary School No. 46 explore the science of flight through unforgettable hot air balloon demonstration

Rochester, New York – Students at Austin Steward Elementary School No. 46 traded their ordinary science lesson for something far more unusual this week — a giant hot air balloon stretching across the school gymnasium and a real pilot explaining the science that allows it to rise into the sky.

For many of the children gathered inside the building, it was the first time they had ever seen a hot air balloon up close. What began as a regular school morning quickly turned into an interactive STEM experience filled with loud propane bursts, massive colorful fabric, and lessons that connected science with real-world aviation.

The event featured the pilot of a REMAX hot air balloon, who guided students through the mechanics behind balloon flight while explaining how temperature, weather conditions, and air pressure work together to lift the aircraft into the air.

And this was no ordinary classroom setup.

Inside the school gym, large fans slowly inflated the balloon envelope until it stretched across much of the floor. Once partially filled with air, the balloon became a temporary learning space itself. Students wearing matching purple shirts climbed inside and sat beneath the enormous canopy while listening to explanations about aviation and the history of ballooning.

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The experience combined entertainment with education in a way that kept students fully engaged. Instead of reading about flight from a textbook, they were surrounded by it.

Organizers explained that operating a hot air balloon requires an enormous amount of heat — roughly the equivalent of 195 home furnaces. That fact alone drew wide-eyed reactions from students as they learned how heated air becomes lighter than cooler surrounding air, allowing the balloon to rise.

The lesson continued outdoors, where the students watched the system’s “power plant” in action. During a countdown led by the children themselves, the pilot activated the propane burners, sending powerful flames roaring upward into the balloon. The sudden blast of heat and sound quickly became the highlight of the day for many students standing nearby.

The program was made possible through the Rochester Education Foundation and its Smile Program, an initiative designed to give students memorable hands-on learning opportunities that encourage curiosity and interest in STEM subjects.

Founded by Rochester philanthropist Dave Beck, the Smile Program focuses on bringing unique educational experiences directly to students. Rather than relying solely on traditional classroom instruction, the initiative supports field trips, demonstrations, and interactive activities intended to make science and learning feel exciting and accessible.

School officials say programs like this can have a lasting impact, especially for younger students who benefit from visual and hands-on learning experiences.

The hot air balloon tour has become a major undertaking across the district. By the end of the current school year, the balloon demonstration will have visited 20 of the district’s 25 elementary schools. The remaining five schools are expected to receive visits in 2027, extending the experience to even more students throughout Rochester.

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For many children at School No. 46, the lesson offered far more than facts about balloons. It provided a rare opportunity to see science operating in real time — not through diagrams or videos, but through towering equipment, roaring burners, and a pilot explaining every step of the process directly in front of them.

The excitement inside the gym and outside on the school grounds reflected exactly what organizers hoped to achieve: curiosity, wonder, and engagement.

Founded in 2005, the Rochester Education Foundation works to improve learning opportunities and academic success for City of Rochester students through partnerships with schools, educators, businesses, and community organizations. Its programs continue to support educational enrichment activities that bring students closer to science, technology, and hands-on discovery.

For one morning at least, the students at Austin Steward Elementary School learned that science does not always stay inside a textbook. Sometimes, it rises straight into the air.