There are two scenarios for this lesson, one (not so nice) implores the eight people packed into a rapidly descending hot air balloon to throw out two or three of the passengers. If they don't, everyone will die!

The other scenario (nice) encourages eight volunteers to wisely select five or six among themselves (the most qualified people) to assist with disaster relief for a period of three weeks.

This lesson includes three worksheets, two of them have character cards which the students use to role play and the third is the voting record sheet.

Within groups of eight, students pair up and discuss which of the characters they feel should be able to ride the balloon and which should not. This is repeated with a second and finally with a third partner. Then the whole group must make a Final Decision.

For a similar activity, see:

The Lifeboat (See Lesson 09a below).