Balloon boy hoax

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/balloon-boy-hoax

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How high is Balloon boy hoax?7,000 feet (approximately 2,100 meters)
2. What is the event date?October 15, 2009
3. What is the location of release?Fort Collins, Colorado
4. How did the police learn it was a hoax?They saw the boy in the attic and heard him say the whole thing was for a show during a TV interview.
5. What happened to the parents after the hoax?They were charged, one served 90 days in jail and paid $36,000, the other served 20 days of weekend jail, and later both were pardoned by the governor.

Hoax: A deliberate deception or trick intended to mislead or fool others, often for personal gain or attention.
Publicity Stunt: An action or event deliberately created to attract public attention and media coverage.
Attempting to Influence a Public Servant: A legal charge for actions taken to improperly sway or mislead government officials.
Restitution: The act of restoring something lost or stolen to its proper owner; in legal contexts, it often means financial compensation for damages.