(Pella, Iowa) -- Pella 5th graders are crossing the globe, without leaving the classroom.
Students at Jefferson Intermediate School created a helium-filled balloon as a science experiment, sent it to 40,000 feet, and watched it catch the jet stream.
The balloon then crossed the Atlantic and traveled across Africa, the Middle East, China, Russia, Japan, and back to the United States. So far the balloon has made the trip four times.
Students and the public can track the balloon's progress online.
(Photo from WHO 13)