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As a parent, teaching your kids about the world around them can be one of the most rewarding experiences. This summer, we learnt so much new things. Each week we focused on another topic. We already covered fish, birds, and construction.
This week we learnt All About Airplanes! From the physics of flight to the different types of aircraft, our week was filled with fun activities and learning.
If you're looking to take your kids on a similar educational journey, here's a guide to make learning about airplanes a high-flying adventure!
Activities
There's no better way to introduce the principles of flight than with a good old-fashioned paper airplane contest. Gather some paper, markers, and stickers, and let your kids design their own aircraft. As they fold and decorate, explain the basic parts of an airplane: the wings, fuselage, and tail.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903 lasted only 12 seconds? Yet, it marked the beginning of modern aviation!
Painting
We built and painted our own wooden planes. You could easily find similar ones on Amazon such as This One.
Fun Fact: Airports have unique codes, often named after the cities they serve. For example, LAX stands for Los Angeles International Airport.
Timeline
We printed out the timeline of Airplanes. It has the dates, images and facts about the revolution of Airplanes. You could download and print this timeline below.
Fun Fact: Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. Her plane, the Lockheed Vega, is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Cardboard Rocket Ship
We ordered the Cardboard Rocket Ship from Amazon and had the most fun night activity with it. It took less than a minute to set up. It has clear instructions where to fold and it connects with velcro making it super easy for the kids to assemble and take apart when needed. It fits around 4 little children in it at once. There is a few peep holes to look out and the stars on the top part are cut-out as well letting in light - giving starry sky vibes!
Fun Fact: The largest passenger plane in the world is the Airbus A380, which can carry up to 853 passengers!
Reading
The two books we got for this week were 'I Want To Be A Pilot' and 'The Big Book Of Airplanes'.
This is the "I Want To Be A Pilot". It's a nice book with a beautiful lesson on persuing dreams and not giving up. It gives a nice perspective on a pilot's life.
The Big Book of Airplanes is an excellent book to learn about all types of airplanes. It has nice and clear images with details and facts. It explains the ins and outs of all sorts of planes.
Fun Fact: Airplanes are painted with special paint that helps reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.
Paper Airplanes
This book has a variety of airplanes to color and fold - with clear instructions on how to. We had fun coloring them and turning them into personalized paper planes. The best part was the contest to see whose went the farthest!
Fun Fact: Flight simulators are used by real pilots for training because of their realistic environments and controls.
Activity Booklet
I printed copies of this booklet for each child. There is a variety of puzzles and games to do, ranging from ages 3-8. You can download your copy by purchasing in the button below.
Globe
And as airplanes takes us around the world. We played with this Leap Frog Globe. It has all sorts of short videos about the animal's, people, landmarks, capitol, and geography of each nation. There is so much learning with it. There is even a small quiz game you can play once you become familiar with the countries.
Field Trip
Our visit to the Cradle of Aviation Museum was probably the best part of the week. The kids were captivated by the stunning exhibits of historic aircraft, from the fragile early gliders to the sleek jets of modern aviation. Interactive displays allowed us to experience the thrill of piloting an aircraft. It was eye-opening and thrilling at the same time!
Teaching kids about airplanes can be a fun and rewarding experience. By combining hands-on activities, real-world exploration, and creative projects, we made learning about aviation an unforgettable adventure.
The sky's the limit when it comes to inspiring young minds!
Happy flying!
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