Embarking on an airplane unit study is an exciting way to introduce young learners to the fascinating world of aviation. Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, a teacher looking for fresh ideas, or simply seeking to engage your child’s curiosity, this comprehensive guide will provide you with everything you need for a successful and educational adventure. From a curated list of children’s books to hands-on lesson ideas and even airplane-themed field trips, let’s dive into the world of aviation!
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Airplane Unit Study
Picture Books
- “The Noisy Airplane Ride” by Mike Downs
- “Airplanes: Soaring! Diving! Turning!” by Patricia Hubbell
- “Rosie Revere, Engineer≥” by Andrea Beaty
- “Planes Fly!” by George Ella Lyon
- “How to Build a Plane” by Saskia Lacey
- “The Airport Book” by Lisa Brown
- “Curious George Takes a Trip” by H.A. Rey
- “The Boy and the Airplane” by Mark Pett
- “The Littlest Airplaine” by Brooke Hartman
- “The Ultimate Book of Airplanes and Airports” by Sophie Bordet-Petillon
- “DK Eyewitness Books: Flight” by Andrew Nahum
- “The Big Book of Airplanes” by DK Big Books
- “Googles: The Bear Who Dreamed of Flying” by Jonathan Gunson
- “Away in My Airplane” by Margaret Wise Brown
- “Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Tood Invents an Airplane” by Kirsten W. Larson
Chapter books about airplanes
- “Airborn” by Kenneth Oppel
- “We Own the Sky” by Rodman Philbrick **sensitive content
- “Pilot Book for Smart Kids: How to Become a Pilot and Succeed in Aviation” by Marty Hodgef
- “Born to Fly: An Untold Story of the Downed American Reconnaissance Plane” by Shane Osborn
- “Cleared for Takeoff: The Ultimate Book of Flight” by Rowland White
- “Flight for Freedom: The Wetzel Family’s Daring Escape from East Germany” by Kristen Fulton
- “Ask a Pilot: A Pilot Answers Kids’ Top Questions About Flying” by Justin Kelley
- “Cam Jensen: The Mystery of Flight 54” by David A. Adler
Lesson ideas
Paper Airplane Challenge: Design and test various paper airplane models, experimenting with different wing shapes and sizes.
Build a Mini Airplane: Use craft materials such as popsicle sticks, foam, and glue to construct small-scale airplane models.
Flight Path Mapping: Study different flight paths and create maps to illustrate routes taken by commercial airlines or historical flights.
Wind Tunnel Experiment: Design and build a simple wind tunnel to explore how different wing shapes affect lift and drag.
Air Traffic Control: Role-play as air traffic controllers and practice giving instructions to guide imaginary planes safely through the sky.
Aviation Alphabet: Teach children the phonetic alphabet used in aviation communications and practice spelling their names using the alphabet.
Flight Simulator: Use flight simulator software or online resources to give children a virtual experience of piloting an airplane.
Airport Scavenger Hunt: Visit a local airport or use online resources to create a scavenger hunt, spotting various airport features and aircraft.
Cloud Classification: Study different cloud types and their association with weather patterns, emphasizing their importance for pilots.
Flight Logbook: Encourage children to maintain a flight logbook, recording imaginary flights or trips they would like to take.
Educational Resources
You can shop all of these resources, books, and more on our Amazon Storefront under AIRPLANE UNIT STUDY.
AIRPLANE-THEMED FIELD TRIPS
In-Person Field Trips:
- Local Airports: Arrange a guided tour of your nearest airport, where children can observe aircraft up close and learn about airport operations.
- Aviation Museums: Visit aviation museums that feature aircraft displays, interactive exhibits, and historical artifacts related to flight.
- Air Shows: Attend air shows or fly-ins, where children can witness aerial displays and see different types of aircraft in action.
Virtual Field Trips:
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Virtual Tour: Explore the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts from the comfort of your home.
- Airbus Virtual Tour: Take a virtual tour of Airbus manufacturing facilities, learning about the process of aircraft construction.
- Boeing Future of Flight Virtual Tour: Discover the innovation behind Boeing’s aircraft production and explore their facilities online.
PRINTABLES
Amelia Earhart
Books
- “The Amelia Six” by Kristin L. Gray
- “The Story of Amelia Earhart: A Biography Book for New Readers” by Stacia Deutsch
- “Amelia Earhart: A Kids Book About Flying Against All Odds” by Mary Nhin
- “Who Was Amelia Earhart?” by Kate Boehm
- “National Geographic Readers: Amelia Earhart” by Caroline Crosson Gilpin
Videos
The Wright Brothers
Books
- “The Wright Brothers: Pioneers of American Aviation” by Quentin Reynolds
- “The Wright Brothers: A Kid’s Book About Achieving the Impossible” by Mary Nhin
- “Who Were The Wright Brothers?” by James Buckley
- “The Story of the Wright Brothers: A Biography Book for New Readers” by Annette Whipple
- “To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers” by Wendie C. Old
videos
By immersing children in an airplane unit study, you can ignite their imagination, foster curiosity about aviation, and lay the foundation for future learning. Whether through captivating books, hands-on activities, or engaging field trips, this journey will help young learners soar to new heights of knowledge and understanding. So fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an adventure in the skies!
Are you looking for more unit study ideas? Check out our HOMESCHOOL page for a full list of unit study ideas plus more lesson ideas like this one!
Heya.
I love to teach airlines and airports. To do this unique unit study in order to start off with I chose a airport and airline in another country- AA and BWI. We then made brief summary notes as we looked up details on the website of the airline in question. Next we called Baltimore Washington International Airport to ask them a load of questions. Best wishes. There are a number of skills you can teach as well. These include observation and research.
We even made a dummy aircraft seat booking via my email and sent another inquiry email requesting airport information. The kids loved making notes. I eventually learned much more about what happens when a trainee flight attendant is hired by the airline. It was fun. Seriously.
Heya.
This is my advice in order to start with. I would begin with a short explanation of what a air stewardess does. I then recommend going over different types of aircraft in question here and making some brief summary notes. Good luck as well. My next educational activity is to use the website of a foreign airport to find out more details. Turn this entire topic into a unit study.
For example what type of food is available on sale at that airport in question. Also general details about the airport. They can even hopefully tell you the numbers of travellers each week. Other such classic activities are varied but include finding out the history of the airport too. If you have the time you can take a mini tour of the airport online via the official company website. You can get to view a free online copy of the airline menu. Read it.
Write a mini summary article on the layout of the place. Talk to a couple of air line attendants and find out about the many different air routes. Touch the uniforms of a hired flight crew member. Request some other key details on fun things to do at the airport. Inquire about the key skills that are always required for newbie flight attendant training schemes.
Do your own online research into current airline policies. Discuss why people want to be a cool cabin attendant. Study the full history of the airline. Design a colour coded map of all of the aircrew bases within a specific country. Write a short paragraph to describe what being on a real plane feels like. Explain why flight attendants must know about first aid. Evaluate the use of equipment aboard flights these days. You can do this. Seriously.
Meet a trained airline pilot. Gain a new perspective.