Free Things That Fly Preschool Lesson Plans - Stay At Home Educator (2024)

Teaching preschoolers about things that fly is a great opportunity to teach some really in-depth science concepts. Download the free STEM preschool lesson plans at the end of this post which are all centered around the Things That Fly preschool theme!

STEM Preschool Lesson Plans: Things That Fly

Free Things That Fly Preschool Lesson Plans - Stay At Home Educator (1)

STEM nights are an increasingly popular family night that many elementary schools now host. These STEM nights are becoming more popular in preschools now, too.

But have you ever tried a STEM week in preschool? Just imagine: an entire week of STEM related activities! That’s what you’re going to get in these free STEM preschool lesson plans…an entire week’s worth of activities all centered around “Things That Fly.”

FAQ About Teaching Preschoolers About Flight

These lesson plans will take into account all “flying” things your preschooler might see in the sky, from airplanes and rocket ships to birds and even balloons.

Here are some commonly asked questions about flight to help you teach your preschoolers about how some things fly and others don’t.

What things can fly?

There are lots of things that can fly. Animals like bats and birds fly, and so do many insects like fireflies, grasshoppers, and ladybugs. Human inventions like airplanes and zeppelins, spaceships and helicopters also fly. Even things like gliders and hot air balloons fly to a certain extent.

How do birds fly?

Birds are built to be very light for their size. They have hallow bones filled with pockets of air; beaks instead of teeth and a nose; and a large, strong breastbone that allows for really strong muscles in the chest.

Birds fly by counteracting the downforce of gravity with an upward force called lift. They create lift by moving their wings through the air in a specific manner, with the front part of the wing slightly higher than the back. This changes how the air around the wings moves, thus causing lift. [source]

Free Things That Fly Preschool Lesson Plans - Stay At Home Educator (2)

Hands-on STEM Activities About Flight

Ever met a preschooler who doesn’t like a paper airplane? How about a preschooler who doesn’t like balloons? Rocket ships? Use these STEM preschool lesson plans to teach your preschoolers all about how these things (and more) are able to fly!

Literacy Activities for a Things That Fly Theme

Balloon Pop! – Write letters on various balloons. Inflate the balloons slightly and hide them around the house, then call out a letter and have your preschooler go on a hunt to find it. Once located, invite your preschooler to sit on the balloon and try to pop it or poke a hole in it and let out all the air. Keep searching for letter balloons!

Paper Helicopters – Use this template to create letter helicopters! Print out a few of the templates, cut, and assemble. Write a letter somewhere on the helicopter in small print, then head outside and release them!

Invite your preschooler to launch the helicopters and then find the helicopter with the letter you call out. If you have a two-story space such as a play fort, invite one person to launch them off the top and the person on the ground to catch it and call out the letter. This game can be played with numbers, colors, and shapes, too!

Don’t Forget Picture Books About Flight

Here are some of the best picture books about things that fly.

Math and Science Activities for a Things That Fly Theme

Kite Counting – Cut out kite shapes and glue on a pipe cleaner for the tail. Write a number 1-10 on each kite, then add beads to the pipe cleaner to match the number. This is a really simple activity that can be done again and again, and it works on fine motor skills, too!

Rocket Shapes – Gather construction paper in various colors and cut out shapes. Invite your preschooler to build a rocket using all the shapes, or print this template and have your preschooler help assemble it. This is a fun activity to do with the whole family. Be sure to hang your rocket ships up around the house!

Life Cycle of a Butterfly – Learn all about how the butterfly changes into a caterpillar. Read (or watch the video below) The Very Hungry Caterpillar and complete this simple life cycle activity printable. Then head outside and look for butterflies!

Playful Learning Activities for a Things That Fly Theme

Butterfly Process Art – Draw a large butterfly on a piece of art or butcher paper. Invite your preschooler to tear pieces of colored tissue paper and add it to the butterfly’s body. This is a big project that is most fun when shared with siblings or classmates.

If it’s too much to handle all at once, stop and come back to work on it later.

The Floor is Lava – Encourage your preschooler to get creative with this classic anti-boredom game. The rules are simple: the floor is lava, so they need to find ways to get around without touching the ground! Played inside or out, this game is sure to get the wiggles out!

Rocket Ship Pretend Play – Get a large box and use crayons and markers to make it into a rocket ship. Have an adult cut out a hold for a window, and don’t forget to draw buttons and knobs on the dashboard. Then pretend to be an astronaut and blast off into space!

Free Things That Fly Preschool Lesson Plans - Stay At Home Educator (3)

Social-Emotional Activities for a Things That Fly Theme

Random Act of Kindness – Design an extra kite, helicopter, or paper airplane for a friend or neighbor and invite them to join in and play together. Encourage your preschooler to show good manners by asking how their friend is, allowing them a turn to go first, giving them a high-five, and giving them a compliment. These skills might seem small but they are setting up your preschooler to note how others feel and being purposeful in showing kindness.

Self- Regulation – We might not be able to ”fly,” but we can move our bodies in any way we like! Preschoolers benefit greatly from gross motor movement so why not make it into a game that also teaches strategies to help regulate their wiggles and the need to be active?

Set a timer for 45 seconds and teach your preschooler each of these animal movements. Complete each animal movement for 45 seconds, then move onto the next. Hop like a frog, jump like a bunny, soar like an eagle, flap like a flamingo. Invite your preschooler to come up with even more movements to help regulate their busy selves!

Just Plain Fun Activities for a Things That Fly Theme

DIY Fly Mask – Make a fly mask using just paint and crayons! This is just too cute and pairs so well with the ever popular Fly Guy books.

Butterfly Squish Paintings – Squirt some paint on a piece of paper and fold it in half. Allow the paint to dry and then trace around the paint with a marker. Add a body and antenna to make a butterfly. If you make a small-ish version of these, you can cut them out and glue them onto craft sticks to make puppets.

Build a Kite – Create your own simple kite. Using paper, string, and a stapler, you can create this kite in under 2 minutes. Check out this video for details.

Straw Glider – A straw glider uses paper and straw to float through the air. Setup is a breeze and it’s a fun outside toy! Check out this video for setup instructions.

Free Things That Fly Preschool Lesson Plans - Stay At Home Educator (4)

Safe Online Activities for a Things That Fly Theme

Online Story -– Go to YouTube and listen to the book Amazing Airplanes by Tony Mitten and Ant Parker. After listening to this story, invite your preschooler to share if they would like to fly on a plane. Do they have any questions about airplanes? Make a paper airplane together and test it out!

Flap Your Wings Song – This cute song is great for learning how baby birds learn to fly when they are ready to leave the nest.

Zoom, Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon Song – Count backward from 10 and celebrate blast-off! This song has a fun beat and adorable characters.

Get Your Free Preschool STEM Activities Here

Think your preschooler will enjoy all these activities about flight? You can download your own copy of the activities by clicking the image below.

Free Things That Fly Preschool Lesson Plans - Stay At Home Educator (5)

Sarah Punkoney, MAT

I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.

stayathomeeducator.com/

Free Things That Fly Preschool Lesson Plans - Stay At Home Educator (2024)

FAQs

What things fly for preschoolers? ›

There are lots of things that can fly. Animals like bats and birds fly, and so do many insects like fireflies, grasshoppers, and ladybugs. Human inventions like airplanes and zeppelins, spaceships and helicopters also fly. Even things like gliders and hot air balloons fly to a certain extent.

What should a preschool lesson plan include? ›

A solid lesson plan will incorporate key elements such as learning objectives, relevant materials, developmentally appropriate activities, and assessment methods. Incorporate themes to teach children fundamental skills or see what emerges from their interests.

What is transportation for preschoolers? ›

Preschoolers love activities that include playing with all types of transportation theme items including vehicles such as cars, trucks, airplanes and more. This topic is part of their everyday lives. They drive or walk to school, have seen or ridden on a bus or taken an airplane to go on vacation.

What are 10 things that fly? ›

Lots of things fly: Things that fly are planes, helicopters, kites, birds, insects, Santa's reindeer, butterflies, hot air balloons, flies, ladybugs, dragonflies, flying squirrels and more.

What are 6 things that can fly? ›

Fantastic flyers: 10 animals that fly in surprising ways
  • Colugos. ...
  • Paradise tree snake. ...
  • Kuhl's parachute gecko. ...
  • Freshwater butterfly fish. ...
  • Flying squirrel. ...
  • Flying fish. ...
  • 7. Japanese flying squid. ...
  • Draco lizard.

What are 8 things a lesson plan needs to include? ›

8 elements of lesson plans
  • Grade level and subject. One of the first sections of a lesson is the grade level and subject of the lesson you're going to teach. ...
  • Type of lesson. This is a brief section that explains the type of lesson you're going to be teaching. ...
  • Duration. ...
  • Topic. ...
  • Objective. ...
  • Materials. ...
  • Directions. ...
  • Assessment.
Mar 10, 2023

What are the 5 basic parts of lesson plan? ›

A well-planned lesson includes the lesson topic, class objectives, procedure, time management, and student practice.

What are the 5 important contents of a lesson plan? ›

6 components of a lesson plan
  • Objective. A lesson objective can be one of the most important components of a lesson plan. ...
  • Materials. If you prepare the materials ahead of the lesson, you may have more time to focus on teaching. ...
  • Background knowledge. ...
  • Direct instruction. ...
  • Guided teaching. ...
  • Closure and assessment.
Jun 24, 2022

How do you introduce a transportation theme to a preschool? ›

Top 35 Transportation Preschool Activities
  1. Model Railways. Model railways are a traditional favorite amongst preschool students and teachers. ...
  2. Car Ramps. ...
  3. Water Table Boat Play. ...
  4. Build a Boat STEM challenge. ...
  5. Create your own Road Map. ...
  6. Mark Making with Cars. ...
  7. Track Painting. ...
  8. Wheels on the Bus.
Jun 2, 2022

What are the 5 modes of transportation? ›

The different modes of transport are air, water, and land transport, which includes rails or railways, road and off-road transport. Other modes of transport also exist, including pipelines, cable transport, and space transport.

What are teacher guided activities for preschoolers? ›

Activities that are teacher-guided might look like bingo board games like Alphabet Bingo, Colors & Shapes Bingo, and Number Bingo; memory matching games like Seek-a-Boo, and traditional “first” board games such as Candyland or Chutes and Ladders.

What are typical preschool activities? ›

Activity centers

Your child will do things like play with blocks, experiment with creative arts, engage in dramatic play, read, do age-appropriate math or science activities, or write.

What objects can fly? ›

Many things can fly, from animal aviators such as birds, bats and insects, to natural gliders/parachuters such as patagial animals, anemochorous seeds and ballistospores, to human inventions like aircraft (airplanes, helicopters, airships, balloons, etc.) and rockets which may propel spacecraft and spaceplanes.

What are the 4 things to fly? ›

The four forces are lift, thrust, drag, and weight.

What lets things fly? ›

Moving air has a force that will lift kites and balloons up and down. Air is a mixture of different gases; oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. All things that fly need air. Air has power to push and pull on the birds, balloons, kites and planes.

What can fly but not wings? ›

"Time" is the response to the riddle "what flies without wings." Now it seems like a really simple puzzle. The best riddles all seem to be so straightforward and simple once the solutions have been found. It is very clear that time is the thing that can fly without wings.

What is the easiest thing to fly? ›

Cessna 150/152

The Cessna 150/152 is a great plane for beginner pilots as it is extremely easy to handle and costs significantly less to purchase than a Diamond DA-40/42. Plus, it is comfortable and roomy, so it is perfect for anyone who may feel intimidated by the tight seating of a Diamond.

What is the smallest thing that can fly? ›

Fairyflies are very tiny insects, like most chalcidoid wasps, mostly ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 mm (0.020 to 0.039 in) long. They include the world's smallest known insect, with a body length of only 0.139 mm (0.0055 in), and the smallest known flying insect, only 0.15 mm (0.0059 in) long.

What are the 7 step lesson plans? ›

The Seven Step Lesson Plan
  • Objective.
  • Motivation.
  • Direct Instruction.
  • Guided Practice.
  • Independent Practice.
  • Supplementary and/or alternative instruction.
  • Assessment.

What are the 3 types of daily lesson plan? ›

What are the 3 types of lesson plan?
  • Detailed lesson plan. A detailed plan covers everything and gets teachers fully prepared for the lesson ahead. ...
  • Semi detailed lesson plan. ...
  • Understanding by design (UbD) ...
  • Objectives. ...
  • Procedure. ...
  • Evaluation. ...
  • Stage 1: Desired Results. ...
  • Stage 2: Assessment Evidence.

What are the 4 A's of a lesson plan? ›

Choose a topic that you want the children in your class to learn and apply the 4-A's of activating prior knowledge, acquiring new knowledge, applying the knowledge, and assessing the knowledge.

What makes a good lesson plan? ›

A successful lesson plan addresses and integrates these three key components: Objectives for student learning. Teaching/learning activities. Strategies to check student understanding.

What is lesson plan with example? ›

A lesson plan is a document that outlines the content of your lesson step-by-step. It's a list of tasks that your students will undertake, to help guide your teaching. A lesson plan is usually prepared in advance and can either cover a one-off activity, an entire lesson, a unit or course, a day, or a week.

What should lesson plans always include? ›

Objectives

Setting the objectives of the lesson is the most important thing you must include in your plan. Select the most important and relevant three objectives students are required to achieve at the end of the lesson and write them carefully.

How do you write a 5 step lesson plan? ›

5 Step Method for Creating a Lesson Plan
  1. Step 1: Establish the Learning Outcomes. ...
  2. Step 2: Include Any Relevant Resource Materials for the Lesson. ...
  3. Step 3: Cite Lesson Plan Procedures. ...
  4. Step 4: Create Instructional Activities or Independent Practice. ...
  5. Step 5: Reflect and Plan Lesson Closure.
Apr 21, 2022

What are 6 the basic parts of a lesson plan? ›

The most effective lesson plans have six key parts:
  • Lesson Objectives.
  • Related Requirements.
  • Lesson Materials.
  • Lesson Procedure.
  • Assessment Method.
  • Lesson Reflection.
Sep 1, 2019

What are the 4 main types of transport? ›

Four major means of transport are:
  • Roadways.
  • Railways.
  • Waterways.
  • Airways.

What are the 4 main methods of transport? ›

Air, Road, Sea and Rail. These are the four major modes of transport (or types) in the logistics industry.

What are the 4 transportation systems? ›

The resources on this page are aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence for eighth grade Georgia Studies: SS8E1 Explain how the four transportation systems (road, air, water, and rail) of Georgia contribute to the development and growth of the state's economy.

What are the transportation activities? ›

consigning, packing, loading, carrying, unloading and receiving goods; scheduling road transport; operating and maintaining a vehicle; and.

How do you teach kids about transportation? ›

Introduction
  1. Sing "Wheels on the Bus" with your students.
  2. To mix it up, add "Planes in the Sky" or "Boats on the River" to the song. ...
  3. Tell them that vehicles are used for moving from one place to another. ...
  4. Ask them to name different vehicles, such as cars, planes, and trains.
  5. Now, ask them where they see these vehicles.

What is an example of a lesson theme? ›

Examples include: “love”, bravery”, “family bonds or “the importance of friendship.” A theme is a debatable point of view based on the chosen subject that the writer expresses and then supports with evidence from the text. Example: “Family bonds” is a subject, not a theme.

What are the 3 types of transportation? ›

Transport modes are the means supporting the mobility of passengers and freight. They are mobile transport assets and fall into three basic types; land (road, rail, pipelines), water (shipping), and air.

What are the six main methods for the transportation? ›

Therefore; an essential part of transportation management lies in building an efficient supply chain from the six main modes of transportation: road, maritime, air, rail, intermodal, and pipeline.

What are the three main components of a transport system? ›

There are three main components of the transport system in human beings – heart, circulating blood, and blood vessels.

What are the things we can fly? ›

Many things can fly, from animal aviators such as birds, bats and insects, to natural gliders/parachuters such as patagial animals, anemochorous seeds and ballistospores, to human inventions like aircraft (airplanes, helicopters, airships, balloons, etc.) and rockets which may propel spacecraft and spaceplanes.

What can kids fly? ›

Kids 18 and younger do not need any IDs to fly domestically. Passengers in that age range simply need a boarding pass to get though tsa. Children age two and under fly free on most airlines. Between the ages of two and 11, they are eligible for discounted child fare from a select few airlines.

What will fly in the sky? ›

  • Birds, aeroplane, helicopters and bats fly in the sky.
  • If I had wings, I would fly to London.

What is the 3 to 1 rule in flying? ›

A general rule of thumb for initial IFR descent planning in jets is the 3 to 1 formula. This means that it takes 3 NM to descend 1,000 feet. If an airplane is at FL 310 and the approach gate or initial approach fix is at 6,000 feet, the initial descent requirement equals 25,000 feet (31,000–6,000).

What food can fly? ›

Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

What makes some things fly? ›

Thrust, drag, weight, and lift are the four forces that work together to make things fly.

What allows living things to fly? ›

Powered flight

Unlike most air vehicles, in which the objects that generate lift (wings) and thrust (engine or propeller) are separate and the wings remain fixed, flying animals use their wings to generate both lift and thrust by moving them relative to the body.

What is fly definition for kids? ›

: to move in or pass through the air with wings. bees flying around the hive. : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space. bullets flying in all directions. : to float, wave, or soar in the air.

How do little things appear to a fly? ›

A rose bud appears like a feather bed,a prickle appears like a spear,a dewdrop appears like a looking glass,hair appears like a golden wire,smallest of grain of mustard seed appears like a fierce as coals of fire. 2. Because it is a very small creature. Hence,those thing appears very large to the fly.

What are the 4 forces of flight for kids? ›

The Four Forces
  • Weight is the force of gravity. ...
  • Lift is the force that acts at a right angle to the direction of motion through the air. ...
  • Thrust is the force that propels a flying machine in the direction of motion. ...
  • Drag is the force that acts opposite to the direction of motion.

What kids fly for free? ›

Lap infants

Most major airlines will let babies on board for free, provided they don't take up a seat. American Airlines, for example, has a pretty standard policy: Kids under 2 years old can travel free on the lap of an accompanying passenger age 16 or older on domestic flights.

What does a child need to fly alone? ›

Don't forget to bring:

The required unaccompanied minor travel documentation. Medical clearance forms if necessary. Your child's identification (birth certificate, passport or ID card)

How do you fly with a 4 year old? ›

Flying with Kids: What to Do Before You Fly
  1. Book direct flights & minimize stopovers. ...
  2. Consider buying a separate seat for your child. ...
  3. Reserve your seats in advance. ...
  4. Choose an airline with kid-friendly perks. ...
  5. Reserve kids' meals in advance. ...
  6. Make sure their car seats are airline approved.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 5867

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.