This Straw Airplane Craft is a fun way to celebrate Aviation History Month to learn a little bit more about the parts of an airplane. If your kids are interested, try to make the plane as realistic as possible.
For my preschooler, however, she just wanted to have a toy airplane craft to play with, so that's what we made. The airplane was a fun toy to play with outside because its light weight meant it was carried away on the wind. However, the weight of the glue and straw kept it from traveling too far.
Follow the directions to make your own airplane. Or, if you like, you can adapt the craft directions to turn the plane into a rocket. Can you get the plane to take off by blowing through the straw? Perhaps the kids would like to put on an aviation-themed puppet show!
Straw Airplane Puppet Craft
You'll need a few common craft supplies to make this paper airplane:
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Straw
- Cardstock paper
- Scissors
- Pencil
Draw the outline of the airplane's body, wings, tail, back stabilizer and rudder onto your cardstock paper.
Cut out the design.
Cut two slits near either end of the body piece to slide the back wings and stabilizer through.
Glue the wings and tail in place with hot glue. If you use regular glue, you risk the wings taking too long to dry, which will likely result in them being crooked.
Glue the plane to the end of the straw.
Use the straw to guide the plane through the air. Toss the plane into the air. Does it fly?
Books about Airplanes and Aviation
Read these books when making this craft to add another element of learning to your fun!
- Kids Paper Airplane Book (lots of different models to fold!)
- The Wright Brothers: Pioneers of American Aviation
- Daring Amelia
- Where do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?
- Aircraft Marshalling Signals for Kids!
- Playtown: Airport
Brenda is a full-time writer and homeschooling mom to two girls. Brenda blogs about STEM activities and ADHD homeschooling at Schooling a Monkey. When she isn't working, you'll find Brenda sipping on coffee with her nose in a book.
