Airport Expedition

Going on a trip or just picking someone up at the airport? Go early to turn the trip into a learning expedition. Your kids will not only see all kinds of planes, but also trucks, taxis, buses, helicopters and the people who operate them. Even small local airports can be thrilling as you watch planes take off and roar back onto the runway. What to Pack

• Snacks
• Water
• Sunscreen

Now Get Exploring!

• Go online. Look for your local airport and see if they offer any tours or other programs for kids. Ask about any security issues.
• Go on a scavenger hunt. See if your child can spot: the runway, three different types of airplanes, a helicopter, a baggage cart, suitcases, a ticket booth, a pilot, a flight attendant, a passenger, an air traffic control tower, a hangar, a wind sock, a passenger terminal, airport ground crew, a uniform, a fuel truck.
• I Spy ABCs. A is for airplane. Pick a letter and see if your child can spot something that starts with that letter.
• Count it out. How many planes do you see? How many pilots? Flight attendants?
• Play airplane. Have kids put their arms out and "fly" around the room.
• Name the parts of a plane. Point out the cockpit, engines, wings, rudder and fuselage.
• Explore air pressure. Have kids hold out their hands on a windy day. Can they feel the force of the air pressing against them? Talk about wind and its power to move flags, kites, trees, balloons and so on.
• Test gravity. Look in your purse for test objects. Hold a pen and a piece of paper or business card at the same height. Which falls faster?
• Meet the pilot. If you're traveling on a plane, ask the flight attendant if your child can meet the pilot and peek in the cockpit.
• Be ready for tough questions. How do planes fly? Find NASA's child-friendly answer at their Web site.
• Investigate. Ask your child these questions:
  • How many things can you name that fly?
  • What's the difference between the way an airplane flies and a bird flies?
  • What's the difference between a jet plane and a glider?
  • How do helicopters move differently from airplanes? Can a plane hover?
  • What does a pilot do? What does a flight attendant do? What about an air traffic controller?
• Read all about it. Check out A Day the Airport by Richard Scarry, Airplanes: Soaring! Diving! Turning! by Patricia Hubbell, Airport by Byron Barton, The Glorious Flight by Alice Provenson, The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane by Russell Freedman and Zoom! The Complete Paper Airplane Kit by Margaret A. Hartelius.

Educational Perks Watching airplanes in action is a good introduction to scientific principles of lift, air pressure, movement, friction and gravity. Plus, exploring an airport helps reduce anxiety about an upcoming trip by helping kids know what to expect. Bonus Explorer Activity Make paper airplanes! Go to 10paperairplanes.com for animated instructions on making planes such as the Dart, Arrow, Moth and so on. Experiment to find out which design is most aerodynamic. For more exploring, play Dora's Great Big World game, find do-together Dora crafts, recipes, and activities, and print a personalized Explorer Kit for your child at DoraTheExplorer.com.

Thanks to Susan Hood

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