What your Preschooler will Learn:

About gravity

About wind

About air currents in a house

Basic aerodynamics

What you Need for this Preschool Science Experiment:

Paper

Pens

Scissors

Your Scientific Journal

Paper clips

What To Do:

Step one: Make a paper airplane as instructed on www.bestpaperairplanes.com. Keep it simple and don't make complex airplanes—it's not necessary. You can also try an Eagle Display.

Step two: If your preschooler chooses, let them decorate the airplane.

Step three: Have your preschooler play with their paper airplane. Have them stand at the top of stairs and fly it down. What happens when your preschooler throws it up near an air vent? Try it outside to see what would happen when your preschooler throws it into the wind.

Step four: Add a paperclip to the front of the paper plane. What happens? How does it fly differently?

Step five: Make a few line cuts in the sides of the paper airplane. What happens now?

Step six: Have your preschooler draw pictures and make notes in their scientific journal.

For Preschool Educators:

This is a great experiment to do on a windy day. Have the paper airplanes pre-made and write your preschooler's names on them. Then take your preschoolers out and watch the airplanes fly!

Hi! I'm Theresa Halvorsen, the preschool science and nature writer for Preschoolrock.com. I have twin boys and am blown away by their fascination with preschool science and how the world works around them. I am always looking for fun and simple science activities so preschoolers can learn about science and the natural world. Please contact me with any suggestions, ideas or questions you have about this site.

Helpful Tips for Parents

• Always ask "What do you think will happen?" before running an experiment. Prediction is the core of scientific thinking, and preschoolers' predictions are always worth hearing.

• Repeat experiments multiple times. Reliability — the same result happening consistently — is a key scientific concept, and repetition gives preschoolers the proof they find satisfying.

• Science is everywhere: the kitchen, the garden, the bathroom, the driveway. Narrating daily life as science keeps curiosity active between formal experiments.

• Accept wrong predictions gracefully — "Interesting! The result was different from what we predicted. Why do you think that happened?" Models scientific resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I explain the science behind experiments, or let children discover it?

Sequence matters enormously: always let children observe and wonder before explaining. "What do you notice?" and "Why do you think that happened?" should precede any explanation. If children ask why, give a simple, accurate answer — never give incorrect explanations to protect the mystery. After the child has observed and hypothesized, confirming or expanding their theory with correct information is appropriate and satisfying. Explaining first removes the inquiry that makes science learning durable.

How do I keep science learning going between experiments?

Science is a mindset, not a schedule. Keep a magnifying glass accessible for impromptu investigation. Ask "why do you think...?" during daily life. Notice scientific phenomena out loud: "Look at how steam rises from the soup — where does it go?" Maintain a simple nature observation area (a window bird feeder, a terrarium, a weather chart). The child who develops the habit of curiosity about the physical world is doing science continuously, not just during scheduled experiments.

Related reading: See also our science experiments at home and our nature walks guide for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 🔄 Flexible Thinking — When an experiment produces an unexpected result, children practice adapting their thinking — a form of cognitive flexibility that makes them more resilient learners across all subjects.
• 🤔 Critical Thinking — Making a prediction, testing it, and explaining the result develops logical reasoning — the ability to move from observation to explanation that underlies all scientific, mathematical, and analytical disciplines.
• 🌱 Curiosity & Wonder — Science that feels like magic cultivates the sense of wonder that keeps children asking questions throughout their lives — the foundational attitude that drives all learning and discovery.
• 📏 Early Math & Measurement — Measuring ingredients, comparing quantities, and observing size changes connects science directly to mathematical thinking — making science experiments some of the richest early math experiences available.

Paper airplanes are a wonderful way to teach your preschooler all about physics. They're cheap, disposable and lots of fun. Preschoolers can learn a great deal about physics by doing nothing more than experimenting with paper airplanes.

Questions to Ask Your Child

Use these open-ended prompts to extend the learning during or after the activity:

• "What do you think will happen before we try it?"
• "Was your prediction right, or did something surprise you?"
• "Why do you think that happened?"
• "What would change if we tried it with something different?"
• "Can you think of a place in real life where you've seen this before?"
• "What question does this make you want to answer next?"

There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. The goal is to keep the conversation going, model curious thinking, and give your child practice putting their experience into words.