Airplane Number Games for Preschool Math

Fly numbered airplanes into buckets and bins in this easy to make, fun to play learning game! For this Airplane Number Games you will need is a few sheets of bright colored paper. Get ready for some high flying number learning action!

This math learning game is best suited for preschool – first grade.

Game adaptations provided below.

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Airplane Number Games

Math Standard: Recognizing the numbers 1-10

Materials Needed:

Bright Colored Paper
Black Crayon or Permanent Marker
Large Plastic Container

Directions to make:

1. Fold 10 paper airplanes.
2. Write one number on each plane.
3. Set a large bucket on the ground. Take 10 steps away and set the pile of planes down.

Here is a video on YouTube for folding this particular airplane. You can fold a bunch of the same style or fold a variety of planes and see which has the best accuracy for landing in the bucket.

Directions to play Airplane Number Games 1-10

Airplane Number Game Variation 1.

Let the child lightly launch all 10 airplanes towards the bucket.
When all 10 planes have landed, collect them.
Call out the numbers that made it into the bucket.
Repeat for several rounds of tossing all 10 airplanes.

Was there one airplane that landed in the bucket more often? (Older learners may be able to keep a tally chart or graph to answer this question!)

Airplane Number Game Variation 2.

Have the child pick up the airplane and call out the number of the plane before it launches.
Be silly and make up a little good luck chant like:

“Lucky Plane, number 8, land in the bucket!”

If it makes it cheer for the number. If it doesn’t, re-launch the airplane.

Repeat until all planes have landed in the bucket.
*move closer if needed!

Airplane Number Game Variation 3

Organize the airplanes in numerical order.

Fly them into the bucket in ascending (or descending order)

Make sure to call out the numbers before the planes are launched.

Don’t forget to check out Growing Book by Books’ article on Building Phonemic Awareness: Airplane Flying Sounds for an aviation spin on literacy learning!