Here are 15 airplane songs for toddlers and preschoolers with full lyrics, the tune each one borrows, and the motions that go with it. Most are sung to melodies children already know, such as “I’m a Little Teapot” and “The Wheels on the Bus,” so you can lead one at circle time today without practising. The rest are short chants and fingerplays that need no tune at all.
The songs are grouped by how you will use them: classic airplane songs to familiar tunes, songs about going on a plane, action songs for a movement block, and a rocket song and a train fingerplay to round out a transportation theme. Each song ends with a one-line note on the best age or the motion to pair with it. Seven videos are embedded where they fit.
A short guide comes first on the two ways these songs get used: in a classroom during a things-that-fly theme, and at home with a toddler who has a first flight coming up. Then the songs, then the FAQ.
- How to use airplane songs with toddlers and preschoolers
- Classic airplane songs to familiar tunes
- Songs about going on a plane
- Action and flying songs
- Rockets and trains for the rest of the theme
- Frequently asked questions
How to use airplane songs with toddlers and preschoolers
In the classroom. Airplane songs are your gross-motor block during a transportation theme. Every action song here asks for arms straight out at shoulder height, and a child who holds both arms up for a full verse of “I’m a Little Airplane” is doing real work. Clear the rug, have children fly a lap around the edge of it, and call “bank left” and “bank right” so they tip one arm up and one down at the corners. Two or three laps is enough for twos. Fours can add a landing, which means slowing down and crouching without bumping anyone.
Use a counting-down song for one-to-one correspondence. None of the lyrics on this page count, so use the video below or your own five-airplane version of “Five Little Ducks.” Put five paper planes on the floor and take one away each verse. The child touches each plane that is left and counts it aloud. Threes will count to five with the planes in front of them long before they can do it without.
Teach plane, helicopter and rocket as three different words. Most twos call anything in the sky an airplane. Hold up a picture of each while you sing “Rockets and Airplanes,” and point out the wing, the rotor and the fire underneath. Pilot and flight attendant belong in the same week; the community helper songs cover the people in the uniforms.
Pair the songs with something to hold. Cardboard wings, cut from a box and strapped on with two loops of ribbon, turn the flying lap into a game children ask for again. Folded paper planes suit fours, who can throw one across the rug on “zooming by” and fetch it. Keep the throwing to one direction so nobody gets hit.
For a family flying with a small child. Pick one song and sing it at home every day for the week before the trip. “Going On a Big Airplane” is the best choice because it walks through the day in order: the car, the ramp, the ticket, the seat, the seat belt, the engines, then flying. By the third day your toddler will join in on “big airplane.” By the trip, the airport sequence is already familiar, and familiar is what a toddler needs.
Save the song for taxi and take-off. That is when a toddler is most unsettled: strapped in, the engine noise changing, and nothing to look at. A song they know, sung close to their ear, gives them something to hold on to. “The pilot on the airplane says fasten your belts” fits the moment exactly. Sing the same verse two or three times rather than working through the whole song.
Keep it cabin-quiet. Sing at a murmur, do the motions with fingers instead of arms, and let the child do the propeller with one hand on your knee. The seat-belt verse and “The Airman” chant both work at a whisper. Nobody nearby will mind a quiet song; they will mind crying a lot more.
Classic airplane songs to familiar tunes
I’m A Little Airplane (full action version)
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a Little Teapot”
I’m a little airplane, (children raise arms at sides to shoulder height.)
Now watch me fly! (They spin one of their arms in front of them as if it were a propeller)
Here are my instruments
From down low to up high. (With their other arm, they reach from the ground to above their heads.)
First I get revved up. (Children make engine-like noises while still spinning their arms.)
Then I can fly, (Children raise arms to shoulder height.)
Lifting off the runway (They start walking forward.)
Up into the sky! (They go up on their tiptoes and continue to move forward. Let them circle a while before returning to their original positions.)
The full action version for fours and fives; the tiptoe walk at the end is the payoff, so clear the rug first.
I’m a Little Airplane (short version)
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a little Teapot”
I’m a little airplane (raise arms in air)
Now watch me fly,
Here are my instruments
From down low to up high.
Four lines is the right length for twos; sing it twice through with arms held out the whole time.
I’m a Little Airplane (throttle version)
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a little teapot”
I’m a little airplane, I can fly,
Here is my throttle, Give me a try.
When I get all revved up. Then I fly,
off the runway, to the sky.
Twist a fist on “throttle” and rev the engine with your voice; fours like being the one who pushes it.
I’m A Little Airplane (wings version)
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m A Little Tea Pot”
I’m a little airplane
Up in the sky.
These are my wings, (Stick out straight out.)
They help me fly.
When I get excited,
Then I shout,
Come soar with me, (Move arms in a flying motion.)
But don’t fall out!! (Drop to the ground.)
The drop to the floor on “don’t fall out” is the part every group waits for, so leave space between children.
I’m An Airplane
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Clementine”
I’m an airplane, I’m an airplane
Flying up into the sky.
Flying higher, Flying higher
As I watch the clouds go by.
I’m an airplane, I’m an airplane
See me flying all around.
Flying lower, flying lower,
Till I land down on the ground.
Arms go higher on “flying higher” and lower on “flying lower,” then everyone crouches for the landing; good for threes.
Did You Ever See an Airplane?
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”
Did you ever see an airplane,
An airplane, and airplane?
Did you ever see an airplane
Way up in the sky?
There are big ones and small ones
And short ones and tall ones.
Did you ever see an airplane
Way up in the sky?
A seated circle time song for twos and threes; arms wide for “big ones” and hands close together for “small ones.”
Songs about going on a plane
Airplane Song
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Wheels on the Bus”
The pilot on the airplane says fasten your belts (fasten seat belts)
Fasten your belts, fasten your belts.
The pilot on the airplane says fasten your belts
When flying through the sky,
Additional verses:
The children on the airplane go bum pity bump…. (move up and down)
The babies on the airplane go waa, waa, waa…. (rub eyes and pretend to cry)
The signs on the airplane go ding, ding, ding…. (point to signs)
The drinks on the airplane go splish, splash, splish…. (pretend to hold a glass and move it)
The luggage on the plane goes up and down…. (pretend to be luggage going up and down)
The one to sing on the plane itself; the seat-belt verse works as a quiet lap song during taxi and take-off.
Going On a Big Airplane
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Wheels on the Bus.”
The wheels on our car go ’round and ’round (repeat)
Going to the airport.
We walk and we walk down the ramp, down the ramp, down the ramp (repeat)
Going on a big airplane. (walk your hands on your knees)
The ticket taker reads our pass, reads our pass, reads our pass (repeat)
Going on a big airplane. (pretend reading, hands together, palms up)
We find our seat with little windows, little windows, little windows (repeat)
Going on a big airplane. (make a window with your thumbs and pointer fingers)
The flight attendant says, “Buckle your belt, buckle your belt, buckle your belt” (repeat)
Going on a big airplane. (put hands across tummy and bump fingers together)
Say to the children, “I think we’re starting to move.” I think the wheels are starting
to go around very fast (make a slow wheel moving motion with your hands)
The wheels on the plane go ’round and ’round, ’round and ’round, ’round and ’round (sing and repeat slowly) Going on a big airplane.
Say, “The airplanes wait their turn to use the runway, while they wait
they get their engines going really fast. Get those motors going. Ready?” (make engine noises)
The wheels on the plane go ’round and ’round, ’round and ’round, ’round and ’round, (repeat)
Going on a big airplane. (make a wheel moving motion with your hands)
WHOOPEE (move arms out)
Now I’m flying through the air, through the air, through the air, (repeat)
Now I’m flying through the air on a big airplane! (move arms out and sway)
Walk a child through the whole airport day with it, one verse per step, every day in the week before a first flight.
The Airman
Original Author: Unknown
rrrrrrrrrrrrrr
The engine roars,
The propellers spins,
” Close the doors!”
Our flight begins.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The plane rises;
it skims the trees.
Over the houses
We fly at our ease.
mmmmmmmmmm
ZOOM goes the plane,
The engine hums.
Then home again,
And down it comes.
A chant rather than a song; the engine sounds at the start of each verse are what twos join in on first.
Action and flying songs
The Airplane
Original Author: Unknown
The airplane has great big wings (children stretch out arms.)
Its propeller spins round and sings, Vvvvvvrrruuuummmmm. (children move right arms around in a circle.)
The airplane goes up. (they lift up their arms)
The airplane dips down.
The airplane flies–round all of the town! (With arms outstretched, they turn around twice.)
The easiest one for twos: arms out, one arm circling, arms up, and a spin at the end.
Flying
Original Author: Unknown
The airplane has great big wings, [Arms outstretched]
Its propeller spins around and sings, [Make one arm the propeller]
“vvvvvv”
The airplane goes up, [Arms up]
The airplane goes down, [Arms down]
The airplane flies high all over town, [Arms outstretched, fly around the room, or just turn in place]
A second wording of “The Airplane” with the actions in brackets; use whichever version your group learned first.
Airplane
Original Author: Unknown
I am a big airplane,
With wings so wide and strong. (Hold arms out like wings.)
My tail stands straight up in the air,
And my body’s very long. (Stand on one foot, stretching one leg behind, extended in air.)
Watch me when I’m flying,
For I go very fast. (Standing on foot, move extended arms in flying motion.)
Let’s see who can stay up in the air,
And who runs out of gas! (Children remain balanced on one foot.)
A balance challenge for fours and fives; stand on one foot for the tail and see who stays up longest.
If I Were an Airplane
Original Author: Unknown
If I were an airplane, (Extend arms from shoulder, hold up)
Flying way up high.
I’d tip my wings, (Bend body, one arm up and the other down)
To make a turn.
As I go zooming by. (Make zooming sound)
Tip one arm up and one down on the turn; it teaches banking, which is how a real plane turns.
Rockets and trains for the rest of the theme
Rockets and Airplanes
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
Rockets and airplanes flying high,
(spread out arms, twist at waist.)
Flying fast up in the sky.
The Concorde makes a sonic BOOM!
(clap)
A spaceship flies up to the moon.
Maybe someday I’ll ride a jet,
Or be a pilot, better yet.
(pretend to fly jet.)
Use it to teach the difference between a jet, a rocket and a spaceship; the clap on BOOM keeps fours listening.
Choo Choo Train
Original Author: Unknown
This is the choo-choo train. [bend arms at elbows]
Puffing down the track. [rotate forearms in rhythm]
Now it’s going forward,
Now it’s going back,
Now the bell is ringing, [pull cord with closed fist “ding, ding”]
Now the whistle blows. [hold hands around mouth “wooo, wooo”]
What a lot of noise it makes,
everywhere it goes! [cover ears with hands]
A seated fingerplay for the train day of a transportation theme; both hands work, so it suits twos who are not ready to stand and spin.
Frequently asked questions
What age are airplane songs best for?
Two to five. Twos do best with the four-line versions, such as the short “I’m a Little Airplane” and “The Airplane,” which give one motion per line. Threes can hold the eight-line songs sung to “Clementine” and “Did You Ever See a Lassie?” Fours and fives are ready for the balance challenge in “Airplane” and the long walk-through of “Going On a Big Airplane.”
How do I prepare a toddler for their first flight?
Sing one airport song every day for the week before, so the order of the day is familiar before you get there. Talk through what will happen using the words from the song: ramp, ticket, seat, belt. On the plane, sing the same song quietly during taxi and take-off, when the noise and the strap-in bother toddlers most. Pack one small toy plane so they can act out the song in their seat.
What activities pair with airplane songs?
Cardboard wings for the flying lap, folded paper planes for fours to throw, and a row of chairs set up as an airplane with a child as pilot and one as flight attendant. Add a runway of masking tape on the floor for take-offs and landings. On a windy day, take the theme outside; the kite songs for preschool cover the other thing children see in the sky, and the summer songs page has more for outdoor play.
How do I use an airplane song to practise counting?
Use a counting-down song with real objects. Five paper planes on the floor, one taken away each verse, and the child touches and counts what is left, then counts them back in at the end. Threes count to five this way; fours can count up to ten with the video below. The number songs for preschool page has more counting songs to rotate in.
What is the difference between a fingerplay and an action song?
A fingerplay is done seated, with the hands and fingers telling the story; “Choo Choo Train” is one, and so is the seat-belt verse when you do it on your lap. An action song uses the whole body, standing up and moving across the floor; the flying songs are all action songs. Fingerplays are for calm moments and cramped spaces, including an airplane seat. Action songs are for a cleared rug and a group that needs to move.
That is the full set. Pick two for the movement block and one for circle time, sing them every day for a week, and add the rest as the theme goes on. When airplanes are done, the space songs for kids pick up where “Rockets and Airplanes” leaves off, the bird songs cover the other flyers, and the circle time songs page has openers to start the day before you take off.