Helicopter Craft | Alphabet Letter H Theme
Transportation Theme
Preschool Lesson Plan Printable Activities

Themes

Activities

Materials

2.  The Helicopter as a "Community Helper" tool:

Ask the children what community helpers and occupations would use the helicopter.

Discuss a couple of examples of the contribution of the helicopter when used by community helpers - links to related activities and materials to community helpers:

*Forester / Forest Rangers-  assess and inspect the forest, forest rangers use it to  police the forest and rescue missions.
*Police Officer - to help and protect citizens
*Firefighter -  to rescue people and to stop fires
*Farmer - insect/pest control and to prevent crop diseases 
*EMS - Emergency Medical Services - Nurses and Doctors use it to save people and to transport sick people to the hospital when land transportation is not possible
*Government Agencies:  Armed Forces, National Guard, Coast Guard and other federal agencies around the world use the helicopter in its mission to protect and aid citizens (natural disasters: hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, etc.)
*Pilot - A helicopter requires a specialized pilot.  Visit the pilot activities to get acquainted with this important career.
Idea:  Include these activities within a community helper theme, safety theme or patriotic holiday.  Decorate the craft to reflect a police, fire department or armed forces theme (army camouflage for example).  

Activity 2: Alphabet Activities:  Letter H is for Helicopter Lesson Plan and Printable Materials

Present letter H before craft activities.  The craft will reinforce the lesson plan and it features the letter H.

Activity 3: Online Puzzle:  Alphabet Letter H Helicopter Online Puzzle

Activity 4:  Helicopter Craft and Learning Activities (Ages 2.5+)

Tell the children they are going to make their own special helicopter, and that it is very similar to the one on the letter H coloring page.

Optional:  The rotor can be attached with one fastener which allows it to move around -- for children 3+ only.

Review printing and assembly options that best meet your needs.  Before assembly conduct some of the learning activities suggested below:
  
Option 1:  Print color  Template #1 & Template #2, in your conduct your choice of first set of learning activities, cut out, conduct second set of learning activities below and assemble.
Option 2:  Print black & white Template #1 & Template #2. Children can color, paint or decorate first, proceed as above.
Option 3:  Print black & white template #1 & #2 directly onto your choice of contrasting color craft paper.  Proceed as suggested above.

Other decorations and ideas:  
1.  Decorate the craft with a community helper theme or patriotic theme as discussed above, use stickers or used mailing stamps for the patriotic theme.

Activity 4 Part 1:  Learning Activities to conduct before Helicopter Craft assembly:
Choose from the activities below you feel are are appropriate for the children.

Shapes & Color Activity: (before template is cut-out)

1.  Identify colors and any shapes that are on template #1 and #2.:   Some children like to discuss the colors as they choose them while coloring or painting the templates.

Alphabet Activities:  (before template is cut-out)
1.  Identify two letter H's in upper case that are part of the landing gear of the helicopter on template #1.  The squares with letters again provide letter practice to color and trace.

Activity 4 Part 2:  Helicopter Craft Assembly:

Proceed with craft assembly.  Show briefly the image in the alphabet poster which features the finished to help the children see how the finished craft looks  and to aid them in positioning the pieces.  

Assembly suggestions after learning activities:
1.  At this point the template pieces should be colored / decorated  if using the black & white templates.  

2.  Allow the children to practice scissor cutting as much as possible and provide assistance when needed.

3.  Encourage children to paste the letter H squares on the rotors template as illustrated.

4.  Paste the rotors template to the helicopters fuselage or help children insert and secure a fastener.

Activity 5: Helicopter Activity Worksheet  Ages 3.5

This activity worksheet addresses the following skills:  trace - pre-writing skills, identify, match shapes and numbers 1-4, coloring

Tip:  Print activity worksheets in pastel color paper to add interest (light blue is fun for this page for a sky background)

1.  Allow the children to explore and get acquainted with the activity page.
2.  Shapes and Trace:  Have the children identify the shapes in each of the helicopters in the left column.  Tell the children to find the helicopter with the matching shapes on the right column and trace first with their finger, then trace with pencil or crayon along the dotted line.  The children will practice curved, straight and zigzag lines.
3.  Numbers and Trace:  Have the children identify or assist the children to identify the number in each helicopter 1 to 4 on the left column.  Count each group of shapes in each helicopters that matches the number.  For example, identify number 2, then count out loud:  1 triangle, 2 triangles, etc.  Find the matching number on the right column and encourage to trace dotted number.  
5.  Color following instructions - encourage the children to color the matching helicopters the same color or send home with instructions to review skills and color.

Activity 6:  Helicopter- Dot-to-Dot Numbers 1 to 10 Ages 3.5
*Skills:  trace - pre-writing skills, number recognition, sequence, coloring. 

Tip:  Print activity worksheets in pastel color paper to add interest (light blue is fun for this page for a sky background)

1.  Allow the children to explore and get acquainted with the page.
2.  Display a page, point and together identify the numbers and count out loud.  The children can follow by pointing and tracing with their fingers first.  
3.  Encourage the children to trace with a color pencil or crayon.  
4.  Point to the clouds under the helicopter, trace with your fingers and suggest to the children to do the same.  Have the children trace the clouds with pencil or crayon.
5.  Color and decorate the image.  Idea:  Fill the clouds with cut up white material - 1 piece square of toilet tissue paper - tear in two pieces and apply a thin amount of glue with a brush over the two clouds.  The children press gently to accommodate the tissue.  The tissue tends the "contract and lift a bit" creating a fluffy effect.  Try it its fun!  One cotton ball for each cloud also works by expanding and stretching it.
  
Activity 7:  Reading - Story time - Helicopter Theme

Story time can be integrated at any time you feel is more convenient during the activities. 

A book with a helicopter theme would be great, secure one from the library.  Here is one that we really enjoy!

Helicopter Craft
Color:
Template 1 & 2

Black & White:
Template 1 & 2

Materials to gather:
*Print crafts and worksheets on regular paper, construction paper, card stock
* something to color with
*scissors
*glue or glue stick
*optional - large fastener (for children over 3+ only)
Review instructions for other decorations

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