Take children on a tour of an airport. Show them the ticket counters, and explain that this is where passengers check in and drop off their luggage before boarding a flight. Show them the luggage area, and tell them this is where passengers pick up their bags when returning from a flight. Watch airplanes land and take off. If possible, arrange beforehand to have an airline or airport staff member talk to students about airline travel and her job in particular.
Explain to the class that pilots are highly trained professionals who fly large commercial airliners all over the world. Then read aloud the book "Young Amelia Earhart: A Dream to Fly," by Sarah Alcott. After reading the book, discuss it with the children. Talk about the qualities the led Earhart to become a successful pilot, including her determination to learning everything she could about airplanes. Both boys and girls should relate to Earhart's adventurous spirit.
Show children a model commercial airplane. Explain that airplanes are very complicated machines, and that it takes many people called mechanics to fix them and keep them running properly. Teach the children the following song, which is sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot." Make up simple actions to go along with the words. "I'm a little airplane, watch me fly! Here are my wings, to go up high. First I get all revved up, then I fly. Lifting off the runway up into the sky!"
Arrange classroom chairs in the form of an airplane cabin. Choose several children to serve as pilots and flight attendants, and dress them up in scarves and hats. Give each student an airline ticket, and have them line up to board the "plane." Once everyone is seated, have a safety demonstration, and explain that passengers must wear seat belts when a plane is taking off and landing. Have one of the pilots announce that the flight is ready for takeoff. Once in the air, have flight attendants serve simple packaged foods and beverages.