Skip to main content

Compass is offline while we prepare our new tools

Compass is offline while we prepare our new tools

Compass is now offline. Read more

Discover what this means

Human aeroplane

Find out about the different parts of a plane and work together to create a human version.

Back to Activities

You’ll need

  • Bowls
  • Sticky tack
Illustration of an aeroplane
JPG – 185.8KB
Download Illustration of an aeroplane
Parts of a plane - cards
PDF – 102.7KB
Download Parts of a plane - cards
Parts of a plane - explained
PDF – 106.0KB
Download Parts of a plane - explained

Before you begin

  • Cut up the ‘Parts of a plane - cards’ activity sheet into separate parts. You’ll need one set for each group, plus one extra for an activity with the whole group. Place sticky tack on the backs of one set.
  • There are two versions of the game, with six or 12 people. The six-part game is easier and uses fewer cards.

What goes where?

  1. The person leading the activity should show everyone a picture of an aeroplane or a model aeroplane.
  2. They should then hold up one of the aeroplane parts and ask if anyone can stick it onto the correct part of the plane. The person who knows should explain what the part does as they stick it on. Continue until all the cards are placed on the picture/model.
  1. The person leading the activity should ask everyone if they know any other parts of a plane, inside or outside. Can they name them and point them out to the rest of the group?

Make a plane

  1. The person leading the activity should separate everyone into groups of six for the simpler activity or 12 for the harder version.
  2. Each group needs a set of the cards. Everyone in the group should then take a card – this is the part of the plane they’ll be playing.
  3. Each group should work together to form an aeroplane shape. They can decide how to put together the plane.
  1. When each group has made their plane, the person who is the flight deck can pilot the plane and pretend to fly. The rest of the group should lean side to side following the pilot’s direction or, if they’re standing, work together to move forwards.

Play the plane game

  1. Once everyone has tried making a human aeroplane, they should stay in their groups for the game.
  2. The person leading the activity should place one bowl of aeroplane part cards for each group at one end of the space. The groups should stand the other end.
  3. When the person leading the activity says ‘go!’, the first person in each group should run to the bowl and take out a part and run back to their team. Continue until everyone in the team has a part.
  4. Once everyone has a part, they should work together to quickly form the aeroplane and start moving together.
  5. The winning team is the one quickest to correctly form their aeroplane and ‘take-off’.

Reflection

This activity helped everyone to remember the different parts of an aeroplane by working together to create a human plane. Everyone should talk through the different parts and which were the easiest and hardest to play. How did they find the experience of working together to create it? It’s a good reminder to everyone that aeroplanes are made up of hundreds of complex parts all working together to create a flying craft. One wing can’t fly on its own and a plane without stabilisers is uncontrollable. Can everyone find out more about the different parts of an aeroplane and tell everyone else something new the following week?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Active games

The game area should be free of hazards. Explain the rules of the game clearly and have a clear way to communicate that the game must stop when needed. Take a look at our guidance on running active games safely.

Contact games and activities

Make sure everyone understands what contact is acceptable, and monitor contact throughout the activity.

Try the two difficulty levels of the game. To make it harder, add more parts of a plane such a seating, aisles, rudders and flaps. Make a human biplane, propeller plane or seaplane. After the game, try this activity without giving out the parts of a plane cards. Can teams remember all the names and what they do?

People can stand, sit or lie down for this activity. Anyone who is unable to run can try a different challenge to get their part of the plane.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Air Activities Stage 2

Visit an airfield or air display to learn more about aircraft and flying. Alternatively, if you know anyone involved in flying, invite them along to talk.