Welcome to
Launchpad to Learning!

Online Activities to keep you and your kids entertained (and learning)

We will also feature games, activities and documentary clips from some of our cool partner organizations, like NASA! Check back daily to see what new and exciting educational resources for kids and families we have added. You can also join the conversation on social media, which is linked at the bottom of the page.

Welcome to Launchpad to Learning image

Welcome to Launchpad to Learning

What exactly is Launchpad to Learning? Well let our innovative leader, Troy Thrash, tell you all about it. We look forward to seeing you (digitally speaking) each day as we post new educational activities and videos for you to enjoy during your time at home!

Fun with Dry Ice! image

STEAM Education

Fun with Dry Ice!

Did you know that dry ice is a solid gas... and that it forms at −109.3 °F?!? Want to see some cool things you can do with it at home? Well, check this out!

Meet the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair image

Meet the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair

Join Michael as he shares some interesting facts about our co-founder's aircraft!

Apollo Missions - Lunar Landings image

Apollo Missions - Lunar Landings

Check out one of Troy's favorite artifacts as he and Christy reveal the significance of the Air Zoo's Moon map!

Extracting Strawberry DNA! image

STEAM Education

Extracting Strawberry DNA!

Ever wondered what DNA looks like, or what it actually does for a living thing? Join Karn and see it for yourself!

Ada Twist, Scientist image

Ada Twist, Scientist

We are excited to launch our first story-time video! You are sure to love this engaging story of Ada, a young budding scientist, narrated by the Air Zoo's President & CEO, Troy Thrash.

Defying the Laws of Nature @ Home! image

STEAM Education

Defying the Laws of Nature @ Home!

Looking for something fun to do? Follow along with Erin, as she shows you a unique way to defy the laws of nature - at home!

Meet the WACO CG-4A Glider! image

Meet the WACO CG-4A Glider!

Did you know historic Kalamazoo icons like Gibson Guitar and Shakespeares played a role in building this glider in WWII? David will share the story with you and the role it played on D-Day.

An Airplane Adventure - from the T-28 Cockpit! image

An Airplane Adventure - from the T-28 Cockpit!

Hey kiddos! Prepare for take off with Troy as he reads "Airplane Flight! A Lift-the-Flap-Adventure" from the cockpit of our T-28 Trojan.

Make Lava Lamps @ Home! image

STEAM Education

Make Lava Lamps @ Home!

Need something fun and educational to do today? Kathy will teach you how to make lava lamps with household ingredients!

A Local Connection - Jack Sims image

A Local Connection - Jack Sims

Have you heard of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo? Learn more about the raid, and local hero Jack Sims with Quinton.

Restoration at the Air Zoo image

Restoration at the Air Zoo

Learn how the Air Zoo gets aircraft to restore and what some of the process looks like!

Violet the Pilot image

Violet the Pilot

Join Jada as she takes you on an exciting adventure. This novel written by Steve Breen is sure to fly right into your heart.

Chromatography Fun at Home! image

STEAM Education

Chromatography Fun at Home!

Join Air Zoo educator, Natalie, as she shows you how to do coffee filter ink chromatography at home, using simple supplies!

International Children's Book Day image

International Children's Book Day

Join Katie and Emmett as they narrate one of their favorite books in celebration of International Children's Book Day!

Our Tomcat - in 60 Seconds! image

Our Tomcat - in 60 Seconds!

Michael shares some cool facts and history about our F-14 Tomcat!

Let's Make Rockets! image

STEAM Education

Let's Make Rockets!

We have an out-of-this-world project for you today. Make your own rockets at home with Alex!

Bird Calls image

STEAM Education

Bird Calls

Go outside and listen for native Michigan bird calls with Air Zoo science educator, Karn. These are some of the songs and calls in each bird’s musical vocabulary.

V-1 Flying Bomb image

V-1 Flying Bomb

Do you know the history behind the German Lutwaffe's V-1 Flying Bomb? And how did it navigate without a pilot?

The Astronaut Handbook image

The Astronaut Handbook

Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut? Let's see as Troy takes us through the handbook in front of the Air Zoo's ISS training exhibit.

Meet the Buchon image

Meet the Buchon

Did you know this aircraft made its Hollywood debut in 1969?

DIY Mazes image

STEAM Education

DIY Mazes

Natalie will help you build your own unique mazes with materials you have lying around! How creative can you get?

Eggciting Activities for Easter! image

STEAM Education

Eggciting Activities for Easter!

Fun Easter Activities and fun for families from our friends at Gift of Curiosity. Check them out and get ready for Sunday!

Can Cows Fly? image

Can Cows Fly?

Join Jada as she takes you on a journey. A cow's journey - of flight!?!

On Exhibit - Clare Chandler image

On Exhibit - Clare Chandler

Meet a local Allegan hero and Tuskegee Airmen. Objects, on loan from his granddaughter, help to tell his fascinating story.

Penny Chemistry image

STEAM Education

Penny Chemistry

What do the Statue of Liberty, the planet Mars, and a penny have in common?

Restoring the FM-2 Wildcat image

Restoring the FM-2 Wildcat

Join us to discover how the Air Zoo's talented restoration team tackles this complex restoration, it spent 68 years on the bottom of Lake Michigan, with their one-of-a-kind invention.

On the Moon image

On the Moon

5-4-3-2-1...Blast off! What is it like to be an astronaut going to the moon? Join Troy as he reads a story called, "On the Moon". It is an out-of-this-world adventure!

Be a Yo-Yo Master image

STEAM Education

Be a Yo-Yo Master

Well, maybe not a master, but let Air Zoo Educator and yo-yo guru, Alex, show you the basics to work on at home.

A One-of-a-kind at the Air Zoo! image

A One-of-a-kind at the Air Zoo!

Get the scoop on how the only remaining, and experimental, XP-55 Ascender "landed" at the Air Zoo.

Trash and Recycling - Earth Day image

Trash and Recycling - Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day this year with an informative story told by our very own Air Zoo Education Manager, Kathy! Let's work hard to care for our planet!

Fifi - the Flying Gremlin image

Fifi - the Flying Gremlin

Learn about this high-flying Disney gremlin Fifinella and her ties to the Air Zoo's co-founder, Sue Parish!

Dry Ice Cannons image

STEAM Education

Dry Ice Cannons

Want to watch Erin do some fun tricks with dry ice? We thought so, enjoy!

Shadow Science - Part 1 image

STEAM Education

Shadow Science - Part 1

Ever wondered why your shadow is a shape shifter, or why it is night time here when it is daytime somewhere else? Karn has some shadow science basics for you.

Air Zoo's Spy-posium - Episode 061 image

Air Zoo's Spy-posium - Episode 061

Our story starts with me [Brandon Gonzales] standing in a hangar. A really big hangar. Actually, it’s more like a movie set. A movie set, with rides, and an F-14 and an SR-71, but they’re not props though, they’re real…

A BT-13 Christmas Story image

A BT-13 Christmas Story

One of 11,000 BT-13 Valiants produced in WWII made a very special journey for one of our Air Zoo Families for their 1951 Christmas. Let's hear Dolly's story now.

Making Sundials image

STEAM Education

Making Sundials

Explore solar/shadow science with us and learn how you can use the sun to tell time.

Color Your Community - Happy! image

STEAM Education

Color Your Community - Happy!

Let's spread some love and beauty. Join us as we celebrate community, it is easy (and fun) to get involved! #AirZooArt

The Biggest Hand-Painted Mural in the World! image

The Biggest Hand-Painted Mural in the World!

More than 100 years of flight depicted in the world's largest indoor, hand-painted mural - at the Air Zoo!

The Science of Music image

STEAM Education

The Science of Music

Do you know the science behind making music? Let's join Air Zoo educator Matt, and learn what makes music!

The Tuskegee Airmen Painting at the Air Zoo image

The Tuskegee Airmen Painting at the Air Zoo

Andrew Woodstock's watercolor and graphite artwork was inspired by the brave Tuskegee Airmen. Learn the story behind the art.

DIY Kites image

STEAM Education

DIY Kites

Let's join Natalie as she takes us step by step through making our own kites for high-flying fun this spring!

If You Decide To Go To The Moon image

If You Decide To Go To The Moon

Feeling a bit stuck and wanting to plan your next adventure? Well if you decide to go to the moon we have you covered.

Our Hiller Helicopter image

Our Hiller Helicopter

This versatile and affordable helicopter design was sought after the U.S. Military during the late 40's and early 50s.

Star Gaze from Anywhere! image

STEAM Education

Star Gaze from Anywhere!

Explore space, all from your own backyard! Join Erin as she walks you through a free app that will let you explore the stars and beyond!

Behind the Scenes at Pearl Harbor image

Behind the Scenes at Pearl Harbor

Have you seen the 1970 film "Tora! Tora! Tora!"? One of our docents got to see it from a different point of view during his time in Pearl Harbor.

SR-71 Blackbird Refueling image

SR-71 Blackbird Refueling

Check out this in-air refueling of an SR-71 being flown by one of our friends, SR pilot, BC Thomas. Can you imagine refueling in the air?

A Chemistry Clock image

STEAM Education

A Chemistry Clock

Follow along with Air Zoo educator Karn, as she shows you some cool chemistry using everyday things like iodine and apple juice!

The Bread Rocket image

The Bread Rocket

This 1954 futuristic rocket once traveled the country promoting the popular sci-fi tv show! Now it's at the Air Zoo.

Our Aircraft Welcome You image

Our Aircraft Welcome You

Always wanted to know more about the aircraft that grace the front the Air Zoo? Then this 60 second, scenic, outdoor Air Zoo tour is for you!

Walk Among Our Giants - Outside! image

Walk Among Our Giants - Outside!

Did you know we have new airplanes to visit between our two centers? Stop by and say hello if you are out and about!

El Kabong I image

El Kabong I

This Gemini boilerplate aided Nasa scientist in their race to space during the 1950s. How did we get it?

More online activities for kids and families!

Partner Links

HowToSmile.org
A database of at-home learning activities uploaded by hundreds of museums and science centers around the world.

Eduporium.com
Online STEAM activities students can do at home.

sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments
Fun and easy at-home science experiment videos and instructions.

West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA)
Brings you digital jigsaw puzzles to keep you busy, with images from our West Michigan attractions, including the Air Zoo!

Grand Rapids Kids (GRKids.com)
Check out their Michigan Family Travel Guide - Armchair Edition, for fun online activities for families to keep your minds wandering while your bodies can't.

Air Zoo Extras!

Crossword Puzzles!

Astronomy Crossword - Answer Key

Earth Science - Answer Key

Anatomy of the Eye - Answer Key

Electricity (Elementary Age) - Answer Key

Electricity (High School Age) - Answer Key

Flowering Plants - Answer Key

Insect Biology - Answer Key

Mathematics

Mathematics Coloring

Color Mathmagic

Mathematics Drill Ninja

Aerospace Counting Sheets

Exploring Your Five Senses

Skip Counting & Missing Numbers Fun