Little kids love doing transport crafts – trucks, trains, cars, airplanes… – my toddlers could make these all day and everyday!
But these are way more than cute crafts that you can pin to the fridge or put on the mantelpiece.
These ones actually do something!
Whether it’s a car that rolls over bridges, a boat you load with cargo until it sinks or a rocket that you can launch into the nearest tree (ahem) — every single craft on this list moves, floats, flies, or is a proper build-and-test challenge.
They’re perfect for a transport theme for your early years learners – whether at home or in the classroom and they sneak in some brilliant early science along the way.
We’re talking forces, buoyancy, air resistance, and gravity — all disguised as a really good time!
Ready? Let’s get building.
Things That Roll
Let’s start on land! These transport STEM crafts for kids all move under their own power — no pushing required (well, mostly).
Balloon-Powered Juice Box Car
Make a balloon-powered car from a recycled juice box. Blow up the balloon, let it go, and watch it zoom!
A brilliant introduction to thrust and propulsion for toddlers and preschoolers. They’ll want to race them — make a few and let them go!
Head to Raising Whasians for more details
Rubber Band Car
Wind up the rubber bands, set it down, and off it goes. This one is a fantastically easy transportation STEM craft that little ones will love to play with!
Older preschoolers and kindergarteners will love experimenting with how many rubber band winds gives the best distance — that’s engineering thinking right there.
Jump over to Crafts By Amanda for more details
Moving Car on a Yarn Track (Free Printable)
Start by crafting a paper car with the free printable. Then attach it to a length of yarn threaded through a paper road.
Pull the yarn and the car slides along the track!
This one is brilliant for young toddlers — simple cause and effect, and endlessly repeatable.
Click the link below for the free printable.
Visit In The Playroom for more details
Cardboard Tube Car Ramp
Set up ramps with sheets of cardboard and tunnels with cardboard tubes and let your little ones race their toy cars down.
Which ramp is the fastest? Which cars go the furthest?
Simple to set up and great for developing gross motor skills — kids can adjust the angle of the ramps and tunnels and test their predictions.
A proper little science experiment.
Balloon Powered LEGO Car
Another balloon powered car – this time the kids can create as they please – with LEGO!
Then comes the best bit — asking “what could we change to make it go faster?” and watching little ones problem-solve in real time.
Tweak the design, test it again, and see what happens! A fantastic hands-on transportation STEM activity that builds early engineering thinking in an engaging and interactive way.
See the full tutorial here
Magnetic Cars
Glue magnets onto the bottom of toy cars and place them on an elevated piece of cardboard. Hand the kids a magnetic wand (simply a magnet glued or taped to the end of a stick) and watch the racing begin!
It looks like pure play — but it’s quietly building early science thinking about magnetic force. Low prep, high engagement: double win.
Check it out here
Things That Fly
Time to take it to the skies! These air transportation crafts are all about getting things airborne — and seeing how far, how fast, and how high.
Dragon Paper Airplanes
Take the classic paper airplane to a whole new level with these dragon-shaped flyers. Preschoolers can help with assembly and then experiment with their designs.
Which dragon flies the furthest? A great introduction to aerodynamics — and who doesn’t want a flying dragon?
Get the details at Hess Unacademy
Easy Straw Rockets
Print a rocket template, wrap it around a straw, and blow. These little rockets can really fly!
Kids love experimenting with how hard they blow and whether the angle makes a difference. A fantastic transportation STEM activity for toddlers and preschoolers alike.
Head to Raising Whasians for more details
Cardboard Airplane with Spinning Propeller
Assemble a cardboard airplane from a free template and add a brass fastener propeller that actually spins. This one looks impressive and the spinning propeller detail will delight little ones.
A great craft for older preschoolers and primary schoolers who can manage the assembly.
See the full tutorial at Crafty Kids Play
Balloon Rocket on a String
Thread a straw onto a long piece of yarn stretched across the room. Tape a balloon to the straw, blow it up and let go — the balloon rockets along the string!
This one always gets big reactions. A brilliant demonstration of thrust that’s completely accessible for young children.
Serviette Parachute
Tape a piece of string to each corner of a fabric serviette, attach a small figure as the weight, and drop from a height.
Kids will love seeing it float down — and then experimenting with heavier weights and different sized parachutes. A tried and tested favourite in our house!
Paper Airplane Distance Challenge
Make three different paper airplane designs and test which one flies the furthest. Mark where each one lands and compare the results.
Here’s a video tutorial to get you started, if you’re a novice like me. (The only tutorial I could follow with an enthusiasitc 4 year old on my tail!)
This is a wonderfully fun STEM activity for kids — they’re making predictions, testing them, and drawing conclusions, all while having a great time.
Paper Cup Helicopter
Just a paper cup and a few simple craft supplies — and you’ve got a spinning helicopter! Kids build their own, then drop it and watch it whirl and spin on the way down.
Such a satisfying mix of making and science — and the moment it spins for the first time? Pure magic. Low prep, big fun, and a brilliant little air transport STEM craft for the classroom or home.
See the full tutorial from Healthy Mum And Bub here
Baking Soda Rocket
Fill an empty baking soda container with a little vinegar, drop in some baking soda, close the lid, shake — and watch it rocket into the air!
Then comes the really fun part — experimenting with different amounts to see how high you can get it to go. A classic science reaction that never gets old. Kids absolutely love this one!
See the full tutorial from Early Years Resources here
Things That Float
Now for the water! These water transportation crafts for preschoolers are all about buoyancy, load testing, and the age-old question — will it float?
DIY Floating Egg Carton Boats
Here’s a fun water transportation craft and STEM activity I did with my little ones. Simply wrap egg cartons in tin-foil to make them water-tight, attach a simple construction paper sail and blow!
DIY Propeller Boat
Build a little boat from craft sticks, add a working propeller and fill the bath or a water tray to test it out.
How does the propeller move the boat? What happens if you make the propeller spin the other way? So much to explore!
A great STEM activity for young kids figuring out how things work.
Check out the DIY propeller boat from toddler_ed
LEGO Boat STEM Challenge
Design and build a boat from LEGO bricks, then test how much cargo it can hold before sinking. Load it with coins or buttons — how many before it goes under?
The redesign loop is where the real learning happens — kids tweak their design, retest, and tweak again. A brilliant transportation STEM craft for all ages.
Pop over to Cultivating Brilliant Minds for more details
Pool Noodle Boats With Cocktail Umbrellas
Design and create boats using cut up pool noodles (offer little ones different small peices pre-cut) held together with cocktail sticks.
Add the cocktail umbrella sail and then it’s time to set sail! Racing optional, but who will be able to resist?!
Pop over to Teach Outside The Box for a demo
Paper Straw Raft
Tape a bundle of plastic straws together to make a raft, float it in a tray of water, and carefully balance small toys on top — careful it doesn’t tip!
This one is beautifully simple and great for early fine motor skills and analytical thinking. Placing the toys requires a steady hand and careful thinking about where to position the weight.
A wonderful introduction to balance and load distribution, with no prep and no mess.
Check out Love Bloom Learn’s demo
Straw Boat Race
Make mini boats from bottle tops, playdough, toothpicks and leaves. Set up a finish line, fill a tray with water, and race!
Kids blow through straws to power their boats across the water. First one to cross the finish line wins! A gorgeous, low-prep water transportation STEM activity that’s perfect for the classroom or garden.
See the full tutorial here
Water Powered Boat
Fill a cup with coloured water, pop it on your boat, and as gravity pulls the water down and out through the straw, the boat zooms forward!
It’s cause and effect in action — one thing happens, and something else happens because of it. A super simple, totally fun transportation STEM activity perfect for the classroom.
See this STEM activity in action at Keep The Kids Busy
How Many Counters Can Your Boat Hold?
Set out a tray of open-ended materials — pool noodles, foam, cardboard, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, tape and more — and let kids design, build and test their own boat.
Load up with counters or coins and see whose holds the most before sinking. Then take it further with a boat race using a fan — and talk about why some boats moved faster than others!
This STEM transport craft and activity is great for older kids who can engage in the full design process: plan, build, test, tweak and explain.
See it in action at Innovate Little Learners
Build & Test Challenges
These transportation crafts for kids are all about building something, making a prediction, and putting it to the test. A brilliant way to develop early science thinking.
Hydraulic Lift
Think you can’t lift a car? Think again! This hands-on hydraulic lift activity shows kids exactly how water pressure creates enough force to lift things — including a toy car!
Simple to set up and seriously impressive — a brilliant transportation STEM activity for curious little engineers.
See the lift in action at Brainy Buds
Which Transport STEM Craft Will You Try First?
There you have it — easy transport STEM crafts for kids that actually do something. Whether you’re rolling, flying, floating or building and testing, there’s something here for every little engineer.
These are perfect for a transportation themed preschool week — you could easily pick one from each section for a brilliant five-day plan. Or just dive in wherever the interest takes you!
For even more transportation crafts for toddlers and preschoolers, don’t miss our big roundup post — it’s packed with ideas across every type of transport.
