10 Fun Facts About Amelia Earhart for Kids + Coloring Page

Looking for a simple, fun way to introduce your kids to one of history’s most daring and inspiring women? This Amelia Earhart biography for kids is just what you need! Packed with fun facts about Amelia Earhart, this post is perfect for homeschool lessons, classroom activities, or simply sparking curiosity about this famous female pilot.

Whether you’re exploring women in aviation history, celebrating Women’s History Month, or diving into a unit on famous explorers, these facts and activities will help bring Amelia’s story to life. Plus, you’ll find a free printable Amelia Earhart coloring page to make learning even more hands-on and fun.

A Quick Amelia Earhart Biography: The Life of a Trailblazing Pilot

Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas. She grew up loving adventure-building her own homemade roller coaster in the backyard! Though planes didn’t impress her at first, everything changed during her twenties when she took her first flight. She knew right then she was meant to be in the sky.

Amelia took flying lessons from Neta Snook, one of the few women flight instructors back then, and quickly became a confident pilot. Amelia set records left and right, becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932 – a huge achievement in the history of female pilots.

More than fame, Amelia wanted to inspire others, especially girls and women, to chase their dreams. She co-founded the Ninety-Nines, an organization still supporting women pilots today.

In 1937, while attempting to fly around the world, Amelia disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Despite many search efforts, her fate remains one of the biggest mysteries in aviation history. Yet, her brave spirit still inspires kids (and grown-ups!) today.

Did you know? Every year on July 24th, National Amelia Earhart Day is celebrated to honor her courage and adventurous spirit. It’s a perfect day for your homeschool or classroom to celebrate with fun activities, learning, and of course, your Amelia Earhart coloring page!

10 Fun Facts About Amelia Earhart for Kids

1. She wasn’t impressed by planes at first. When Amelia was 10, she saw her first airplane at the Iowa State Fair but thought it looked like a rusty pile of junk. She didn’t fall in love with flying until she was 23.
   
2. Her first plane was bright yellow. Amelia’s very first plane was a yellow biplane nicknamed the Canary. She bought it just six months after starting flying lessons!
   
3. She set a world record for women pilots. Amelia became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932-a dangerous journey that made her a global hero.
   
4. She had her own clothing line. Amelia designed stylish and practical clothes for adventurous women long before “athleisure” was a thing.
   
5. She loved helping other women fly. Amelia co-founded the Ninety-Nines to support female pilots, a group still active today.
   
6. She collected nicknames. Her friends called her “Lady Lindy” because she resembled famous aviator Charles Lindbergh.
   
7. She wasn’t afraid to get messy. Amelia worked on engines and fixed planes herself. She loved understanding how things worked.
   
8. She broke more than one flying record. In 1935, Amelia was the first person-man or woman-to fly solo from Hawaii to California.
   
9. She once worked as a nurse’s aide. During World War I, Amelia helped care for wounded soldiers, showing her bravery long before flying.
   
10. Her final flight remains a mystery. Amelia disappeared in 1937 while trying to fly around the world. People are still searching for clues about what happened to her plane.

Print & Go Giveaway: Free Amelia Earhart Coloring Page

Use it as a quiet activity while you share these fun facts, or add it to your history or women’s studies binder for a hands-on learning keepsake.

FAQ: Amelia Earhart Learning Questions

These quick Q&A questions are perfect for sparking discussion or digging deeper into Amelia’s life. Use them as journal prompts, conversation starters, or mini research challenges.

Q: Who was Amelia Earhart?

A: Amelia Earhart was a famous American pilot and one of the most important figures in women’s aviation history. She became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Q: When was Amelia Earhart born?

A: She was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas.

Q: Why is Amelia Earhart important?

A: She showed that women could achieve incredible things in a male-dominated field and inspired millions to chase their dreams.

Q: What plane did Amelia Earhart fly?

A: She famously flew a bright red Lockheed Vega 5B during her Atlantic solo flight.

Q: What happened to Amelia Earhart?

A: She disappeared in 1937 while trying to fly around the world. Her plane was never found, and her disappearance remains one of history’s biggest mysteries.

Q: Did they ever find Amelia Earhart’s plane?

A: Despite massive search efforts, no confirmed pieces of her Lockheed Electra have been discovered. In early 2024, a company released sonar images that sparked excitement, but the object was later confirmed to be a natural formation, not her plane. Most experts believe she crashed into the Pacific Ocean, though some think she may have landed on a remote island like Nikumaroro.

Learn more in this detailed article covering the 2024 sonar discovery and why it was ruled out.

Q: What can kids learn from Amelia Earhart?

A: Kids can learn about courage, problem-solving, perseverance, and the importance of exploring new ideas.

Springboard Learning Ideas

Want to go deeper? Use these fun facts about Amelia Earhart as a jumping-off point for hands-on activities and discussions that spark curiosity and learning. Perfect for homeschool or classroom!

1. True or False Flip Game
   Make quick true or false cards from the fun facts (like “Amelia’s first plane was blue-False!”). Kids can hold up True or False cards or move to different sides of the room. For extra learning, invite them to correct false statements so they become true.
   
2. Fact or Fiction Sort
   Mix in a few silly, made-up facts like “Amelia taught penguins to fly.” Kids sort the real facts from the fakes. This builds critical thinking and research skills as they check answers with books or the biography section.
   
3. Math with Amelia
   Turn her flights into simple math problems. For example, “If Amelia’s Atlantic flight took about 14 hours, how many hours would two flights take?” Older kids can estimate miles per hour using flight distances. Younger kids can count and add using paper plane cutouts.
   
4. Map the Adventure
   Grab some yarn or colored pencils to trace Amelia’s Atlantic solo flight and her Hawaii-to-California route on a world map. Older kids can measure distances and compare them to modern flights between the same locations.
   
5. Paper Airplane STEM Challenge
   Let kids design and test three different paper airplane styles. Which one flies farthest? Have them record results on a chart, tweak designs, and test again-just like Amelia fine-tuned her planes.
   
6. Women in History Spotlight
   Compare Amelia Earhart with other pioneering women like Bessie Coleman or Sally Ride. What challenges did they face? What was different about their achievements? Kids can create a simple comparison chart or Venn diagram.
   
7. Mystery Detectives
   Amelia’s disappearance is still unsolved. Present two or three short theories (crash and sink, Nikumaroro island, etc.) and ask kids which one they think is most likely and why. They can draw their chosen theory or write a short “Case Closed” summary.

Recommended Books and Videos for Kids

If your kids are curious about Amelia’s life, here are a few engaging resources to explore:

• Who Was Amelia Earhart? – A kid-friendly biography with fun illustrations.
• Amelia Earhart (Little People, BIG Dreams) – A beautiful picture book perfect for younger learners.
• Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride – A true story of Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt’s nighttime flight adventure.
• Amelia Earhart Documentary Videos (YouTube) – Short videos that explore her life in a way kids can understand.

Final Thoughts

Amelia Earhart’s story is more than just an adventure tale-it’s a reminder that curiosity and courage can lead to amazing discoveries. Whether you use the coloring page, dive into books, compare historic flights, or launch a paper airplane test zone in your hallway, your kids will see how one woman’s determination changed history.

So go ahead, grab your coloring page, spark some great conversations, and let Amelia’s story take your homeschool or classroom on a magical journey into the clouds.