Kite

KITE

Materials :           Thin paper 7˝x 7˝ (1 per student)            

                             Straws (2 per student)       

                                     Color Markers (Not included)

                             Spool of String (1)

Classroom Time: 45 minutes

Objectives (The student will (learn about/learn to):

1. Individuality can be a very productive and beautiful characteristic.

2. Describe the kind of wind that was best for kite flying.

3. Flying is an activity that needs flight plans to avoid deviation or destruction.

Teacher’s introduction to the activity:

For hundreds of years children have flown kites. Kites, thought to have originated in China, were predecessors of air flight. Many factors are important to flight: dray, lift, relative wind, balance, stability, weight and Newton’s Law of action & reaction.

Did you know that in Korea the birth of a child is announced with a kite? The Chinese even used them in battle because they shrieked in the wind. In Japan May 5th is a special day for flying kites called “Children’s’ Day”.

Instructions:  

1. Decorate your kite in a way that lets people know who you are.

2. Form a diamond shape by crossing 2 straws behind the kite, to support it, a frame (see kite diagram)

3. Attach a string at least 3 yards long to the bottom corner

4. On a windy day, keeping away from power lines, etc., fly your kite.

5. Keep a record of the kind of winds on the days you flew, and how well it worked.

Variations:

Make your kite larger; is it an improvement? Why?

Try another shape; does shape effect airflow?

Try different kinds of paper; in what way does texture, etc. effect airflow?