Kk Kite, Making, Flying, Fun
Letter: Kk
Number: 11
Shape: Diamond review
Lessons: Rhyming
With this packet the children learn about kites and how to make them fly. There are a few different kite making designs included. They will make and decorate a kite, make and decorate a windsock, a cute little parachutist and a fish kite. They will learn
the history of kites, kite safety, the secrets of making a kite fly, make a clay kite mobile, make kite cookies, design a kite bulletin board, learn how the weather effects kite flying, go kite flying and more. They will learn about Alexander Graham
Bell, The Wright Brothers, and Ben Franklin. They will also find out what kites are called in other countries. Included are activities that include the letter K, and number 11 and diamond shape review. This unit is not long, but involves a lot of time.
Letter and Number Activities:
Using the letter K outline, do one of the following:
Color it pretty colors, cut it out, hang on a string from the ceiling.
Place kite stickers in the outline.
What other words begin with K
Cut out around the letter K in a kite shape, color it pretty colors, punch a hole in each of the kites 4 points, tie a string on the front from the left to the right holes and another from the top and bottom holes. Where the strings cross over each other
tie a string to hold onto while you fly your letter K kite. You can add a scrap fabric or a crepe paper tail.
Using the number 11 outline do one of the following:
Color it pretty colors.
Draw 11 kite shapes in the outline.
Color and cut out the number 11, (cut out each 1 separately) punch a hole in the top of each number and hang from a small paper plate. You have a number 11 mobile.
Shape Activities
Using the kite shape patterns, cut out several kites, about 4 or 5. Decorate each one different. Use a piece of yarn that is 24 inches long, tape the yarn to the back of the kites so they are in a nice neat row.
Cut kite shapes out of wallpaper samples or construction paper. Cut the kite shapes in half, each one with a different cut pattern, have the child put the kites back together by recognizing the shapes that go together.
Kite History and Facts
Kite History
The Chinese have flown kites for at over 2,500 years. They were the first people to make kites. They constructed them from wood, then silk and bamboo. After paper was invented, paper became the favored material. The Chinese are experts at making kites.
They make colorful kites in shapes of dragons, birds, and butterflies. Some kites are so big that they require four or five people to operate them. Around the 11th century, kites became a common amusement. Then it became a seasonal activity. The main
kite flying season occurs from Chinese New Year (in January and February) through Qingming (in March or April) because the winds are most favorable at that time of the year. The basic colors for kites are red, yellow and blue. These colors were of the
costumes the emperor wore.
Kites in Different Countries Are Called:
Chinese - Fung jung
English - Kite
French - Cerf volant
German - Drachen
Italian - Aquilone
Japanese - Tako
Mexican - Papalote
Spanish - Cometas
In Sign Language - If you are right handed, take your left index finger, and point (touching) to the center of your right wrist, (fingers extended to indicate a bigger kite). Your right thumb would normally be about 4-6 inches away from your right
cheek, initially. At the same time wiggle your right hand while raising it higher.
Famous Kite Fliers
Benjamin Franklin
Kites have been used throughout history for enjoyment and practical purposes. Benjamin Franklin used a kite to help discover electricity. Ben Franklin invented reading glasses, the Franklin stove and the lightning rod. In 1752 Ben Franklin proved
there was electricity in storm clouds. He tied a brass key to kite, he tied to the end of his line during a thunderstorm. When the stormy atmosphere (lightning in the clouds) struck the kites line and travelled down to the key where it caused a spark of
electricity. This was a dangerous experiment because if he had been wet he could have been badly hurt.
The Wright Brothers
In 1903 the Wright Brothers experimented with large box kites. These experiments led to the creating the first airplane. Box kites were also helpful in predicting weather. From 1898 to 1993 kite stations flew box kites equipped with weather- measuring
devices.
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell’s many inventions and experiments, included, the telephone, the hydrofoil, and the tetrahedron kite. His interest in flying led to a completely new form, the tetrahedron kite, which he created while trying to design a man-carrying
kite. His work had great impact on the development of aviation. He also designed helicopter models, man-carrying kites, and The Silver Dart plane.
Physical Activities
Running
Practice running in a nice smooth fashion, pretend you are flying a kite. Be sure you watch where you are going and make sure your kite stays in a safe area. Pretend your kite is doing a kite trick. What trick is your pretend kite doing?
Hands On Activities
Edible Toast Kites
Give the child a piece of bread in the shape of a kite, let them paint it with food coloring. Toast the bread and have a delicious snack.
A Fish Kite
Cut two identical fish from the fish pattern page. Decorate with crayons, markers, glitter, sequins, etc. Staple the sides of the fish together leaving the mouth end open. Stuff crumpled newspaper inside the fish, staple crepe paper streamers to the
tail. Attach string to the mouth area and you have a fish kite. Run in the wind and watch your fish fly.
A Simple Windsock or Two
Use a toilet paper tube and cover it with contact paper, construction paper, etc. Staple several crepe paper streamers from one end. Attach a string to the other end and you have a windsock.
For a larger windsock, make a tube from poster board, the tube can be any size you wish and do the same as above. Hang the windsocks from the ceiling or outside where you can see it soar in the wind. Hanging it outside will also tell you what direction
the wind is coming from.
Kite Wall Hanging
Provide the child with a kite shape cut from 8 1/2 x 11 white paper. Have them drop small drops of different colors of poster paint on one half of the kite, Fold the kite in half, then open it up to see a cool design. Display them on a wall or hang from
the ceiling.
Clay Kite (or fish) Mobile
1/2 cup drained applesauce
3/4 cup cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 tablespoons white glue
Rolling pins and cookie cutters
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, knead with hands until stiff. Roll 1/4" thick. Cut out shapes with diamond shaped or fish shaped cookie cutters. Poke a hole in the top of each with a drinking straw. Place on cookie sheet, bake at 250 degrees
for 1 hour. Decorate by gluing on sequins, glitter, etc. Make a mobile by tying a string through each shape and then tying them randomly to a heavy paper plate by poking small holes and feeding the string through, add a bead to the string so it does not
drop through the hole in the paper plate. These smell so good when you hang them in the house.
Make a Parachutist
Use small plastic army man or similar item, take a 16 inch square piece of trash bag and tie a string to each corner. Tie the string together at the bottom and attach them around the top or an arm of the plastic army man. Toss the parachute in the air
and watch it float to the ground.
Kite or Fish Cookies
Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe and cut the cookies in shapes of fish or kites. When cool decorate and have a great snack.
Design A Bulletin Board
If you don’t have a bulletin board, a wall will do. Hang a piece of poster board on the wall or use a bulletin board. Cut out and decorate fish and kite patterns. Arrange them as a border on the poster board or bulletin board. Add some of your final
activity pieces to the bulletin board to show what you have done.
Make A Simple Flying Kite, Instructions #1
Decorate a paper grocery bag. On each corner at the bottom glue or staple a crepe paper streamer. punch holes in both sides at the open end, attach piece of string to form a loop - this will be the flying line. Take the kite outdoors fly the kites by
running and holding the string.
Make A Real Flying Kite, Instructions #2
You will need 2 sticks, one stick is 2 feet long the other is 3 feet long. Make a cross with the sticks, (the longer one goes up and down, the shorter one goes left to right. Place the shorter stick one foot down from the top of the longer stick. Tie a
piece of string around where the sticks meet so it is very snug. Be sure to cross over and over several times, tie the string in a knot. Notch the ends of each stick (an adult should do this) by cutting a small slit the width of the stick. Slip the
string into the notches and pull it tight, all the way around. Knot the two ends of string together. This is your kites frame.
Lay the kite frame on a piece os large paper. Cut around it, leaving the paper a little larger than the frame. Cut away the corners. Bend the edges of the cover over the string and the frame. Fasten them down with glue. Decorated your kite as you
wish.
Only a few more steps before flying: cut a piece of string the length of two sides of the kite (that’s one short side plus one long side). Tie one end of the string around the top of the kites stick. Make a loop one-third of the way down the string and
knot it. Tie the other end of the string to the bottom of the kites stick..
Measure and cut a string that is five times as long as the kite. Cut more paper into little strips, measuring 2x3 inches. Tie the strips onto the string, 8 inches apart. Tie one end of the tail to the bottom of the kite. Now tie the kite line to the
loop. The kite is ready to fly!
Kite Flying Safety and Tips
Safety Tips
Buy or build kites made from plastic or wood.
Fly kites in wide open areas, away from power lines and trees
Use cotton or nylon string (metallic string can be dangerous if it comes in contact with electricity).
Don’t fly kites in the rain, always fly them in dry weather
If a kite gets caught in a tree or an electrical line, do not try to get it down.
Kite Winds and Kite Flying Tips
We can’t control the wind, so we learn to watch for the right kite flying conditions:
The wind should be about 5-25 mph
Kite flying is better when the when the wind is medium.
You can make your kite dance across the sky by pulling in and letting out the line.
If the wind goes over and around trees and buildings, it gets difficult to fly kites.
Stand with your back to the wind, if there is enough wind, your kite will go right up.
Your kite may need a tail, it helps keep the kite flying smooth in stronger winds.
Songs
Let’s Go Fly A Kite (tune: Mary Poppins - Let’s go Fly A Kite)
Let’s go fly a kite
Up where the skies so bright
Let’s go fly a kite, and keep it soaring
Up where the skies so bright, lets fly the nice blue kite
Oh, let’s go fly a kite
You can sing additional verses and change the color or shape of the kite.
Games
Play a Fly Away Game:
Lay a table cloth on the ground and have the children stand around it. Place several balloons in the center. Have the children pick up the sheet and rise and lower it slowly. Be careful not to le the balloons get away.
Musical Balloons:
Have the children sit in a circle. Turn on their favorite music and have them pass the balloon around the circle until the music stops. Who ever has the balloon when the music stops is out.
Rhyming Words
Have the children give a word that rhymes with each of the following:
KITE
FISH
FLY
STRING
TAIL
AIR
WIND
UP