Kite Construction (Lesson Plan)

This is a great lesson for all ages. It can be modified and adapted for children in grade K-5.  In this lesson; children are actively involved in the process of making their own kite.  They have to form a hypothesis of whether or not their kite will fly and then test it to find out.

Title – Kite Construction
By – Steven V. Rand
Grade Level – 1-5
 
Teacher Aim: To teach the children the technology of kite making.
Student Aim: The students will learn how to make a kite and why it flies.

Motivation:
1. By reading a story about kites
2. Making paper air planes
3. Making a kite
4. Flying their kite

Materials:
  1. Straws
  2. Sticks
  3. Paper
  4. Scissors
  5. Glue
  6. Staple gun
  7. Cellophane paper
  8. Wire
  9. Cloth
  10. String
  11. Storybook
  12. Hand outs

Procedure:

1. Read a story about different types of kites.
2. Talk to the class about how air and weight effect kites.
3. Show them a paper plane that you made and show them how it flies.
4. Have the children make a paper plane and let them fly it.
5. Have the children explain to you why their plane flew or fell to the ground.
6. Split the class into groups of four.
7. Hand out materials to each group to make their kite.
8. Show the class the kite that you made and how it looks.
9. Show the children websites such as:

www.geocities.com/Colosseum/4569/pictures.htm
     or
www.intothewind.com/kites101
     or
www.geocities.com/Colosseum/4569/history.htm

and the book Projects with Air by John Williams, 1990.   
10. Have each group come up with a hypothesis on whether their kite will fly or not fly.
11. Have one member write it down.
12. Tell each group they will come up with their own design to make a kite.
13. When each group has built their kite the class will go out side to see if their hypothesis was correct.

Conclusion: At the end of the lesson and when all the groups have flown their kites each group will come back to their seats and write down their results of what happened to their kite. They will also write an explanation why their hypothesis came true or failed.