Education Resource List
Lesson Plans
Kites in the Classroom - English version (in PDF)
Kites in the Classroom - Spanish Version (in PDF)
The names of the parts of a kite
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Activities for Students
- Build a kite and test it - students are given materials and a plan
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Track the wind - track direction and wind speed each day at the same hour
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Study motion - roll, pitch, and yaw
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Study drag - as related to kites and flight
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Study lift - how do kites generate lift?
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Stability - What are 3 methods that kites use for stability?
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What is meant by "sail loading"?
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Fly a kite with and without tails
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Move the tow point on the bridle higher and lower. How does it affect flight?
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How does adding weight to the kite affect flight?
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Artistic decoration - kites can be a canvas for the most beautiful artwork
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Hold a kite festival - the students bring kites from home to fly at a given time
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Kite parade - students walk while their kites fly. Kites can be held by their bridles or attached to poles
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Kite contest for altitude - students must unspool the line quickly. The one that reaches the end of the line in the shortest time wins!
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Smallest kite contest - student's kites must fly on 10' of sewing thread. Smallest wins. Kite tails are ignored.
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Teams build kites - students attach multiple kites to the same line to create a kite train
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Dual line lessons - students learn to fly a 2-line stunt kite
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Quad line lessons - students learn to fly a 4-line stunt kite
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Junkyard wars - students build a kite from only the scrap materials that are supplied by the instructor. It must fly when it's done!
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Candy drop - the teachers kite is used to lift a bag of candy then drop the candy from above
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Racing with the Bols - students race into the wind pulling 6' parachutes behind them
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How to build a kite and lead a workshop
Kite Workshop Handbook (print version)
Kite Workshop Handbook (eBook version)
20 Kids - 20 Kites - 20 Minutes (has a video of a paper kite that can be made with a drinking straw)
Book for teachers with kite plans (in PDF)
Building Free and Recycled Kites with 12 plans
Making kites from recycled materials
Kite-making retreats:
Fort Worden Kitemakers Retreat
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How to Fly a Kite
Free book with the details of buying, setting up, flying (in PDF)
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History of Kites
Kite history from National Kite Month
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Science and Math
Newton's First Law applied to kites
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Language
Names for kites around the world
The word "kite" in many languages
Art
Geography and Culture
Videos
More Kite Resources
National Kite Month (Every April)
Kite stores - where to buy a kite
Curious George kite - a PDF File from PBS
Kite Links from Kennesaw State University
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Organizations
The American Kitefliers Association (AKA)
Magazines
Kiting magazine (with back issues)
Kitelife magazine (with back issues)
Kite Lines magazine (back issues)
People to Contact
AKA Resources TBD