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
Activities for Students
- Build a kite and test it - students are given materials and a plan
-
Track the wind - track direction and wind speed each day at the same hour
-
Study motion - roll, pitch, and yaw
-
Study drag - as related to kites and flight
-
Study lift - how do kites generate lift?
-
Stability - What are 3 methods that kites use for stability?
-
What is meant by "sail loading"?
-
Fly a kite with and without tails
-
Move the tow point on the bridle higher and lower. How does it affect flight?
-
How does adding weight to the kite affect flight?
-
Artistic decoration - kites can be a canvas for the most beautiful artwork
-
Hold a kite festival - the students bring kites from home to fly at a given time
-
Kite parade - students walk while their kites fly. Kites can be held by their bridles or attached to poles
-
Kite contest for altitude - students must unspool the line quickly. The one that reaches the end of the line in the shortest time wins!
-
Smallest kite contest - student's kites must fly on 10' of sewing thread. Smallest wins. Kite tails are ignored.
-
Teams build kites - students attach multiple kites to the same line to create a kite train
-
Dual line lessons - students learn to fly a 2-line stunt kite
-
Quad line lessons - students learn to fly a 4-line stunt kite
-
Junkyard wars - students build a kite from only the scrap materials that are supplied by the instructor. It must fly when it's done!
-
Candy drop - the teachers kite is used to lift a bag of candy then drop the candy from above
-
Racing with the Bols - students race into the wind pulling 6' parachutes behind them
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
How to Fly a Kite
Free book with the details of buying, setting up, flying (in PDF)
History of Kites
Kite history from National Kite Month
Science and Math
Newton's First Law applied to kites
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
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