How to Build and Decorate a Kite

Materials

Kite that we are going to make

1.      Strong straight sticks of 50cm and 25cm (make sure they are long enough to cover the newspapers or the construction paper).

2.      Construction paper 50cm x 25cm (does not need to be exact)

3.      Newspaper—if construction paper is not available.

4.      Regular string or fishing line 100m (recommended), tape, or glue

5.      Safety scissors.

6.      Pencil or cylinder object—for the handle.

7.      Coloring utensils

 Steps

1.      Take each of the 50cm and 25cm sticks, and place them on top of each other to form a cross.

2.      Use glue, tape, or the string (recommended) to connect the sticks together in the middle. Make sure that the sticks are held in place and tied firmly together. Nudge them to test durability.

3.      Take the construction paper and use the scissors to cut them into the diamond shape of the stick cross. Do not leave any blank spots or the air will go through the paper. Do the same for the newspaper if construction paper is not available.

4.      Stick the cross to the diamond shape construction paper or newspaper with tape (recommended) or glue.

5.      Take the string and cut two pieces of string that is 15cm long, and then cut two pieces of string that is 12 cm long.

6.      Tie the two 15cm string to the 50cm stick’s two sides with tape, glue, or string (recommended).

7.      Tie the two 12cm string to the 25cm stick’s two sides with tape, glue, or string (recommended).

8.      Tie the four strings that are tied to the kite together, and tie about 40 to 50 meters of string to the place where the four strings are tied together.

9.      Wrap the 40 to 50 meters of string around the pencil or the cylinder object for the handle.

10.  Now you have a functional kite!

 Alternatives

1.      Use the coloring utensils to color or draw a picture onto the kite.

2.      Functional decoration: Cut three to five thin strands of newspaper or construction paper—about 30cm x 2.5cm and stick them to the bottom of the kite using glue or tape.

 Tips and Concerns

1.      Remember that the 50cm stick is up and down, and the 25cm stick is right and left. Tip for step 1

2.      A simple double knot is enough to hold the sticks in place. Tip for step 6, 7, and 8.

3.      Be careful when handling with safety scissors. Tip for step 3

4.      Glue and tape are necessary, but not recommended. Tip for step 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8
5.      For Alternatives, keep things simple, do not add weight to your kite or else it will not fly.