Purpose: Overview:

To engage in fun, stress-free team-building activities and celebration of Spring Each FAS class will design and create a kite to fly in our Go Fly A Kite Festival Kite building can demonstrate basic aerodynamic principles and factors affecting stability of flight. Kite building can be a team effort or individual creation. Students will practice problem-solving skills and practical application and demonstration through building and flying their kites. Kites can be decorated and individualized as desired. For big kites: dowel rods, butcher paper (approx. 26x26) For small kites: BBQ skewers, notebook/copier paper Also needed: tape, string, scissors, other items as desired (ribbon, markers, etc.) Small cardboard piece to wind string around (approx. 100-150 feet per kite) Printouts for Kite Instructions

Materials:

Lesson Component Gathering / Hook:

Time 7-8 min.

Videos: Austin Zilker Park Kite Festival 2011 (3:09 min.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwbq2Z6hm0M
Charlie Brown and the Kite-Eating Tree (1:57 min.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtPLkjtPXho
Youre A Good Man, Charlie Brown Kite Song (2:13 min.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsgcsd1YeNQ Activity: Make a Kite Benjamin Franklin Make a Kite (instructions for large group kite) http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/exp_kite.html & Printout Make Your Own Kite (instructions for large group kite) http://www.skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html & Printout 20 kids 20 kites 20 minutes (instructions for small individual kites) Video: http://www.bigwindkites.com/20kids/ & Printout How to Make a Traditional Kite - Including a video http://www.stormthecastle.com/how-to-make-a/kite/make-a-traditional-kite.htm How to Make a Simple Kite Video (3:09 min.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP0jFnmMAIA&feature=related

35 min. (plus time on other days as needed)

Activity: Fly a Kite All these kites are designed for fairly light to moderate winds. So, assuming there is a reasonable breeze blowing outside, head out with kite and flying line attached. If you can hear a little leaf noise in the trees, that should be fine. Stand with your back to the wind, and have a helper hold up the kite, some distance away. Say, 15 meters (50 feet). When they let go, the kite should climb away to above tree-top height - unless the trees are huge in your area! If your kite refuses to fly properly, there could be too much wind. Or, a dowel or 2 might be very uneven in stiffness along its length. If a much longer tail doesn't solve the problem, just try making the whole kite again. Chances are, the new one will fly much better. If you can hardly feel the breeze against your face, it's likely there is simply not enough wind to fly! Just wait for better weather, or act like a kid and tow the thing into the air! Sometimes, there will be more wind higher up, and you will be surprised to feel your kite pulling firmly on the line. http://www.my-best-kite.com/how-to-build-kites.html How To Fly a Kite http://www.wikihow.com/Fly-a-Kite 1. Find a buddy to help you get the kite into the air. 2. You should hold the ball of string and have your buddy hold the kite or vice versa. The kite should be facing you and the wind. 3. Unwind about 30 yards (23 meters) of string. 4. Signal to your buddy to release the kite. You should pull on the string to launch your kite into the air. 5. Pay attention to the wind direction, here is a diagram: Suppose that "I" is you and "U" is the other person holding the kite Wind is blowing this direction: I ------------------------------------> U "I" stands one end (with the string) ------> "U" stands other end ( with the kite) 6. Make sure the wind is going in a straight line from you to the other person. 7. To allow the kite to go higher, release length of string. 8. To lower the kite, simply pull in the string.
Expansion/Closure: Indoor Kite Flying Inspiration video (2:46 min.) http://thsfas.weebly.com/5th---weeks-2-3-4.html Be ready for our Travis High School Go Fly A Kite Festival after Spring Break!

Practice when kites are ready; Festival on March 21!

3 min.