How to Build a Kite; An Engineering Activity

Post author:Janelle Vogel
Post published:June 10, 2019
Post category:After School Program Activities / Arts & Crafts Activities For Kids / STEM Activities For Kids
Post comments:1 Comment

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Learn how to build a kite. This activity will have children crafting and engineering a one of a kind kite that will actually fly.

Supplies to build a kite

Garbage bag with drawstring (one per child)
½” x 36” wooden dowel cut to 20” & 16” (one per participant)
Hand saw (for adult use)
Kite String, regular string or ribbon
scissors
Tape

Preparation

Before presenting this activity to kids cut the wooden downs down to 20” & 16”. You can get the dowels at any hardware store or you can get a 10 pack on amazon for a good deal. Click here to see the current price. Then, notch the ends of each dowel with a hand saw. The notch does not need to be deep.

How To build a Kite

Give each participant a 20” dowel and a 16” dowel. Then, place the dowels in a cross pattern and tape them together in a criss-cross motion, so that the dowels stick together. This is the base of your kite.

Next take the string and slide one end into a notch on the outside of the wooden dowel. Thread the string around the cross, sliding it into each notch until you reach the start of the string. Tie a knot in the string so that the kite string is tight and has no slack. Cut the remaining string.

Once the frame of the kit is complete give each child a garbage bag. Have them cut the garbage bag down the seam on the side and them along the bottom, this should leave you with one large piece of plastic.

Next, remove the drawstring from the bag and set it to the side you will need this later. Then, place the frame of the kite on the plastic. Trim the plastic to 1” larger than the frame.

After the plastic is cut, pull the plastic over the string and secure it with tape. You want the plastic to be taped securely, but you do not want to pull on the string. Continue until the bag is taped securely to the frame of the kite.

Next tie a roll of string or ribbon to the center cross of your kite. Tape the drawstring from the bag onto the bottom of the kite, this will serve as the tail. Take it outside and fly a kite!

Trouble Shooting

If your kite is having trouble flying straight try adding to the tail, this should help the kite stabilize.
If your kite is struggling to get in the air it could be because the bag is taped to tightly to the frame, in this case try adding a bridal. Tie a piece of string to the top of the kite vertical dowel, then tie the other end to the bottle of the same dowel, leaving slack in the string. Repeat the task with the horizontal dowel. Pull the slack of each string and find where they meet in the middle, tie your kite flying string to the center. This should allow your kite to hold more air and keep it up.