Easy Kite Tutorial – How to Make a Kite
Image Via ohdeedoh
A day to fly kites might just be the perfect sort of spring day. This week I am focusing on the little moments. The ones that happen when you stop and smell the flowers. Flying kites is just that kind of activity.
On any given day, there are any number of more important things to do rather than flying kites.
But I have a funny feeling our family will always remember our kite flying days… and I will never remember the important things I didn’t get done.
Here’s a tutorial for how to make the most simple of kites. One that is perfect for the kids because it flies best when running with it. Come to think of it, running with a kite might not be so bad for me either.
You will need:
- 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper – I love something patterned and pretty, or start with white and let your kids decorate it with markers or crayons. You can use cardstock, but it’s a little trickier to fold.
- Tape
- A hole punch
- A coffee stirrer or bamboo skewer
- A tail – crepe paper works well
- String
Start by folding your paper in half widthwise. If you paper has a pattern like mine, you’ll want the pattern on the outside… just like I’ve done.
From the center fold mark about one inch. From the outside edge measure about 1-1/2 inches. Fold the paper diagonally being sure to fold at those two marks.
Fold back one side open. This is the back of the kite.
And tape them together at the spine as shown. If you really want your kite to last, use a stronger tape, like masking tape. Somehow my roll of masking tape has walked off. I’m not blaming the artists in my home. I’m sure somethings do have legs of their own.
Next tape your coffee stirrer or bamboo skewer (cut off the sharp point to length) to the back of your kite, like so.
Flip it over and punch a hole for the string about 2 inches from the top (which is the side where the wings are slightly larger.)
Add a tail.
Tie on some string.
Now all we need is sunshine and a little breeze.
I just love this style of kite —- I found a tutorial from the Big Wind Kite Company in Hawaii for a similar one. They boasted “20 Kids, 20 Kites, 20 Minutes” and I decided to test their claim. {grin} In 2005 my husband and I traveled to Zambia and participated in a Bible conference in Choma. As part of my curriculum, I taught the kids to make these kites (we made over 250!!) as a reminder that the God who calmed the sea and the wind in the Bible is the same God who gives them wind for play and pleasure today. I’ve used this project at our home church, too, and have yet to meet a kid (or for that matter, an adult) who doesn’t love making a kite. There’s just something so whimisical about kite flying! Thanks for sharing your process — I like the idea of using a coffee stirrer as we had a lot of sharp points to cut off before we let the kids have the skewers. I shall give it a go! I have plenty of leftover surveyor’s tape for kite tails… {grin}
What a fabulous and achievable idea….thank you for sharing – I’ve been looking for something to make my nieces and nephews for Easter – this will be perfect with a few little eggs :)
That’s really cute! I love the classic look of this one! Thanks so much for the how-to, I’ll be linking.
Ok who has had success FLYING these kites? I can’t remember if this was the same pattern I used last year and we were greatly disappointed that even with the 17mph wind we often deal with here the kites were a bit of a flop. :( Not to discourage anyone from making them…like I said the pattern may have been different, I don’t remember the specifics of what we tried. So for you who have made them, do they really work????? I’d love to try again but would hate to have disappointed kids all over again.
We’ve made the kite I show in the tutorial for family parties. We’ve used them to supplement the large store bought kites that we only have a few of, and which are hard for little kids to manage anyhow. I’ve helped the little kids make and use these kites so they have something fun to do while the big kids are flying the other kites. These kites aren’t great flyers in the wind… but work great when the kids run with them. Here’s a link to another easy kite that flies with just a breeze a bit better http://www.howcast.com/videos/146-How-To-Make-a-Simple-Paper-Kite.
We’ve had several store bought kites and by far the best kite for the kids was called a “Large Easy Flyer” here’s link to a similar kite to ours: http://www.amazon.com/Large-Easy-Flyer-Butterfly-46/dp/B000K27MPO/ref=pd_sim_t_7 It’s a lot more expensive than making one… but we’ve had our kite for about 10 years and it’s still going strong… so they do last.
Adorei a pipa, pretendo fazer com meus alunos