KITE CALAMITY Kite

KITE CALAMITY Kite Calamity Organiser’s Card About the activity The activity is designed to get children to make a model kite that will fly. The children are presented with an article in the local newsletter about a kite festival. None of the kites at the festival would fly, and the organiser Sunny Day and Kite enthusiast Fly Further would like some help to make a kite that can fly. Through this activity you will support your group to: • design and test models to come up with the best kite • make a model kite that will fly Kit list • Cover material e.g. sheets of paper, tissue, card and light plastic (such as a carrier bag) • Tail – long strips of tissue, plastic or similar • Foil – to make bows to add weight to the tail • Struts – cocktail sticks • Flying line – 2 metre lengths of strong cotton thread, string or fishing line • Scissors • Glue sticks and sellotape for each group • Electric fan (optional) or hairdryer if operated by an adult (PAT tested) TE CALAMITY • A longer length of strong cotton thread if you want to test how high the kites will fly outside (optional)

CALAMITY What to do 1. Read the ACTIVITY CARD to familiarise yourself with the activity. 2. Check the Kit list to ensure you have the necessary equipment. You could put the resources in a central place so that children can select what they want, or give each group a set. 3. Set the scene by reading the report about the Startown Amateur Kite Festival. You could show some kites or videos of kite flying. 4. Challenge children to come up with a definition for a kite, “If you had a friend that had never seen a kite before, how would you describe it?” 5. Give children time to think and talk about kites. 6. Now set them the challenge to build a kite. Show the materials that are available and remind them of the information and the picture on the front of the ACTIVITY CARD. 7. Get them all to start by trying to make the kite shown on the ACTIVITY CARD. Encourage children to experiment with their ideas. Only guide them if they are struggling. Let them make more than one design if they wish. 8. You can test kites together in the playground or use a hairdryer or fan indoors. 9. Let children talk together about any problems they may have encountered and discuss possible solutions and improvements together. 10. The kites will look good as a display. Children can also draw and annotate their designs. 11. There are extra challenges on the ACTIVITY CARD. These can be used if there is any spare time or if the children want to try out ideas at home and earn a bonus sticker. Things to think about Problems can result from choosing material that is too heavy or not getting the kite symmetrical. Children will learn this, given the chance to explore. Take it further Kites are helped to fly by the air. They tend to fly better when it is windy, just like wind helps sail boats to move. The shape of each kite and bows on the tail affect the way the wind flows around it and how it flies. The tail of a kite adds to its stability and balance. In this activity children make small kites. These tend to be more successful as a first attempt. An internet search for ‘kites’ will give you plenty of information. Keywords • Aerodynamics • Flight • Kite • Shapes • Construction Watch out! Watch out for people, roads, power lines, obstructions and sunburn when flying the kite outdoors. You may wish to cut the points off the cocktail sticks British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236