Activity: Pre Kite

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Objectives

• To provide the students the opportunity to observe the effects of air.
• To demonstrate that objects fly only when the upward force of air (lift) is greater than the downward force (gravity).
• The students will construct a simple kite.
• To enhance group discussion skills.

Materials

• Paper bag
• Tissue paper or crepe paper streamers
• String
• Glue

Background Information

Explain to the students that the Chinese invented the kite over 2000 years ago. Some people think the first kites were huge, man-carrying kites that lifted people high enough to see what their enemies were doing. Ask the students a question similar to the one following and wait for responses.

Question: "Why do you think people have been interested in flying kites for at least 2000 years?"

Possible answers:

• "People wish they could fly kites."
• "People were interested in how things fly."
• "Flying kites is fun."
• "Kites teach you how things fly."

Procedure

Decorate a paper bag.

• Glue four tissue or crape paper streamers (one on each bottom corner) to the bag.
• Punch holes in both sides near the open end of the bag.
• Attach a piece of string to form a loop .
• Attach a long piece of string to the loop, this will become the flying line.
• Take students to an outdoor play area and allow the students to fly their pre-kite.
• Allow the students to observe the pre-kite fill with air and float as they hold the string and run.
• Allow ample time for student experimentation.

Extension

Ask the students questions similar to the following:

• Why do you think some kites fly better than others?
• Why do you think kites fly better on some days than on other days?

Have students construct and fly pre-kites made out of different size and weights of paper bags. Compare and explain the differences.