This is a project I’ve run with classes of all ages.

When there’s been plenty of time available, I’ve taught a bit about aeronautics, aeroplane control surfaces, the aerofoil cross-section, pitch, yaw and roll.  I’ve also covered a bit about the history of manned flight.  Pupils have built paper darts and tried to get them to roll, pitch or yaw.  They’ve then worked in teams to construct and fly a kite.  At other times, the whole project has consisted of only one lesson, when teams of pupils constructed a kite in around half an hour, then flew it in the remaining time.

The photos in this article shows pupils in class 1c constructing their kites and pupils in class 2d flying theirs.  I did this project with them as they couldn’t gain access to our workshops, due to S4 Craft & Design classes taking priority.

The kites are usually constructed in teams of three.  One pupil follows me step-by-step, constructing the kite, while another makes the tails.  The third team member prepares a sheet of thumbnail designs for decorative graphics, for selection by team mates.

The kite design requires a sheet of A3 size paper, some masking tape, double sided tape, and a length of pine, approximately three millimetres square in cross section.  The kite design is taken from the book ‘One Hour Kites’ by Jim Rowlands.  Usually, provided there’s a breeze, all teams manage to get their kite to fly.

There are examples of kites from previous years on our web site, along with links to a number of resources at -

http://www.royalhigh.edin.sch.uk/departments/departments/CDT/s2%20flight%20project%202001%20pg1.html