What You Need
- 6 straws
- roll of plastic table covering
- 60′ to 100′ of kite string
- shish-kebab skewer
- scissors, cellophane tape, and ruler
- paper towel tube
What You Do
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STEP 1: BUILD THE KITE BODY
1. Use the skewer to make a hole in the middle of one straw. Bend the tip of another straw and thread it through the hole to make the cross section of the kite.
2. Insert straws into the the cross pieces to create a 24” x 20” frame. Secure each straw joint with tape.
3. Poke a hole ¼” from the end of each cross piece. Thread a piece of string (65” long) through the four holes to make the kite’s frame. Knot the end and snip off extra string.
4. Lay the kite frame on the unrolled plastic and cut a sheet that is 1” bigger than the frame on all sides. Fold the plastic over the string frame and tape down.
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STEP 2: ATTACH THE TAIL AND STRING
1. Poke a hole 2” from the end of the bottom cross piece. Thread a 24” piece of string through the hole and tie with a knot.
2. Cut 5 strips of plastic (10” x 1”). Tie them around the tail string, spacing them equal distance apart.
3. Poke holes 2” from the ends of the other cross pieces. Thread a 24” piece of string through the top and bottom holes. Tie at both ends, leaving some slack. Then thread a 20” piece of string through the left and right holes. Tie at both ends, leaving some slack.
4. Tie one end of the remaining string to the intersection of the two strings you just attached to the kite. Wrap the other end of the string around the paper towel tube.
TIPS & TRICKS
There are lots of ways to fly a kite. If your family doesn’t have a favorite method already, try this one:
- Find an open area with no trees or power lines nearby.
- Stand with your back to the wind while you hold the spool of kite string.
- When a gust of wind comes, toss the kite into the air while you jog backward to help the kite lift off.
- Tug on the string when the kite is sailing upward to make it go faster. If it starts to plunge down, let out some string until the wind catches it again.
- When you’re ready to land the kite, slowly wind in the string. Catch the kite before it hits the ground.