In this activity, students will learn about some kite history and how kites fly before making and flying a kite themselves.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

  • use some kite terminology when discussing kites

  • demonstrate a basic understanding of how kites fly

  • make a kite

  • fly a kite.

Download the Word file (see link below) for:

  • introduction/background notes

  • what you need

  • what to do

  • student worksheets.

Related content

Find out more about the Principles of flight. There is a lot to know about wings and flight! These articles provide more information: Wings and lift, Wing loading and Wing aspect ratio.

Activity ideas

These hands-on activities are an ideal way to investigate flight principles:

Useful links

Check out this wikiHow site if you’ve decided to make a diamond-shaped kite and this site for information about box kites.

Here’s some history about the kites used in World War II for target practice.

Published:13 September 2011