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Tiny Chinese Kite

Festive Kites

Flying kites is a component of many celebrations. Students will learn about some of them, such as the Weifang International Kite Festival in China, the Barrilete Festival in Guatemala, and others as they create their own artistic kite.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Hole Punch
  • Recycled File Folders
  • Ribbon
  • Sticks
  • String

Steps

  • Step 1

    Weifang, Shandong, China is known as the kite capital of the world, since this region is considered to be the birthplace of kites. The city holds an annual kite-flying festival every April, and more than 30 countries and regions from all over the world take part. Have children learn about and look at images of some of the kites and activities at this event as well as other kite festivals around the world, such as the Barrilete Festival in Guataemala, the Brisbane Kite Festival in Australia, the International Kite Festival in Gujarat, India, the Blossom Kite Festival in Washington, D.C., or any others.

  • Step 2

    Ask children to create a kite using recycled file folders or heavy paper. They can use the images they viewed of kite festivals to inspire them as they decorate the shape they cut out of the file folder or paper. Make sure they cut a shape that's somewhat shorter and narrower than the stick they will be inserting. When their drawing is done, have them, with help if needed, punch a hole at the top, bottom, and sides of the kite. Then have them insert one stick through the holes at the top and bottom and another through the holes at the sides. They can adorn the kite by attaching ribbon to the bottom. Next they can attach string to the stick inserted lengthwise, which forms the spine. 

  • Step 3

    Have children present their kites and discuss the images they used. Then, on a breezy day, have a class kite festival where children can fly their kites. Make sure they do so with adult supervision and far away from power lines.

Standards

SS: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture. 

SS: Culture: Through experience, observation, and reflection, identify elements of culture as well as similarities and differences among cultural groups across time and place. 

Adaptations

Flying a kite was not always a recreational pastime. Ask students to think of some practical applications kite flying might have. For example, more than 2,000 years ago, kites were used for such scientific purposes as measuring distances and wind speed and calculating angles. They have also been used by the military to transmit coded messages.

Chinese kites often display zodiac symbols, mythological characters, and legendary figures. Have students look at images of some of these symbols and learn about what they represent.