Planning a kiting event using Kite Kits from Kites in the Classroom couldn’t be easier! Just follow this simple outline and watch the expressions of joy on your participants faces as they see their personal creations fly high above them.
If you just want to plan a fun activity outside you can easily decorate, assemble and fly your Kite Kit from Kites in the Classroom in a morning or afternoon. You can extend your activity into a community building event for the whole school to celebrate the start or end of school and make a whole day of it. Or, you can use Kite Kits from Kites in the Classroom as a powerful catalyst for learning about everything from air and aerodynamics, to history, to the Engineering Design Process and create an extended unit. We have resources to support you no matter your goals.
Use this template to help you plan decorating, assembling and flying your Kite Kits. How long your activity takes depends on the the size and age of your group, what other activities you include, and your goals for the activity.
We suggest starting with a whole group introduction and then letting students work their way through the Stations at their own pace. With younger students, you will need adult or older volunteers for each station.
Whole Group Introduction to Your Kiting Event
| Introduction | Gather your whole group together and take care of general house keeping. Consider dividing your participants into smaller groups of 5 or 6. Introduce your helpers. | TBA |
| Relevant Content | This depends on your goals. Make sure you check out our Resources Page for: Links to Learning Standards, Project Ideas for STEAM (Including our Guidebook), and Kiting Handouts including Principles of Flight, Measuring Wind, The Origin of Kites in China, and more. | TBA |
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(See Guidebook)
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Knowing the proper names for the parts of a kite will help your participants when it comes time to assemble and fly their own kite. | 5 to 10 minutes |
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(See Guidebook) |
It’s important that participants understand simple safety rules before they get onto the field to fly their creations. Our Guidebook includes ready to print handouts that includes everything you need to know. | 15 20 20 minutes |
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Tips to Launch, Fly and Land Your Kite (See Guidebook)
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Thousands of children and adults have successfully flown our Kite Kits over the last 30 years, so we know they fly. But many people have never flown a kite before and will need help knowing how to start. These tips will help your participants understand simple principals for successful flight. | 15 to 30 minutes |
Decorating and Assembling Your Kite Kits from Kites in the Classroom
STATION 1: Collect Materials for Assembling Your Kite Kits from Kites in the Classroom 15 to 30 minutes
- Your order will not arrive sorted into individual Kite Kits, but rather in packages of 20 Kits.
- We suggest you start by making a sample kite so you are familiar with the process.
- Lay the materials from the Kite Kits out on tables for easy collection.
- You will need room for the sails, long dowels, sheet of stickers, as well as art supplies, instuctions and handouts.
- For younger children or very large groups we suggest having an adult or single representative from each group come gather materials for everyone in their group.
- Don’t pass out the small dowels until the participant is ready to use them – they are easily lost.
- The bridles get easily tangled. Have a few people hand them out individually, or students come get them when they are ready.
- Single hole punch (1/15 people). It can be hard to punch through the stickers, so an adult is helpful here.
- Extra – scissors, a role off hockey tape to replace stickers.
Station 2: Decorate Your Kite Kits 15 to 60 minutes
- Dark felt pens or markers with thick tips work best.
- Wax crayons, paint, and pastels can be used AFTER you have assembled the kite.
- Cover your work surface.
Pro-tip: the design must be large and dark enough to be seen when flying in the sky. We tell our particpants not to draw anything smaller than two hands.
Station 3: Assemble Kites in the Classroom Kite Kits 15 to 60 minutes
We have step by step with images and a video on our website here!
Step 1: Decorate the sail.
Step 2: Insert and secure the long dowels with the stickers.
Step 3: Reinforce the bridle with the small dowels.
Step 4: Add the bridle string.
Step 5: Connect the Kite handle to the bridle string.
Step 6: Review Safety, tips for launching, flying and landing your kite, and tips for successful flight.
Station 4: Go Fly Your Kites from Kites in the Classroom!
1. Assess the Wind
Start by noticing the dierection of the wind – feel it on your face, notice the sway of the trees, or wet your finger. Remember, our Kite Kits are designed for light wind, so don’t fly on a very windy day – about 5 to 15 mph our 8 to 24 kph is great (the tops of the trees should be moving).
2. Get ready to Launch
If it is a good kite flying day, stand so that the wind is at your back and pushing into the sail of your kite. Review the Kiting Safety Rules: look up, look down and around, and make sure you have a safe space to fly.
3. Solo Launch
Hold the kite line handle in one hand, and the toop of the kite at arms length in your other hand. When the wind catches the sail, let go of your kite and start letting the line our slowly, by turning the handle over (don’t touch the line or it may cut your hand).
4. Partner Launch
Stand with the wind at your back and your partner 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet) downwind from you (so the wind is blowing from you, towards them, and catching the sail). Your partner should hold the kite up in the air, and let go when the wind catches the sail. Let the line out by turning the handle (don’t touch the line!).
5. Landing
When you are ready to land your kite, turnt he handle to wind the line while the kite is still in the air – don’t grab the line! If you are struggling, and you can see where your kite will land safely, you can take a few steps forward until the kite loses the wind and lands on the ground. Then wind the line back up onto the handle, while walking towards it. Make sure you hold your kite securely so it doesn’t fly away!
Final Tips for Planning an Event with Kite Kits from Kites in the Classroom
Why not add a Kite Contest to your event?
Check out Inspiration page for:
Planning a Kiting Event Peple Will Remember
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Kite Kit for Your Program
With over 30 years of experience selling our Kite Kits and as many years teaching and planning special events, we are here to help you! Reach out any time and let us help you plan an event to remember.
Gentle Breezes