Paper Kites

20 Kites in 20 Minutes

Editor’s Note:

I am very happy to provide these instructions for one-page paper kites. The kites are perfect for

classroom construction, for home school use, scouts and guides activities, or just as easy summer crafts for kids. Each kite is made from one sheet of paper. You can use plain paper, colored paper, or decorate white paper in art class prior to making the kites for a group science project.

As a class volunteer, I helped a local teacher make these kites with his Grade 5 and 6 kids – and it was an absolute joy. The students loved each part of the project…but the smiles that came when they tried out their new paper kites was awesome. We had a beautiful breezy day, perfect for kite flying…and every one of the 33 paper kites made by our students was up and flying like a dream!

Since we even had other students coming over, eager to learn how to make these kites, I asked the Big Wind Kite Factory for permission to provide the instructions, and step-by-step photos featured here. For over 15 years this company has given kite making classes for children on the island of Moloka’i. These are the complete time tested instructions to get 20 kids making their own kites and flying them in 20 minutes.

I hope you enjoy your kite making as much as I did!

~ Jane Lake

Material list:

• 20 sheets of brightly colored 8 1/2″ x 11″ typing paper.
• 20 8″ bamboo bar-b-que shishkabab sticks.
• 1 roll of florescent surveyor’s flagging plastic tape (available at
  any hardware store).
• A plastic bag cut in a 1″ wide spiral all
  around will also make a great tail.
• 1 roll 1/2″wide masking tape or any type of plastic tape.
• 1 roll of string. (At least 200′, 6 to 10 feet for each child.)
• 20 pieces of 1″x 3″ cardboard on which to wind the string.
• Scissors.
• Hole punch. (optional)

Directions:

Fold a sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper in half to 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″.

2. Fold again along the diagonal line A in Fig.2

3. Fold back one side forming kite shape in Fig.3 and place tape firmly along fold line AB.(No stick is needed here because the fold stiffens the paper and acts like a spine.)

Place bar-b-que stick from point C to D and tape it down firmly.

Cut off 6 to 10 feet of plastic ribbon and tape it to the bottom of the kite at B.

Flip kite over onto its back and fold the front flap back and forth until it stands straight up.(Otherwise it acts like a rudder and the kite spins around in circles.)

Punch a hole in the flap at E, about 1/3 down from the top point A.

Tie one end of the string to the hole and wind the other end onto the cardboard string winder.