Let's Go Fly a Kite!

Since we were talking about spring this month, I thought it would be really fun to make kites. This project ended up being one of those exciting moments when you're goofing around and you create something great! I kind of frankensteined a bunch of kite ideas I saw online so when I made it and tested it out, I was thrilled that it flew and that it flew pretty well for a homemade kite. It's kind of a hybrid kite meets paper airplane.

Here's What You Need:

• Construction Paper
• Crayons
• String or yarn
• Tape
• Small Hole Punch
• Bamboo Skewer
• Scissors
• Crepe Paper

Here's What you Do:
(This is just a picture to help show what it will look like, it isn't meant to be printed as a pattern. The dotted lines are the places you will fold.)

1. Fold the construction paper in half.
2. At the top mark a line 1 inch from the folded corner.
3. At the bottom mark a line 2 1/2 inches from the folded corner.
4. Connect the lines.
5. Draw butterfly wings using the line you just drew as the body of the butterfly. Try to conserve as much of the paper as possible. Cut out the wings and body while your paper is still folded so they are symmetrical.
6. Decorate the butterfly using crayons.
7. Fold on the lines you drew for the body and tape the wings together with a long strip of tape to make a flat top.
8. Cut bamboo skewer to 9 inches. I found that the best way to cut it without splintering it is to notch it with the scissors at the length that you want. Then put your two thumb nails into the notch back to back and snap it.
9. Using small strips of tape, tape the bamboo skewer across the top of the wings.
10. Punch a hole about 3 inches down on the body and reinforce it with a piece of tape.
11. Tie about 3 yards of string to the hole. (Anyone like my homemade kite stand? Yup, that's playdough we used during center time. : )
12. Tape two 12 inch pieces of crepe paper to the body, one on each side of the end. It is important that the strips are the same length or your kite will fly in circles.
13. Take it outside and enjoy your kite!