Kite flying season has arrived! Kites have been flown for thousands of years and have been used for fishing, research, and even pulling a carriage! Benjamin Franklin flew his kite to collect electricity from storm clouds. The Wright brothers tested their idea for the airplane as a kite. Here are some activities to help you enjoy your next windy day.
Measuring Wind Speed
Before flying a kite, you can check the wind speed by creating your own Anemometer with these instructions from education.com.
You'll need paper cups,
3 thin wooden dowels, skewers or chopsticks and a plastic bottle. This is a great project for older children to do on their own.
Make A Paper Bag Kite
We found this easy craft for all ages
You'll need paper lunch bags, yarn, popsicle or other small sticks , scissors or hole punch, crepe paper or ribbon for streamers, tape, and stickers, markers or crayons for decorating.
• Using scissors or hole punch, make a small hole on the bottom base of the bag. This will be used for the kite string.
• Cut one piece of yarn 18-24 inches long. Tie one end to the middle of your popsicle stick and feed the other end through the bag and out the hole that you made on the bottom. (You might want to secure yarn on the stick with tape) The stick will keep the kite string from pulling out of the bag when it’s flying.
• Run outside and watch your kite fly!
The Story of Kites ~ Compestine
The Kite ~ Gorbachev
Kite Day ~ Hillenbrand
How To Make a Kite ~ Hord
Asian Kites ~ Hosking
Go Fly a Kite! Klingel
Feyesper and the Rogue Kite ~ Jope
The Kite Fighters ~ Park
My Kite is Stuck and Other Stories ~ Yoon
Look for more fun stuff from the library
on Thursday!
Be safe and healthy!
Vicki DiSanto-Children's Librarian
Beth Levine- Library Assistant
Somers Library