Kites in the Classroom*Aylene D. Goddard

218 E. OrleansOtsego, Michigan 49078

Kites have been known and flown for over 2,000 years. The kitehas proved to be an uniquely remarkable technological invention.In fact, as a tool for adult use, the kite has been made to servemore purposes than almost anything except the wheel and the lever.An in depth study of kites and kiting requires expertise in aeronautics,anthropology, meteorology, mythology, sociology and theology. Thispresentation is only an introduction to how kites can be tools of/forlearning in the science and math curricula. Their cost may be minimalor whatever you set the cash outlay ceiling. I can attest that theiruse in junior high science is a prime mover in combating the "justwarm bodies" and those whose faces radiate: "I dare you to teachme anything."

Who Flies Kites?

Anybody who has the desire, the air current and a place to fly.Doctors, lawyers, ministers, dentists, college professors, scientistsand school teachers are among the recreational kite fliers. As in thepast and in this decade, kites are aiding in scientific research.

What Is a Kite?

If machines are devices that assist in doing work, then some kitesmust be rated as machines. The United States Weather Bureau, fromthe late 1800s until the early 1930s considered kite flying seriousbusiness. Kites were their vehicles for gathering quantitative datawhich formed the bases for their weather forecasts. A kite is anaerodyne. It is an heavier than air machine tethered to the earthby means of a flexible line and capable of ascending to a positiveangle with the horizon as a result of forces created by wind pressure.Windmills and kites are kin. A windmill’s angled vanes are firmlyanchored to the hub; consequently, the vanes can react to the pushof the wind by moving in one way only�around and around. A kiteis anchored by its line. It can move vertically, horizontally, pitchand yaw.

Kites may be classified and grouped according to: age; configuration;nationality; construction materials; rigid/flexible; aesthetic/practical;commercial/homemade; size.*Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the Illinois Science Teachers’ Association and School Science

and Mathematics Association, Chicago, Illinois, November, 1972.

204

Kites in the Classroom 205

The use of kites in the curriculum varies with the situation. Hereare some suggestions.

a. The constellation Bootes is seen�in part�as a kite-shaped figure. The datafor plotting a graph may be used when studying a unit in astronomy. Connectthe coordinates of the three different sets of data and you should have a graphicas illustrated.

b. Draft a kite flying code of ethics for your communityc. Collect space, meteorlogical, quantitative datad. Loft musical kites when studying sound energye. Introduce aerodynamicsf. Use kite configurations when studying the areas of two and three dimensional

objectsg. Determine any airborne kite’s altitudeh. Make a kite Which flies with stabilityi. Prepare an in-depth study of a particular kite, including:

TechnologyKindRatingAspect ratioCostBibliography

The technological history of kiting is interesting reading. Thisbibliography is more than adequate for curriculum enrichment ideasand material. You will soon learn that kite eating trees are not restrictedto devouring the common, shield-shaped kite.

Kites can be used successfully in the total school curriculum. Thesky is the limit. . . .

COORDINATES FOR THE KITE IN THE SKYUsing graph paper with centimeter and two-millimeter grid, the

interval is 2.X axis range: 152Y axis range: 162All coordinates are positive.Check your graph paper for both grid and numbering accuracy.

CORONA BIG DIPPER BOOTESXaxis Yaxis X axis Y axis X axis Y axis1088106144188211416230104126170328013817838881521743898152204

162192

5210262120644266506882788680908011286581005410246

206School Science and Mathematics

CORONA

BIG DIPPER

BOOTES

FIG. 1

REFERENCES

Books

**BRUMMITT, WYATT. Kites. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1971.** DOWNER, MARION. Kites: How to Make and Fly Them. New York: Lothrop, Leeand Shepard Co., Inc., 1959.

HART, CLIVE. Kites: an Historical Survey. New York: Frederick A Praeger, 1967.**HART, CLIVE. Your Book of Kites. London: Faber and Faber, 1964.**HUNT, LESLIE L. Getting Started in Kitemaking. New York: The Bruce PublishingCompany, 1964.

**JUE, DAVID F. Chinese Kites: How to Make and Fly Them. Rutland, Vermont: CharlesE. Tuttle Co., 1967.

NEAL, HARRY EDWARD. The Story of the Kite. New York: The Vanguard Press, 1954.**RIDGWAY, HAROLD. Kite Making and Flying. New York: Gramercy PublishingCompany, 1962.

**WAGENVOORD, JAMES. Flying Kites, New York: The Macmillan Company, 1968.YOLEN, JANE. World on a String: the Story of Kites. Cleveland: The World PublishingCompany, 1968.

YOLEN, WILL. The Young Sportsman’s Guide to Kite Flying. New York: Thomas Nelson& Sons, 1963.

Periodical

**Kite Tales. 196-. quarterly. Robert M. Ingraham, Editor. American KitefliersAssociation, P.O. Box 1511, Silver City, N.M. 88061.

**Contain kite building information.For additional information contact the author: Aylene D. Goddard, 218 E. Orleans, Otsego, Michigan 49078.

(All requests must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.)