INTRODUCTION

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SCIENCE

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On a Shoestring

The Science of Kites This activity includes building a simple sled kite that will offer hours of fun - for children to adults. With about 20 minutes of time, and a few everyday items, you can make a small kite that can soar high with the best of the store-bought kits, or do stunts close to the ground mystifying even the biggest doubters that this small kite can do so much and give hours or enjoyment. So get ready to soar away!

QUICK GUIDE: Prep Time:      

10-20 minutes

Activity Time:          1 to 2 hours Est. Cost:       

$0- $10 depending on group size

Age range:  

4 years – adult

OKLAHOMA AFTERSCHOOL NETWORK

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PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Stem

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On a Shoestring

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The Science of Kites In 20 minutes or so, you can go fly a kite!

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This activity explores the functional parts of a kite and the basics of flight.

Up Up and Away Things You Need Construction paper Skewer Ruler Masking tape Tail materials String Hole punches Scissors

Directions

Start by folding the construction paper in half (hamburger fold). Lay the folded paper on the table with the folded edge on the left side in front of you. Measure 1inch from the fold inward on the top side and 3 inches from the fold on the bottom side of the paper at a diagonal. Fold the paper inward, connecting the measurements. Turn the paper over and repeat the process. Open the kite and re-crease the diagonal lines. On the inside of the kite, seal the center seam with masking tape. Measure the distance from upper corner to corner. Place the skewer at the top from corner to corner and re-enforce with tape. On the back side of the kite add masking tape to the outside top edge of the kite, and punch a hole. Measure 36 inches of string, tie the loose ends together. Insert the tied end through the hole and pull a slip knot to connect to the kit. This will serve as the bridle of the kite. Place a small piece of masking tape about 2 inches from the fold of the kite on the bottom side of the kite, punch a hole, and attach the tail material. You are now ready for a test drive of your kite…soar away!

Tips

Expand this activity by adding tails of different lengths. Compare the ability of the kite to fly or how high it will fly. Discuss why or why not the tail is an important component of the kite.

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The History of Kites


The simplest of flying machines has a long and varied history. The kite has been claimed as the invention of the 5th-century BC Chinese philosophers Mozi (also Mo Di) and Lu Ban (also Gongshu Ban). Kites were late to arrive in Europe, although windsock-like banners were known and used by the Romans. Stories of kites were first brought to Europe by Marco Polo towards the end of the 13th century, and kites were brought back by sailors from Japan and Malaysia in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The mere shape and design of “flying machines” lead to eventual ability to fly. Creating a surface large enough to catch air and provide “lift”, “drag”, and “resistance”. Everything that flies, whether it is an airplane, kite, animal, or weapon has all of these criteria in common.

Image: Forces of Flight

Lift A fluid flowing past the surface of a body exerts a force on it. Lift is the component of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction.

In 1750 Benjamin Franklin published a proposal for an experiment to prove that lightning was caused by electricity by flying a kite in a storm that appeared capable of becoming a lightning storm. It is not known whether Franklin ever performed his experiment. Kites were also instrumental in the research of the Wright brothers when developing the first airplane in the late 1800s. And you thought that kites were just for fun? Click to learn more about the history of kites

Fundamentals of Flight


Drag

Objects don’t just take off and fly without a little help from physics and the laws of motion. All things that fly need air. Air has power to push and pull on the birds, balloons, kites and planes.

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The Scientific Method The Scientific Method is a way to ask questions and achieve answers by making observations, performing tests and doing experiments.

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The kite will fly with success high in the sky and still be able to do stunts lower to the ground .with a tail

Hypothesis

Q

Will this kite fly?

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Question

Will this kite fly without a tail?

Test

R Research

The history of kites. Click on the terms below to learn more about their meanings

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Which kite has the greatest success…the kite with a tail or without one?

Analyze

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Key Terms Click on key terms below to learn more:

KITE: A kite is an aircraft consisting of wings tethered to an anchor system. LIFT: the component of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. DRAG: (sometimes called air resistance, a type of friction, or fluid resistance, another type of friction) refers to forces acting opposite to the relative motion of any object moving with respect to a surrounding fluid. RESISTANCE: the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and material elements sliding against each other.

Definitions above are sourced from Wikipedia. Other science terminology resources to explore: The Science Dictionary American Heritage Science Dictionary

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Books about Careers Police Officer Books: Ready, Dee. Police Officers Help, Capstone Press Publishing, 1997 Grades Kindergarten – 5th Adamson, Heather. A Day in the Life of a Police Officer, Mankato, MN.: Capstone Publishing, 2004 Grades 1st – 3rd White, Nancy. Police Officers to the Rescue, New York, NY: Bearport Publishing, 2012 Grades 1st – 6th Firefighter Books: Goldish, Meish. Smoke Jumpers, New York, NY.: Bearport Publishing, 2014 Grades Pre K – 3rd Goldish, Meish. Firefighters to the Rescue, New York, NY.: Bearport Publishing, 2014 Grades 1st- 6th Goldish, Meish. City Firefighters, New York, NY.: Bearport Publishing, 2014 Grades 2nd – 7th White, Nancy. Aviation Firefighters, New York, NY.: Bearport Publishing, 2014 Grades 2nd – 7th Engineering Books: Parmalee, Thomas. Genetic Engineering, Edina, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2008 Grades 6th – 8th

Farrell, Courtney. Green Jobs, North Mankato, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2011 Grades 9th – 12th Hamen, Susan E. Engineering, Edina, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2011 Grades 9th – 12th Scientist: Hanson, Anders. Scientist’s Tools, Minneapolis, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2011 Grades 3rd – 5th McMullin, Ruth. EXPEDITIONS Scientist in the Field (Science Adventures from Nature and Science Magazine), Natural History Press, 1969 Grades 6th – 8th Chef Books: Butterworth, Christine; Gaggiotti, Lucia. How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?: The Story of Food, Somerville, MA.: Candlewick Pub., 2011 Grades 3rd – 5th Laurentiis, Giada De. Naples! (Recipe for Adventure #1), Grosset & Dunlap Publishing, 2013 Grades 5th – 8th Pilot/ Aviation Books: Simons, Lisa M.B. The Kids’ Guide to Military Vehicles, Mankato, MN.: Capstone Press Publishing, 2010 Grades Kindergarten – 1st Anderson, Jameson; Whigham, Rod; Barnett, Charles. Amelia Earhart: Legendary Aviator, Mankato, MN. Capstone Press Publishing, 2010 Grades 3rd – 4th

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Hamilton, John & Sue. UAVs: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Minneapolis, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2012 Grades 6th – 8th Veterinarian Books: Salzmann, Mary Elizabeth. Veterinarian’s Tools, Minneapolis, MN.: ABDO Publishing, Grades 3rd – 5th

Architecture Books: Stern, Steven L. Building Greenscapes, New York, NY.: Bearport Publishing, 2010 Grades 3rd – 6th Sandler, Michael Freaky Strange Buildings, New York, NY.: Bearport Publishing, 2012 Grades 3rd – 6th

Riddle, John. Veterinarian, Broomall, PA.: Mason Crest Publishing, 2003 Grades 3rd – 8th

Stevenson, Neil. Architecture, New York, NY.: DK Publishing, 1997 Grades 6th – 8th

Thomas, William Veterinarian, Pleasantville, NY.: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2009 Grades 6th – 8th

City Planning Books: Leardi, Jeanette. Making Green Cities, New York, NY.: Bearport Publishing, 2010 Grades 3rd – 6th

Dentist Books: Stockham, Jessica. Dentist, Childs Plan Intl. Publishing, 2011 Grades Pre K – 3rd

Macaulay, David. City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1983 Grades 6th – 8th

Salzmann, Mary Elizabeth. Dentist’s Tools, Minneapolis, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2011 Grades 3rd – 5th

Chapnick, Samantha. Around New York City with Kids, New York, NY. Fodor’s Travel Publishing, 2011 Grades 3rd – 6th

Energy Books: Wheeler, Jill C. Eye on Energy Series, Edina, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2008 Grades 3rd – 6th

Computers and Gaming Books: Petrie, Kristin. Computers, Edina, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2009 Grades 3rd – 5th

Orme, Helen, Energy for the Future, New York, NY.: Bearport Publishing, 2009 Grades 3rd – 5th

Ray, Michael. Gaming: From Atari to Xbox, New York, NY.: Britannica Publishing, 2012 Grades 6th – 12th

Society of Petroleum Engineers. Oil and Natural Gas, DK Publishing, Inc., 2007 Grades 6th – 8th

Wilkinson, Colin. Gaming: Playing Safe and Playing Smart, New York, NY.: Rosen Central Publishing, Grades 6th – 12th

Marcovitz, Hal. Energy Security, Edina, MN.: ABDO Publishing, 2011 Grades 6th– 8th 7

S TANDARDS ALIGNMENT The following alignments link the Kite activity to the Next Generation Science Standards. For more information, click on each section.

K-2-ETS1-3 Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs. 3-5-ETS1-3 Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

Disciplinary Core Ideas: Middle School Physical Science Grades MS: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Disciplinary Core Ideas: Physical Science Grades K-3: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

MS-PS2-1 Apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects.

K-PS2-2 Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull.

MS-PS2-2 Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.

3-PS2-1 Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.

Disciplinary Core Ideas: Middle School Engineering Design

3-PS2-2 Make observations and/or measurements of an object’s motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion. Grades 4: Energy

4-PS3-1 Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object. 4-PS3-4 Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.

Grades MS: Engineering

MS-ETS1-1 Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. MS-ETS1-2 Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

K-5: Engineering

MS-ETS1-3 Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.

K-2-ETS1-2 Develop a simple sketch, drawing, physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.

MS-ETS1-4 Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

Disciplinary Core Ideas: Engineering Design

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Career Connect

Career Connect Video: Matt Esker

This activity is a great start to understanding the basics of flight.

There are numerous jobs in the aviation and aerospace industries that are fun and exciting. Click on the video to see Matt Esker’s story

Matt Esker Sooner Flight Academy Matt Esker is the Director of Sooner Flight Academy in Norman, Oklahoma.

Thank you! STEM on a Shoestring was developed through the generous support of the Kirkpatrick Foundation. It is a project of the Oklahoma Afterschool Network.

2801 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 224 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 www.okafterschool.org www.OKSTEM.com 405.601.9560