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mhartzel
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Posts: 418
Location: USA, Michigan, Fraser
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 Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 2:16 pm Post subject: Kites and Kids |
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Yesterday while on a field trip with my sons preschool class, I was asked to do a presentation on kites next thursday. The entire day will be devoted to wind, kites and things that fly.
One of the activities will be making a kite. I am planning on taking along the '20 Kites for 20 Kids in 20 Minutes' plan (available here) as well as my entire kite bag. Including my NPW's, pig, sceptre and 2 of my old stunters.
The plans call for a single sheet of paper, a shis-kabob skewer, tape, Kite Line and either a length of surveyors plastic tape or a plastic bag cut into 1" strips. Should be a lot of fun for the kids to color, fold and fly. I made one yesterday in about 5 minutes. Excellent flyers!!
I will take pictures and post as I get them...
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Mark
Sand, Street or Sky... I love to fly.
 - Take back the web. |
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kiteguy
Kite Builder II
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 1211
Location: USA - Kansas, Overland Park - Near Kansas City
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 6:37 pm Post subject: Re: Kites and Kids |
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| mhartzel wrote: | One of the activities will be making a kite. I am planning on taking along the '20 Kites for 20 Kids in 20 Minutes' plan
The plans call for a single sheet of paper, Excellent flyers!!
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Yes, making single sheet paper kites with kids is great fun. The one I make does not need a stick. Just paper, 1 inch of tape, and one staple, and string. I use about 6 ft of string for each kite. The kids don't mind as they like to run with the kite, anyway.
We make 1000 kites per spring and summer, on the average. I go into preschools, day care centers, Scouts, etc. During the school year I go to various classrooms for Kites in Science presentations, or Kites in Math presentations. We make kites in those sessions, too. Much better than a real job! 
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Dave Ellis
Kites + Kids = Education |
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Charles Bojarski
Kite Builder II
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 242
Location: USA PA Philadelphia
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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I did a workshop last year during NKM for a 3rd grade class of 23. We used the Frustrationless Flyers (no sticks) as I didn't want to have to break up sword fights.
If only there was a way to harness the energy these kids showed when running around the field with their kites, we'd have more energy resources then we would know what to do with. It was fun trying to get them to run into the wind and not with it. A few actually got their kites to fly without running.
Missed not doing the workshop this year. My teacher friend got promoted to vice principal and she also is having a baby so she had more important things on her mind. On the back burner for next year is a workshop for 1st graders.
Good winds...CharlieB |
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CJQ
Master Kite Builder
Joined: 27 Dec 2003
Posts: 554
Location: Coopersburg, PA - USA
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 7:53 pm Post subject: Kids in Class room Kites |
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I just love to tell this story . Up in Connecticut My sister was the principal of a private school (about 250 kids K thru 8 )Knowing my wife and I did kite builds ,She asked if we would do one for the whole school. We did with the help of some LVKS kite club members. The upper class kids helped with the lower classes to build the sled type tyvek kites . No stickes. After the building was finished the whole school was loaded on school busses and we went to a beach on Long Island Sound .It was a super day at the beach. WE all went back to the school and before we departed my sister asked if my wife and I would go to the First grade class room and say good by to the children and let them thank us for the kite activities. When we got there I asked if everyone had a good time 30 kids all screemed and said YES. I asked Who had the highest flying kite ,Naturaly they all hollered I did. This one little boy was presistant and said no I had the highest one . I asked Well how high did it go , He said right up to heaven . I said wow , whos in heaven ,he thought for a second and said GOD And a pause and then said and my Grand Pop. Oh I said ,do you think he saw your kite ? the little tyke said I know he did .
Expierences like this make you feel so good . Every time I tell this story I get choked up . Kids need activities like kite building and so do us grown ups . I guess thats why we continue to share our Hoby .
Thanks for listening.
Regards
CLIFF |
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Charles Bojarski
Kite Builder II
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 242
Location: USA PA Philadelphia
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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Cliff:
The 3rd grade teacher made the whole class write me a letter of thanks. They really made me feel good and I reallt cherish these letters. I'll have to show them to you some day.
Good winds....Charlie |
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CJQ
Master Kite Builder
Joined: 27 Dec 2003
Posts: 554
Location: Coopersburg, PA - USA
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 8:09 pm Post subject: Kids and kites |
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| Charlie I'm glad you know the feeling, And that goes for all that have done kids kite building. |
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mhartzel
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Posts: 418
Location: USA, Michigan, Fraser
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 11:33 am Post subject: |
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What a great time!!!
All the kids had a great time. They had lots of questons and even knew that you shouldn't fly kites in the rain or with thunder nearby...
I premade the kites for them as they are only 3-4 years old...
Will post pictures later, once i get them out of the camera.
 ***edited due to my poor spelling (one of my pet peeves)***
_________________
Mark
Sand, Street or Sky... I love to fly.
- Take back the web.
Last edited by mhartzel on Thu May 13, 2004 3:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Progcraft
Kitebuilder of the Year 2004
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
Posts: 2222
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 11:51 am Post subject: |
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I made a pocket sled for a little 4 yo old neighbor girl. We went out on Monday evening to fly it at the park by our houses. She really liked it. She has never flown a kite before. So, she was happy. So was I 
P.
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There is no box.
Children of the Wind Kite Festival
http://www.windykids.ca/ |
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kiteguy
Kite Builder II
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 1211
Location: USA - Kansas, Overland Park - Near Kansas City
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| mhartzel wrote: |
I premade the kites for them as they are only 3-4 years old...
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Next time have them make their own kites. At least they can color some artwork on the kite. With teacher's help 20 kids can have flying kites ready to go, with "I did it myself" feelings as they fly.
They can even fly them indoors when the weather is bad, as I have had them do many times.
I like to use the legal size paper for the kites I have them make. It gives more wing area, and better flying kites. And I can print a small bit of advertisement on them, too. 
I do an average of 1000 of these kites each year with kids across the metro area.
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Dave Ellis
Kites + Kids = Education |
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Grant L
Kite of the Year 2004
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 616
Location: USA IN Indianapolis
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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| I did a display in the youth department of the local library for national kite month. I gave them THIS kite to use as a make and take craft. It was easy for them to print up paper with the bridle/fold/tail points printed on the paper, ( I added a multicolored tissue tail ) they fly supprisingly well. And I got back lots of good comments |
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