STEM: Aerodynamics in a "Bird Kite"

Participants will learn about the forces of lift and drag in the exploration of flight.

Supplies

• Scissors
• 1 letter-sized 11 1/2 x 8 3/4-inch file folder
• Marker
• Ruler
• Scotch Tape
• Cotton thread
• Crepe paper party streamers

Instructions 

1. Using scissors, cut your file folder in half. Each half can be made into its own kite

2. Use your marker to make a dot in the middle of one of the long sides of the folder, at the edge. This is now the bottom of the kite. Place another two dots on the edge of each of the short sides of the folder 6 1/4 inches up from the bottom. Draw three lines between the three dots so that you have one big triangle.

3. Create the bird's "head" by marking two dots on the long side of your triangle, each 4 1/2 inches from the short sides of the folder. Draw a 2 1/2 inch line upward from each dot. Connect the tops of the lines with a slightly rounded line to create the top of the bird's head.

4. Using scissors, cut out the bird's shape.

5. Fold the wing tips up by 90 degrees, 1 inch from the ends of the wings.

6. With a small piece of tape, fasten a 10-foot length of thread to the head.

7. Attach an 18-inch length of thread to the end of the kite. Try experimenting with this length.

8. Attach a 22-inch length of crepe paper to the end of the thread at the rear of the kite. Experiment with the length of the crepe paper. Try different tail materials.

9. Bend the bird's head down slightly. This helps to provide lift. Experiment with the angle of the head until you get the lift that you want. Your bird kite is now ready to fly.