Texture Rubbing Mini-Kite

Kites are fascinating. From a simple celebration of spring to a springboard into topics such as aerodynamics, weather, or history, this decorative project soars with the wind!

• 1.

  Kites have existed for at least 2000 years. Because kites are typically made from fragile materials, there are very few examples of historic kites, although traditions and documents verify their existence.

• 2.

  Research the many different uses for kites in cultures around the world and at various time periods. Then create a kite in a style that reflects what you learned. Plan the kite’s shape and design before you begin to make your crayon rubbings. Look for interesting surface textures that would make good rubbings. Often items are flat and hard, such as tree bark, rocks, or nylon netting.

• 3.

  Remove the wrappers from the sides of Crayola Triangular Crayons. Draw the body of the kite on white paper and cut it out with Crayola Scissors. Mark kite sections with a crayon if you like.

• 4.

  To make rubbings, lay paper over a textured item and rub the paper with the flat side of the crayon. Triangular crayons are especially easy to use to make rubbings. Change colors and/or textures for different sections.

• 5.

  Cut ribbon to use for your kite tail. Glue the tail to the back of the kite. Tie several shorter pieces of ribbon on the kite tail for further decoration. Air-dry the glue.

• 6.

  Share information about your decorative kite with your classmates. Is it a kite like one used for learning about the weather, for flying someone to a new place, for fishing, or for something else? Ask whether others in the group can identify what surfaces

Benefits

• Students research information about historic and contemporary uses of kites.
• Students choose one type of kite to represent in a replica made with crayon rubbings.
• Students present information about their decorative kites to classmates, who identify the surfaces from which the crayon rubbings were made.

Adaptations

• Ask students to consider various kite designs and whether or not the kite would fly well or not. For example, what would happen if a kite were very small or very big, made out of wood instead of paper, or made out of paper with lots of holes in it?
• Ben Franklin is said to have discovered electricity using a kite. If Ben Franklin were making this kite, what kinds of things would he have used for his rubbings?
• Students attach a small picture of themselves to their kites. Imagine what it would feel like to fly among the clouds. Describe the experience and draw the neighborhood from a kite’s vantage point.