Introduction: Eddy Kite by Ethel and Lucy

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About: I am the teacher of a project future and robotics class at a Durango middle school. All projects created by this account are created by middle school students aged 12-14.

We created these instructions as part of our Kite Unit in Mr. Skinner's Project Future class at Escalante Middle School.

Step 1: Materials

To begin you need to gather all of the material needed to make and Eddy kit.

You need:

  • 20x30in sheet of tissue paper
  • 1 pair of scissors
  • 1 meter stick (not shown)
  • 1 bottle of Elmer's glue-all
  • 1 pencil
  • 2 bamboo spars
  • 1 spool of string

Step 2: Sail

  1. First you have to get the 20x30 sheet of tissue paper and lay it on the table then fold it in half.
  2. After go to the folded part of the paper and draw two lines diagonal from the fold.
  3. The longer part of the sail is 38in and it goes from the bottom up.
  4. The shorter part is 24in and it goes from top down.
  5. After you draw the lines then you have to cut it out.
  6. Then you have the sail.

Step 3: The Frame

  1. In the next step you have to add the spars on from top to bottom and side to side.
  2. First you take the meter stick and line it up from the top corner to the bottom then put glue along the side of the meter stick so that you have a strait line from top to bottom on the tissue paper.
  3. Then you cut the bamboo spar so that it hangs about a half an inch off each side.
  4. Then you line it up on the glue.
  5. You do the same thing from side to side.
  6. First you line the meter stick up from one side to the other then you put glue on the side of it so that you have a strait line of glue on the tissue paper.
  7. After, you cut the other spar so that about a half an inch in hanging off each side.

Step 4: Reinforcement

  1. First, you get the extra piece of tissue paper and cut out a 1 1/2" by 1 1/2" square piece of tissue paper.
  2. After, you put 4 dots of glue in the middle where each corner meets in the middle.
  3. Then, you attach the square piece of tissue paper.

Step 5: Design (optional)

  1. Then, you cut out any design you want and glue it on.
  2. Tissue paper would probably work the best to not mess up your kite's flight.
  3. We chose a series of blue triangles stacked up the vertical spine.

Step 6: The Flex

  1. First, you cut a string about 32" and add a loop onto one end of the string.
  2. Then put the loop on one of the side of the end of the bamboo spar.
  3. And tie the other end of the string to the other end of the bamboo spar.
  4. If you want there to be more of a flex then you can grab the knot of the loop and fold it and then wrap it around.

Step 7: The Bridle

  1. First, you put 2 holes in about the middle of the kite one on one side of the bamboo spar and one on the other.
  2. Then, you put a string through one hole and out the other and tie them together.
  3. After, you tie a knot to the upper part of the vertical spar.
  4. Pull the string (now connected to the kite at both ends), and tie an overhand knot in the middle, leaving a small loop to attach the kite string.

Step 8: Fly Your Kite!

In a light wind, go out and fly your kite!

Step 9:

Step 10: