Paper Rokaku Kite

As part of our Kite Unit in Mr. Skinner's Project Future class at Escalante Middle School, we were asked to build and document the last kite we made in order to create a set of instructions on how to build our kite.

Step 1: Get Supplies

To start off your Rokaku Kite you have to include supplies such as Elmer's Glue All, kite string, three sheets of any colored tissue paper, three rather large bamboo sticks, tape and any other materials needed.

Step 2: Prepare the Paper

Lay out one of the 20'' by 30'' sheet of tissue paper.

Step 3: Fold the Paper

Fold that chosen piece of paper in half.

Step 4: Outline the Sail

Make a 10 inch line that goes away from the fold at a downward angle.

Step 5: Outline the Sail

Make a 10 inch line going down at the end of the first line made.

Step 6: Outline the Sail

Make a 10 inch line starting from the second line going towards the crease at a slight angle.

Step 7: Cut Out the Sail

Cut out the figure made and when fully cut out open the folded tissue paper.

Step 8: Add the Center Spine

Take glue and put a straight down on the middle of the kite!!

Step 9: Attach Teh Center Spine

Attach a wooden skewer on the line of the glue going down the kite.

Step 10: Trim the Spine

On the skewer measure one inch from the tissue paper on each side.

Step 11: Trim the Spine

After you measured everything needed you grab scissors and cut the line you made.

Step 12: Trim the Spine

After you measured everything needed grab scissors and cut the line made.

Step 13: Crossbars

Grab another skewer and attach it with glue vertically on the kite

Step 14: Trim the Corssbar

Cut the marks made on the skewer on inch away from the paper.once

Step 15: Crossbar

Once again attach another skewer at the other side vertically gluing it.

Step 16: Trim the Crossbar

Measure one inch from the paper on both sides of the skewer.

Step 17: Trim the Crossbar

Cut the line made with a type of scissors that can cut the wood, and cut it.

Step 18: Reinforce the Sail

Attach two squared pieces of tissue paper over the connections of the skewers.

Step 19: Add Decoration

Cut out small squares of the same or different colored tissue paper, put glue on the square and attach at the crossing of the wooden dowels.

Step 20: Add Decoration

Cut out a different colored square the same length as one of the square sections on the kite.

Step 21: Add Decoration

Cut out the same sized square but a different color.

Step 22: Attach Decorations

Glue the sections of the square tissue paper to the sections of square tissue paper that you outlined the different colors with.

Step 23: Repeat

Do the same to the other square section of the tissue paper.

Step 24: Allow to Dry

Let the glue dry out for a little bit.

Step 25: Tye-Dye the Paper

Wet a colored piece of tissue paper.

Step 26: Tie Dye the Paper

Splatter the wet colored paper onto the kite to make it look tie dye.

Step 27: Allow to Dry

Let the water dry to where there is no more water making the kite wet.

Step 28: Bow the Cross Bars

Cut a string longer than your vertical skewer.

Step 29: Reinforce

Add tape/reinforcements to all sides of the kite where the skewers are sticking out.

Step 30:

Add the tape and reinforcements on each side the skewer is sticking out of the paper.

Step 31: Add String

Cut a string longer than your vertical skewer again.

Step 32: Flex

Tie each end of the string to the side of the skewers, make sure the kite's string is tied tight enough to where the kite flexes.

Step 33: Fly!

Now you have a finished kite!