Make a Garbage Bag Kite

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Make a kite out of a garbage bag, shower curtain, painting tarp--anything light, thin, flexible and plastic! This fun activity has step-by-step instructions on how to make a triangle kite or semi-circle kite. When finished, test your kite out. What can you modify to make your kite lighter, make it spin, or give it more control?

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 14
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • garbage bag
  • thick tape
  • small dowel rods
  • hole punch
  • kite string
  • Triangle kite pattern
  • Semi-circle kite pattern

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Mass and Weight
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Invention and Innovation
      • Problem Solving
      • Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Outdoor Activity
  • Physical Activity
  • Toys

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Science Museum of Minnesota, 1995

Funding Sources:

  • Unisys
  • Science Learning Network
  • National Science Foundation