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I just had to put Early Spring, especially since a large number of gardening catalogs are
arriving in my mailbox. Everyday is that much closer to Spring. Definitely time to bring out
your kites, repair them, fold them away carefully and check your string. Making kites is
also a good winter project. This is the time to plan for your spring kite event and check out
National Kite Month (March 31-May 6, 2012). Register your event at
www.nationalkitemonth.org for a chance to win prizes.
Kites…on a Roll®
News
We found an informative website that might give you some kite information in an easy
format: www.nyke.org, the site of the New York Kite Enthusiasts. The section About Kites
has two sub-topics--Kite Types and Kite Basics; they are quite helpful.
Another site that would give helpful information is
www.skydelight.com/dic.html. This is a
rather large dictionary of kite terms. Pick and choose those definitions that are relevant
to your project.
Hints for an Easier Activity
Be aware that wind at ground level could be manageable, but that wind above ground, or
wind that is blocked by trees and buildings is quite different.
We have included The Beaufort Wind Scale on our Links page. Even though this scale was
developed for sailors in 1805 by British Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, it is very
helpful for kite fliers. By looking to see what is happening to leaves, smoke, and other
environmental action, you can gauge how good the wind will be for your kite. The best kiteflying
winds range from a steady 4-20 mph.
When cutting out the patterns, look for apial symmetry--a fancy term meaning that the
kite must be exactly the same on the left side of the spine as on the right.
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