NASA Resources for the Girl Scouts Aerospace Badge

ACTIVITY 3: Go Fly a Kite

Make and fly your own kite. What type of wind makes your kite fly best?
What can you try to make the kite fly better?

Project Suggestions:

The sled kite is very simple to make and fly. It is a good one for the beginner. Tips on how to fly them are included. Notice the difference using a tail makes.
- Sled Kite Activity from the NASA Aeronautics Educator’s Guide. (Adobe Acrobat file)
Challenge girls to decorate their kites with Girl Scout or aerospace themes. Offer small prizes for interesting designs.

Above and Beyond:

If the troop/group is interested in building other kites,download templates from the websites listed in the WebResources or invite a member of a local kite flying associationto come work with the troop/group and demonstrate differenttypes of kites.
- Kites:
  http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/kite1.html
- Kite Plans: http://www.aka.org.au/kites_in_the_classroom/plans.htm
- The Virtual Kite Zoo:
  http://www.kites.org/zoo/Welcome.html
- O.S.E.K.:
  http://home.adelphia.net/~osekcleve
- Kites and Kite Flying: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/4569
Find out when the next local kite flying festival is in your community and go attend to learn more about kites.

Further Reading

	The Magnificent Book of Kites: Explorations in Design, Construction, Enjoyment & Flight by Maxwell Eden, May 2000
	Easy-To-Make Decorative Kites: Step-By-Step Instructions for 9 Models from Around the World by Alan Bridgewater & Gil Bridgewater
	25 Kites That Fly by Leslie L. Hunt

Responsible Official:
Jo Ann Charleston

Curator:
Shanessa L. Jackson

Project Manager:
Carla Rosenberg

Writer/Editor:
Ann L. Schwartz