Currently the Primary Curriculum is broken up into six KLA’s and three stages. Kites are a fun object that can be used across all KLA’s and stages, from Art to Science to English.

We have been working with schools for the past ten years. Over this time we have been requested by teachers to run kite workshops and supply materials to teachers so they can use kites as the teaching medium in many different ways.

The aim of this document is to highlight a few ways of using kites in the classroom and it is by no means a complete list. It never ceases to amaze us how kites have been used.

English

Talking & Listening

With the experience of flying a kite you can then facilitate

o       Group interaction

o       Brief oral presentations

o       Communications with adults about their experience of kite flying

Writing

With a first hand experience, students can then use different text types  to express their experiences, for example

o       Write a poem

o       Write instructions on how to fly a Kite

o       Document their results of kite flying

Mathematics

Space

Here the shapes and geometry of kites can be used in many different ways. Drawing symmetrical shapes, both two and three dimensional, creating patterns.

Measurement

Calculating areas of shapes, measuring perimeters and volumes. Looking at the angles of flying kites and how to calculate the height. Using scales to draw plans.

Human Society and its Environment

Cultures

Kites have been around for 2,500 years and in many different cultures. There are many stories of kites being used in history and being a very important part of cultures. Also it is one object that has spaned so many years and is still the same. Kids with kites have been around for centuries!

Science and Technology

Here kites have been used in the unit titled “Sinking, Sailing & Soaring”. It is a great way to explore the wind and the atmosphere. Lawrence Hargraves, an Australian, invented the box kite and from this the Wright Brothers in America used Hargraves box kite to help build the first plane.

Designing and making a kite can be lots of fun and very satisfying.

PDHPE

Here it is a little thin on the ground but “Active Lifestyle” is part of being a kite flyer!

Creative Arts

Visual Arts

Studying Japanese and Chinese art forms will lead to kites.

Painting the sky with colour is fun. One school did a project of portraits and flew the kites with themselves looking down on them.

Our aim is to help with ideas and a way of crossing over between the Key Learning Areas using one medium. As Primary Teachers having the responsibility for teaching in all these areas it can be fun to flick from English to Maths without the students even catching on!

We have worked with lots of teachers and if we can help in any way please contact us. We do not have huge resources but we can point you in the direction of where to find lots of information or help you create a resource.

Happy flying and have fun

Michael Richards