Bird Kite

Draw a bird or another favorite design on your kite with crayons.

• Lightweight paper, 18 x 24 inches
• 3-foot piece of string
• Clear packing tape
• Five 1/16-inch wooden dowels (one 24 inches, one 18 inches, one 10 inches, and two 4 inches in length)
• Crayons
• Watercolor paints
• Three 2-inch x 4-foot strips colored cellophane

1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

Bird kite pattern

Download Adobe Acrobat

2. Fold paper in half according to your kite pattern. With a pencil and ruler, following dimensions given, mark kite outline on your paper. Cut along your markings, through both thicknesses of paper.

3. Draw a bird or another favorite design on your kite with crayon. Lightly paint over the picture with watercolors.

4. Turn your kite over; use clear packing tape to affix the wooden dowels to your kite. Work on one dowel at a time, placing tape where indicated. Finish by taping tail pieces at the bottom of the kite.

5. Parents should assist young children with this step. Use a nail or needle to poke four holes through the kite where indicated. Turn the kite over so the front is facing you. Create bowline as follows: Drop one end of 3-foot string through Hole A; bring it back up through Hole B. Tie. Repeat through Holes C and D. Attach kite string to the center of your bowline.