THE CRAFT TABLE

Make & Do Activity Kit

Box kite
Make a box kite inspired by Australian inventor Lawrence Hargraves.

Time: 2+ hrs Difficulty: Hints: This activity will require 2 people

to help make it.

3. Bend the PVC tubing and

slide half onto each end of all 4 long spars, sliding down till they are15cm from the end. This is a tight fit and takes some effort.

of cross 4. Mark centreat centrespars. Cross these to form an X shape at 90 degrees. Secure tightly with string (this needs 2 people). Repeat with other 2 cross spars. onto the 5. Join the long sparsto create 2 x-shaped frames the box frame.
8 x PVC tubing 40mm x 6mm diameter Tape Marker pen Ruler/measuring tape Lightweight String Scissors

What you will need:

4 x dowel (long spar) 100mm long x 6mm diameter 4 x dowel (cross spar) 53mm x 6mm 2 x 75 x 75m self standing or strong garbage bags

the frame 6. Standthe openedon one end. Slide garbage bag over the frame (this should be very snug). Tape the bag to the long spars. Repeat with the other end.

Instructions:

1. Lay the garbage bag flat and measure and cut a

35cm strip across the middle of the bag.

7. Make a small hole at the top of the kite next to the

end of one of the dowels. Make a second small hole in the plastic 30cm from the bottom of the same dowel. Cut a string 90cm long. Tie one end through the hole at the top and the other through the hole at the bottom to create a bridle line. Tie the kite string to the bridle line.
500 Harris St Ultimo PO Box K346 Haymarket NSW 1238 Australia Tel: 02 6217 0111 http://play.powerhousemuseum.com This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 2.5 License.

2. Cut the PVC tubing into u 4cm lengths. Use scissors

to cut the PVC tubing 2 cm from the end and about 70% through so you can bend it 90 degrees.

THE CRAFT TABLE

Make & Do Activity Kit

Box kite

Page 2

What did you observe while flying your box kite? Whats going on? The string of a box kite is attached to a string called a bridle line, which is attached to both ends of the kite in something like a triangle. This line creates the point at which the box kite pivots in flight, and the kite line leads down from the kite to the string roll in your hand. The box kites design utilizes two simple principles of aerodynamics to fly: lift and drag. When a breeze hits the box kite, lift is created as the air rushes through the covered frame, allowing the kite to take off. Drag refers to the direction and speed of the wind hitting the box kite. You can feel this force directly through the string anchoring the kite to your hand.

500 Harris St Ultimo PO Box K346 Haymarket NSW 1238 Australia

Tel: 02 6217 0111 http://play.powerhousemuseum.com

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 2.5 License.