In honor of the first really spring-like weekend coming up where I live, my mind turns to subjects like…KITES! Got a brief history for you and even instructions for making your own!

It is not certain as to where the first kites came from, but common belief is that they were first known to the people of the South Sea Islands. They used to use them to fish, attaching bait to the tail of the kite and a web to catch the fish. Some natives of the Soloman Islands in the Pacific Ocean still use kites as s fishing aid. In the Polynesian Islands, kites were associated with gods.

The lifting force of all kites is produced by deflecting the air downward, the resulting change in momentum producing an upward force. The reason for this is that the air traveling over the top of the curved surface of the kite is going faster than the air passing underneath. Fast-moving air creates less pressure; this means there is more pressure underneath the kite, and this helps to force it upwards.

How does a kite fly? Think of the kite as a sail boat that catches the air. The air tries to push the kite along just like a sail boat. The string the flyer holds keeps the kite tethered. The fact that the kite cannot go with the wind flow and also that the kite is tilted, the air is deflected downward, the kite has no where to go but up.

How to make a diamond kite:

Materials:

butcher cord or thin garden twine

scotch tape or glue

1 sheet of strong paper (102cm x 102cm)

2 strong, straight wooden sticks of bamboo or wooden doweling 90cm and 102cm

markers, paint or crayons to decorate you kite.

• Instructions:

1. Make a cross with the two sticks, with the shorter stick placed horizontally across the longer stick. Make sure that both sides of the cross piece is equal in width.

2. Tie the two sticks together with the string in such a way as to make sure that they are at right angles to each other. A good way to ensure that the joint is strong to put a dab of glue to stick it in place.

3. Cut a notch at each end of both sticks. Make it deep enough for the type of string you are using to fit in to. Cut a piece of string long enough to stretch all around the kite frame. Make a loop in the top notch and fasten it by wrapping the string around the stick. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the cross-piece, and make another loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at the other end of the cross-piece. Finish by wrapping the string a few times around the top of the stick and cutting off what you don’t need. This string frame must be taut, but not so tight as to warp the sticks.

4. Lay the sail material flat and place the stick frame face down on top. Cut around it, leaving about 2-3cm for a margin. Fold these edges over the string frame and tape or glue it down so that the material is tight.

5. Cut a piece of string about 122 cm long. and tie one end to the loop at the other end of the string to the loop at the bottom. Tie another small loop in the string just above the intersection of the two cross pieces. This will be the kite’s bridle, the string to which the flying line is attached.

6. Make a tail by tying a small ribbon roughly every 10cm along the length of string. Attach the tail to the loop at the bottom of the kite.

7. Decorate!

Kite instructions and a whole lot more!