• Approximately 2 Class periods for research and planning
• Approximately 2 class periods for construction of kite
• Class period for flying kites
• 2 Class periods for any necessary adjustments and reflying kites

The students will have background knowledge in different types of renewable energy.

The students should have knowledge of wind basics; such as the fact that wind is created by differences in earth temperature and also the effects of wind on objects, in particular lift and drag. This background knowledge will be used to help build an efficient windmill blade design.

The students will learn how a kite flies; this lesson is a precursor for the windmill activity. By learning how a kite flies, the students will learn about the power of the wind; particularly how drag, lift and gravity enable objects such as kites and airplanes can fly. This knowledge will be used to help design a kite that flies.

This kite activity is a fun way for students to learn about the basic concepts of wind power; lift, drag and gravity. This activity will help the students build efficient windmill blades for the windmill activity.

• The students will understand the concepts of lift, drag, and gravity in order to understand how a kite flies.
• The students will build a kite.

Procedure

1. Opener

The students will be shown the materials that they will be using to build a kite. Any interesting videos on how airplanes fly or other related multimedia would be appropriate to show the students.

Development

The students will first have short readings from various websites regarding lift, drag and gravity and how kites are able to fly. They will use their knowledge of lift and drag to come up with a plan on what kite they would like to build.

The students will be responsible for taking notes and making sure they understand the material that they have read.

Process students should take in order to build kite

a. Students create teams

b. Define the problem.

c. Research and brainstorm; Divide workload, find and take notes on websites that were provided by the teacher or any other sites that the students can find.

d. The students should then reach a consensus between them with respect to a design and document a plan.

e. Create a prototype.

f. Test prototype.

g. Evaluate and document results.

h. Retrofit, repeat the process to improve the design.

• The students should build a kite that flies. Depending on the time, if the kites aren’t successful on the first flight, the could be allowed time to change their design.
• The students should know the basics of how a kite can fly; lift, drag and gravity.
• The students will write an essay about the project which should include the following information:

• Research support documents ( information about what was learned)
• group roles and responsibilities
• Problem definition
• Research support documents ( information about what was learned)
• Plan - a formal proposal
• Lab results, what were the results of the test?
• What changes were made to the design and why.
• Retest results

Click here for pdf file of this lesson plan

The following websites are useful sites for the students to do research on:

http://www.gombergkites.com/nkm/wind1.html - webpage that explains how wind is created on the earth surface.

http://www.gombergkites.com/nkm/index.html - good website with lots of info about kites