Learn about the kite throughout history and the experiments made from the hands of many inventors.

Extra Kite Activity Booklet

Build a kite assembled by 4 pyramids, known as tetrahedrons, with plastic sheets on the triangular faces. Attach these together to create a bigger pyramid known as a Sierpinski pyramid.

Please note this resource was tailored for US schools and may require adjustments to suit UK schools.

🇬🇧 Teacher Notes

Overview and Objectives

Materials

Build a tetrahedron

Cut a plastic sheet into a diamond shape

Poke holes into corners of plastic sheet and tape

Insert connectors in holes of plastic sheet

Wrap sheet over two triangle faces of the tetrahedron then click connectors in place

Tape the plastic sheet around the straws of tetrahedron

Complete a drop test

Measure a string to 100 cm (39.40 in) long then trim

Tie the string to each connector using a Lark's knot

Replace a 1-leg connector from the tetrahedron with connector tied to the string

Test fly the single tetrahedron kite

Create 3 tetrahedrons

Cut 3 plastic sheets into diamond shapes

Poke holes the corners of the 3 plastic sheets and tape

Insert connectors in holes of each plastic sheet

Wrap sheets around two faces of each tetrahedron and click connectors to secure

Tape the plastic sheet around the straws of each tetrahedron

Place two tetrahedra next to each other then connect

Connect a third tetrahedron

Add fourth tetrahedron on top and connect

Push the legs 1-leg connectors further into the vertices of the tetrahedron to lock

Fold all the 1-leg connectors on the joints to lock

On the 100 cm string, measure 60 cm and mark

Tie a connector at 60 cm mark with a Lark’s knot

Attach the string to the Sierpinski kite

Make a bowline knot at the end of a ball of string

Lock bowline knot from ball of string onto connector

Fly your Sierpinski kite and test the forces at work

Experiment with altitude and lift!

Build

Challenges

STEAM Classroom

United States

Energy

Forces

Geometry

Wind

Fly a Sierpinski Kite