GEOMETRY LESSON - Flying Kites: Raising Students Sky High

Abstract

What makes a kite fly? What are the mathematical concepts addressed in theconstruction of a kite? The goal of this project is to have students develop, construct, and fly ahandmade kite. By the end of the project, not only will students recognize that the three main forces that affect the flight of a kite (lift, gravity, and drag) are crucial but also that a kite’sgeometry is integral to its balance and flight capabilities. Through this engaging, hands-onproject, students will apply critical thinking skills and spatial reasoning and deepen theirunderstanding of measurement, geometric constructions, scale, and proportion. This lesson canbe used to review geometry content or to introduce new material, including academic language.