Make Your Own Easter Kite

Flying kites the Friday before Easter is a tradition on the island of Bermuda. Kites rising in the air remind people of how Jesus Christ rose from the tomb.

Here’s a kite you can make. Be sure to ask an adult for help.

one 24-inch (61-cm) stick or dowel

one 20-inch (51-cm) stick or dowel

a blade to cut notches

spool of string

colored tissue paper or newspaper

glue

masking tape

strips of cloth or plastic for a tail

Building the Frame

1. Have an adult cut notches in the ends of both sticks.

2. Draw a mark 6 inches (15 cm) down the longer stick. Mark the middle of the shorter stick. Line up the two marks and tie the sticks together.

3. Wrap string twice around and through the notches of all four sticks.

Making the Sail

1. Cut out a paper outline. Leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) beyond the string.

2. Place glue on each paper edge. Fold the paper over the string.

Making the Cradle

1. Reinforce the top and bottom points with masking tape.

2. Punch small holes in the paper on both sides of the stick at the top and bottom.

3. Tie a 30-inch (76-cm) loop of string through the holes. Tie your spool of string to the loop about a third of the way down.

Finishing and Flying

1. Make a 12-foot (4-m) tail, about 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Tie the tail to the bottom of the kite.

2. Head to a wide-open space on a windy day and let it fly!