Let's go fly a kite! These DT 'Flying Kites' lessons for Year 1 and 2 are full of fun activities that will teach your children how to test different materials, design kites, construct a carp kite and a diamond kite, fly kites and evaluate their own creations. Your class will enjoy this hands-on scheme of work that provides opportunities for your them to work both in small groups and independently.

Containing lesson plans, slides with helpful step-by-step photos, activity ideas, differentiated worksheets, pictures, design ideas and much more, these KS1 'Flying Kites' lessons are the perfect way to introduce your class to kite-making!

A Knowledge Organiser is included within the complete download, or can be purchased separately.

You may also like our Wonderful Weather Topic Bundle! Perfect if you want a cross-curricular approach to your teaching. 

The History of Kites

The first lesson in this series looks at the history and origins of kite flying. Your class will be introduced to a range of different countries who have used kites for particular purposes (such as, military, festival and scientific reasons). The bright and colourful teaching slides in this lesson will help your children visualise the different types of kites that have been designed and created over time.

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Exploring Materials

This fun, interactive lesson gets your class thinking about the best materials to make a kite with. Your children will carry-out tests on a range of materials and will record their results. Your class will begin to understand how materials stretch, rip, repel or retain water and if they can hold some weight.

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Carp Kites

This lesson explains step-by-step how to make a Carp Kite and what these kites are used for. The children will have the opportunity to fly their kites and begin to understand that shape can affect the flight of kites. Your class will be busy cutting, gluing, rolling, sticking and decorating Carp Kites in this lesson as well as learning about the children’s festival in Japan.

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Exploring Diamond Kites

The fourth lesson in this scheme of work introduces your class to design ideas for diamond kites. Your children will spend time discussing the colours, shapes and patterns diamond kites have and decide which designs they think are more attractive. They will then use these examples to design their own kites and think about the types of materials and equipment they might use.

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Constructing a Kite

In this lesson, your class will follow their diamond kite designs to make their own kite. Your children will choose from a range of materials, tools and techniques to make their kite successfully. You can give your class the freedom to use any craft material to create a colourful and interesting kite. They will then have the opportunity to fly their kites and compare their success with other children.

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Evaluating Kites

The final lesson in this series gives your class the chance to talk about and explain their kite design to other class members. The children will think about what worked well and what could be improved if they were to make the kite again. You could even provide your class with the opportunity to compare the flight of the Carp Kite to the diamond kite.

This downloadable lesson contains a lesson plan, slides, activity ideas, and printable resources.

View Lesson 6

This Year 1/2 Design and Technology Knowledge Organiser has been created to complement our DT Structures strand. It is designed to support your children’s understanding of key vocabulary and techniques linked to this scheme of work. Key questions and relevant technical skills have been identified to encourage children to apply their knowledge around this topic.

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