Further Investigation

Using the Internet to find out about kites.

There is an amazing amount of information about kiting available on the Internet. There are many websites which contain plans and information about kiting in different countries. A starting point for finding these websites is the AKA list of web based kiting resources. Another way of finding out about what is happening in the kiting world is to subscribe to the kiting newsgroup on the Internet, rec.kites. If you are connected to the Internet while you are reading this you should be able to follow this link to the rec.kites newsgroup.

Lawrence Hargrave.

A portrait of Lawrence Hargrave can be seen on one side of Australia's old twenty dollar note. Who was he? Why is he honoured in this way? What impact has he had on history?

1. Visit the AKA website and read about Lawrence Hargrave.
2. Write a short biography on Lawrence Hargrave. Include information about where he was born, his career, and his interests.
3. List and describe the inventions that Hargrave experimented with and wrote about during his life.
4. Try making a box kite, or a model of one, based on Hargrave's plan. Plans for this kite can be found in The Penguin book of kites, by David Pelham.
   
   
   

Flying lines.

Kites have been flown on lines made from a variety of materials. Some lines are said to be better than others, and some lines are regarded as the only line suitable for certain types of kite flying.

1. Write a report about the sorts of kite flying lines that have been used throughout history.
2. Find out what sort of line is used when flying Indian fighting kites. What is it called, and how is it made? Describe how the line is used during a kite fight.
3. What makes a good flying line for normal kite flying? Test a number of different materials as a flying line for the same kite. Do not use anything which contains metal. Report on the benefits and problems associated with each of the that lines you tested.
   

Decorations.

Kites have been decorated in numerous ways. Malaysian kites are commonly decorated with layers of cut paper stencils, while Japanese kites are painted, using broad brush strokes. Many modern kites are decorated with appliqué designs.

1. Make a number of kites from different countries. Decorate them in the styles traditionally used in these countries. Display all of your kites somewhere in your school. Perhaps the library or the art room would be good locations. Include a sheet on each kite, giving information about the kite design and the decoration style used.
2. Make a kite using sailcloth for the kite skin. Use appliqué techniques to decorate it. You might like to enter your kite in one of the kite competitions which are regularly held. The Victorian championships are held at Ballarat over the second weekend in October. Information about the championships may be obtained by phoning Handcrafted Kites, on (0418) 351 431.