Chip and Dale Barndoor Kite

As part of Mr. Skinner's Project Future class at Escalante Middle School, we made tissue paper kites, and wrote instructions to help other people make them too! This is our Barn Door Kite.

This is a high flying colorful kite. It it simple to make and also very cheap.

The materials that you will need are:

2 20"x30" Sheet of Tissue Paper Blue and Red

3-4', 2mm Bamboo Dowels

Roll of String

All Purpose Elmer's Glue

Scissors

First begin by getting your Blue 20"x30" sheet of tissue paper. Fold the piece of tissue paper in half length wise to ensure that both sides are equal. Begin at the top by measuring 5 inches down and 10 inches across. Take a pencil/ruler and draw a straight line connecting the two marks. Now go to the bottom of the tissue paper and measure 10 inches across, connect this mark to the mark 5" down from the top. Then flip the paper over and repeat the measurements.

With the lines drawn take a pair of scissors and cut out the shape of the kite.

Next take the 3 wooden bamboo dowels. Take the first dowel and place it vertically across the kite. Leave 1 inch on each side then cut the dowel. Then take your 2nd wooden dowel and place it vertically also. Finally take the last dowel and place it horizontally across the other two with 1 inch on each side. Take the measurement and cut the 3 dowels. Now you have your two vertical spines and one horizontal spine.

Next you will be creating supports for the kite so the paper will not rip.

First begin by cutting 7 2"x2" squares out of your extra tissue paper.

Place one square at each of the intersecting dowels. Draw a thin square line of glue then place the tissue paper square over the intersecting dowels.

Now place the other 5 squares at each end of the dowels. Use the same gluing method.

First begin by getting your Red 20"x30" sheet of tissue paper.

Measure 2" down and 23" across. This should make a long rectangular shape.

Create two of this rectangles.

Cut out these rectangles.

Next glue rectangles in an x shape.

Finally cut out 7 stars. Size is optional.

On the red rectangles glue the stars in these places. Place 2 on each top of the rectangle, 1 on each bottom, and 1 in the intersecting area.

The Dihederal Flex is the bend in the kite.

Begin by tying string to one end of the horizontal spine.

Then take the string and stretch it out across the horizontal spine, then measure another 10" to the string. Cut the string at that length.

Then tie the other end of the string to the other end of the horizontal spine.

Wrap the string around the horizontal spine 4-5 times on each side.

The bridal is the string that connects to your flying string.

First begin by cutting 2 2"x2" squares.

Then begin to glue these two squares in the middle of the kite on each spine and poke two holes on each side of the square.

Then take the string and go through the top then through the bottom and tie in a knot.

Then take the string from the spot where it was tied and have it 10" longer from the end of the kite.

Then tie the string to the end of the vertical spine.

Do this to the other vertical spine with exact measurements.

Now take the two strings and tie them together above the horizontal spine.

Next take your sting with a roll and tie it to your bridal.

With the kite and string wait for a somewhat windy day.

FLY THE KITE