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How to Rig Up a Box Kite

The box kite may not be the most easily recognizable kite, but it is designed to withstand weather and wind, and can be seen flying over beaches, picnics, fields and family reunions. The activity of making the kite can be a bonding opportunity, as valuable as flying the kite itself. The simple boxed shape can be made with wooden dowels, cloth ties and a lightweight material such as tissue paper, light fabric or newspaper.

Things You'll Need

4 wooden dowels, 1/4 inch diameter by 3 1/2 feet long
4 wooden dowels, 1/4 inch diameter by 2 feet, 1 inch long
2 bands of lightweight materials (light cloth, newspaper or tissue paper), 6 feet, 1 inch by 1 foot, 1 inch
Superglue
String
Measuring tape
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Lay two of the shorter wooden dowels on top of each other at the center point of each dowel and take a piece of string and tie them together. Wrap the string around the center through each of the four angles made by the cross piece and tie it off with a strong but simple knot.
- 2
  Repeat Step 1 with the other two shorter dowels.
- 3
  Attach each of the four longer dowels to one of the cross pieces by first super gluing the longer pieces to the corners of the shorter pieces, then securing them with string. The cross pieces will be placed 6 inches below the end of the longer dowel.
- 4
  Repeat Step 3 with the second cross piece at the other end of the longer dowels.
- 5
  Wrap a fabric or paper band around the end of the now square dowel structure. Start by super gluing one edge of the band directly to a long dowel, so the ends of the dowels and the end of the band line up. Super glue the band to each dowel as you wrap it around the outside, and finish by super gluing the end of the band to the original wooden dowel.
- 6
  Repeat Step 5 with the other end of the box structure and the remaining cloth or paper band.
- 7
  Tie each end of a 5-foot section of string to the far ends of one of the wooden dowels. Tie the free end of your remaining skein of string to the center of this 5-foot section. Now your kite is ready to fly.

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