How to Make a Big Box Kite

Use the small saw or tin snips to cut four 14-inch crosspieces from two of the dowels.

Cross two of the 14-inch dowels at their midsection. Secure with tape and wrap with string. Repeat with the other pair of 14-inch dowels.

Cut the plastic drinking straws into eight 2-inch pieces. About 1 inch from the end, cut the straw halfway through. Bend the straw at the cut into a right angle to create a hinge.

Measure the 36-inch dowels and mark 11 inches from the end of both sides of each dowel. Slide one half of the hinge to the 11-inch mark on the 36-inch dowel. Secure with tape. Repeat placing hinges at the 11-inch marks for both sides of all four dowels.

Slide the end of a 14-inch cross piece into the other end of a straw and secure with tape. Repeat for all for ends. It may become necessary lay the growing structure against a corner between two walls or where the wall and floor come together in order to square the kite.

Wrap twine around the box kite at the 11-inch marks, supporting the joints.

Secure the 11-inch end of the plastic or nylon to one of the dowels, making sure the material lies flat along the dowel from the 11-inch mark to the end of the dowel. Wrap the rest of the material around the kite. Secure the end. Repeat on the other end of the kite.

Place a line of tape along the top and bottom of the plastic or nylon material. This supports the material and prevents it from tearing.

Placing the almost completed box kite upright, make a small hole at the top of the kite next to the end of one of the dowels. This will become the front of the kite. Make a second small cut in the plastic 11 inches up from the bottom of the same dowel.

Cut a piece of twine 36 inches long. Tie one end to the hole at the top of the kite and tie the other end to the hole 11 inches up from the bottom. This is the harness.

Tie the open end of the kite string to the harness.