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Aprilnis National Kite Month. What could be a better way to celebratenspring than to fly a kite?
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Aprilnis National Kite Month. What could be a better way to celebratenspring than to fly a kite?n
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nFeelingnthe breeze tug at the string and then whoosh the kite up…
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n…Runningnfaster and faster…
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n…Lettingnthe string out, watching the kite get smaller and smaller as it dartsnin the high-altitude winds…
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n…Makingnthe kite circle and wheel against the endless bright blue…
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nAnbrief history of kites
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nPeoplenhave flown kites for more than 3000 years. Ancient Chinese peoplenmade and flew kites made from bamboo and silk. The idea of kitesnspread throughout Asia and later Europe.
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Innthe 18th and 19th century, scientists usednkites in experiments. Most people have heard about Benjamin Franklin‘s experiment with lightning, in which he used a kite and ankey to demonstrate that lightning was electricity. Another earlynscientist who studied kites was Alexander Graham Bell. From 1890 tonthe mid 1900s, scientists used box kites to send weather instrumentsnhigh into the atmosphere to measure wind velocity, temperature,nhumidity, and barometric pressure.
Innthe 18th and 19th century, scientists usednkites in experiments. Most people have heard about Benjamin Franklin‘s experiment with lightning, in which he used a kite and ankey to demonstrate that lightning was electricity. Another earlynscientist who studied kites was Alexander Graham Bell. From 1890 tonthe mid 1900s, scientists used box kites to send weather instrumentsnhigh into the atmosphere to measure wind velocity, temperature,nhumidity, and barometric pressure.n
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Inna quest to invent a flying vehicle, Lawrence Hargrave built “cellularnkites” that were capable of lifting a man off the ground. In 1903,na few years after Hargrave succeeded in brief kite-powered “flight,”nSamuel Cody crossed the English Channel on a vessel towed bynkites.
Inna quest to invent a flying vehicle, Lawrence Hargrave built “cellularnkites” that were capable of lifting a man off the ground. In 1903,na few years after Hargrave succeeded in brief kite-powered “flight,”nSamuel Cody crossed the English Channel on a vessel towed bynkites.n
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nKitesnhave also been used in war—lifting military observers to highnspots, for example, for heavy lifting, or as gunnery targets. Kitesnhave even been used to scare enemies!
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nMakena kite! Fly a kite!
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nMy Best Kite has step-by-step directions for 27 different kites.
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nChecknout the National Kite Month website. Therenis a 2012 poster, kite plans, kite info, and links to more kitenwebsites.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nApril Fool’s Day
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nMathematician Sophie Germain’s birthday
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nSpring has sprung! Discover more posts about spring things:
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nthe Vernal Equinox
nPersian New Year
nSnowman Burning as a “goodbye” to winter!
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nIMPORTANT NOTE:
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nPlan ahead for International Pillow Fight Day on Saturday, April 7!
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nSpring has sprung! Discover more posts about spring things:
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nthe Vernal Equinox
nPersian New Year
nSnowman Burning as a “goodbye” to winter!
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nIMPORTANT NOTE:
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nPlan ahead for International Pillow Fight Day on Saturday, April 7!
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nThere’s a huge pillow fight near me. Maybe there will be one near you, too! Check it out here.
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