Fly a kite fly indoors? Yes! Just use your smarts, your science and engineering know-how, and a sense of fun, and you'll be set to go. Hang on to your hats!

WHAT TO DO

1. Get what you need.
   • 1 sheet of 8.5 x 11 copier paper
   • 1 wooden skewer
   • Tail materials
   • Hole punch
   • Ruler
   • Tape
   • A 3-foot piece of string
2. Build your kite.
   • Fold the paper in half.
   • On each side of the paper, draw two dots: one 3 inches in from the fold (Point A) and the second 1 inch in from the fold (Point B). Draw a line between Points A and B.
   • Fold the paper on these lines to make the wings.
   • Put tape over the centerline. Tape on the wooden skewer and tail.
   • Flip the kite so it rests on its top. Fold the flap back and forth a couple of times until it stands straight up from the wings.
   • Punch a hole in the flap three inches from the smallest end of the flap.
   • Tie one end of the string to the hole. You're ready to fly!
3. Fly your kite. Here are some tips for flying your kite:
   • Your body can block the air that the kite needs to fly properly. Keep the kite away from your body by holding it with your arm straight out to the side.
   • Hold the string lightly where it attaches to the kite. Let it out gradually when the kite tugs as it begins to fly.

CHEW ON THIS!

How do kites stay in the air? Remember, air is something—it is made of gas particles, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. As kites move through the air, the air pushes on the kite. But to keep a kite up, the air has to keep moving. Think of a water skier. If the boat pulling a water skier stops, the water skier sinks. So for the kite to stay up, either you need to pull the kite through the air, or the wind needs to blow against the kite. To keep a kite from falling, the upward force of the air hitting it must equal gravity's downward pull.

DIG DEEPER!

Once you know how to control it, wind is a great way to get things to move. Try these ideas:

• Attach the string in a different place. Punch a hole farther up or down on the flap. See what happens.
• Experiment with different sizes of paper. Make a really small or a really big kite.
• Build a car that uses wind to move. Get the Puff Mobile challenge from the ZOOM Web site.