Kite Flying Honor

Artes Manuais

Requirements

1. Make and launch two different types of paper airplanes that land more than six meters away.

   Answer: With an adult: 1) Get two sheets of paper. 2) Fold the first airplane in the "dart" model (pointy, flies straight and far) and the second one in the "glider" model (wide wings, glides slowly). 3) Mark six meters on the ground. 4) Throw each airplane, pushing carefully, and see if it goes past the mark. If it doesn't, adjust the fold of the wings and try again. — Airplanes with different shapes fly in different ways, and practicing the throw helps reach the distance.

2. Make and fly two different types of kites with a rigid frame (sticks).

   Answer: With an adult: 1) Gather thin sticks, paper or thin plastic, string and glue. 2) Build the first kite in a diamond shape and the second in another shape (for example, a hexagon or a "stingray" shape). 3) Tie the sticks together well to form the frame and glue the paper on top. 4) Add the tail and the flying string. 5) In an open place with no electrical wires, run a little against the wind and let out the string bit by bit. — Building and flying the kite teaches how the wind holds the frame up in the air.

3. Explain safety rules for flying kites:
   • Before getting them in the air;
   • While getting them in the air;
   • When they are already flying;
   • When bringing them down;
   • When another person (and not you) is controlling them.

   Answer: 1) Before putting it in the air: choose an open place, far from electrical wires, poles, streets and trees; never use abrasive or cutting string. 2) While putting it in the air: stay away from other people and never run while looking up, so you don't trip. 3) When it is already flying: don't let it go too close to wires and never pull a kite that got stuck on a pole. 4) To bring it in: roll up the string slowly, without running, paying attention to where you walk. 5) When another person is in control: stay a good distance from them and from the string, and never cross in front of it. — These rules prevent accidents with electrical wires, falls, and cuts from the string.

4. Describe four types of flying animals that fly in ways different from one another.

   Answer: 1) Bird (like the hummingbird): it flaps its feathered wings, and the hummingbird can even stay still in the air. 2) Eagle or vulture: it opens its big wings and glides, taking advantage of the wind without flapping much. 3) Butterfly (insect): it has light, colorful wings and flies in a "dancing" way, going up and down. 4) Bat (mammal): it flies at night with wings of skin stretched between its fingers. Each one flies in a different way. — Animals from different groups (birds, insects, mammals) fly in very different ways.

5. Make a drawing of your favorite flying animal.

   Answer: With an adult: 1) Choose your favorite flying animal (hummingbird, eagle, butterfly, bat...). 2) Get paper and colored pencils or crayons. 3) Draw the body and the wings the way it flies. 4) Color it with the animal's colors. 5) Write its name under the drawing. — Drawing helps us observe and remember what the flying animal you like looks like.

6. Search for and find, in the Bible, texts about flying angels.

   Answer: With an adult or with the help of the Bible's index: look for verses that talk about angels flying, like Isaiah 6:2 (the seraphim have wings), Daniel 9:21 (the angel Gabriel came flying to Daniel) and Revelation 14:6 (an angel flying through the middle of the sky with the good news). Read each one and write down the reference. — The Bible shows angels with wings that move fast to do God's will.

7. Research the history and the pioneers of aviation.

   Answer: With an adult, in a book or on the internet: 1) Research who the pioneers of aviation were. 2) Discover that Santos Dumont, a Brazilian, flew with the 14-Bis in 1906, in Paris, and is called by many the "Father of Aviation". 3) Also get to know the Wright brothers, who made an important flight in 1903. 4) Write down or tell someone what you learned. — Getting to know the pioneers shows how the dream of flying was made real with a lot of study and courage.

8. Present at least four different ways of flying that have been invented or discovered by humankind.

   Answer: 1) Hot air balloon: it rises because hot air is lighter. 2) Airplane: it has wings and an engine and flies fast all over the world. 3) Helicopter: it has a propeller on top and can go straight up and stay still in the air. 4) Rocket: it uses a lot of power to go up and reach space. (The parachute and the glider also count.) — People created several different machines to be able to fly and even reach space.