January 06 Newsletter: News for Educators

First up in a series of kites for free download is the Trépanier Trapezoid. This kite is designed by Canadian kite maker Robert Trépanier; the accompanying lesson plan includes readings for younger (grades K-3) and older (grades 4-8) students and suggestions for integrating this kite with literacy and math activities. Children from Taiwan to Israel have made the Trépanier Trapezoid, and the kite was recently featured in Vlieger 2006/1, a Dutch magazine about kites that is distributed throughout Europe. Click here for the kite template, instructions, and lesson. All require Adobe Acrobat. Please alert any kite-interested teachers, and use the materials for community workshops. Let Drachen know how they work out.

Planning for next school year? Include the Guatemalan kite making tradition in your class celebration of Day of the Dead at the beginning of November.
Kite kits assembled in Guatemala, with accompanying teaching materials, are available through the website and online store. Read more about the 2005 project at schools in Salt Lake City and Seattle, and contact information@drachen.org if teachers in your district have interest in a group training.