Get crafty with the DUCK Lab! Each Friday, trained research assistants from the UNCG Psychology Department’s DUCK Lab will guide at-home crafts for children ages 3 to 12. Parents can join too to learn fun facts about crafts that foster age-appropriate skills or learn about the DUCK Lab’s nonprofit child development research projects. We will also be at LeBauer Park on Saturday with some to-go craft bags to make crafts at home!
This Friday, the DUCK Lab invites all preschool-age friends to join Andrea and make a paper kite! Follow along as Andrea takes you through each step and see how you can make a fun craft that might fly outside!
Parents, did you know?
This craft offers an opportunity for children to think about the science behind flight and movement through the air. Read on below for more info. about the connection between these types of activities and age-appropriate developmental milestones.
We also invite you to check out our child development research opportunities, which are now modified for the virtual world! Please click here to learn more or sign up to participate with us.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
Supplies:
Construction paper
String or yarn
2 large popsicle sticks (or plastic straws)
Glue or tape
Markers or other decorative material (foam shapes, stickers, pom-poms, etc.)
Directions:
Cut a large diamond shape out of your construction paper.
Cut 4-5 bowtie shapes out of your construction paper.
Cut a piece of string for the tail of the kite. Then, glue or tape the first bowtie shape to the string and make sure it is a couple of inches below the diamond. Glue or tape the remaining bowtie shapes along the string, with a couple of inches between each one.
Glue or tape one popsicle stick to the diamond, placing it from the top to the bottom corner of the diamond. Then, glue or tape the other popsicle stick across the first popsicle stick. The popsicle sticks should make a cross across the back of the diamond.
Glue or tape the string to the back of the diamond.
Decorate with foam shapes, stickers, markers, and/or pom-poms.
The DUCK Lab: Paper Kite
Relation to Developmental Science:
This craft is easy to assemble and is a great way for preschoolers to start thinking about the science behind aerodynamics. For example, parents and preschoolers can discuss why they think a real kite flies differently than this craft kite. To start, parents can mention how this craft kite is made from construction paper, whereas real kites are not. Parents and children can also think about how size impacts flight, such as thinking about whether a bigger or smaller kite might fly more easily. This kite craft is also a great way to help children practice social skills. Children can compare their kites with friends or siblings, such as by comparing how they look and fly or asking one another to share kites.
*Great for preschoolers, but fun for older kids too!
The DUCK Lab is a partner in the nonprofit Child Development Research Center in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. They conduct studies of social and cognitive development with 2- to 12- year-olds. Families who participate in their research studies are volunteers in the Greensboro community who generously offer their time to help support research and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.