Kites: Magic Wishes that Fly up to the Sky
Purpose:
To take an in-depth look at one of Ancient China’s inventions the kite. A short story will
explain the origin of how a kite came to be and its importance in Chinese culture.
Students will compare and contrast the reasons for flying kites. Additionally students will
practice identifying the author purpose, summarizing text, distinguishing between nonfiction and fiction, answering questions from what was read, and locating information to
answer questions.
VA SOL-s
English
2.9 The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction texts.
c) Use prior and background knowledge as context for new learning.
d) Set purpose for reading.
e) Ask and answer questions about what is read.
f) Locate information to answer questions.
g) Identify the main idea.
History
2.1 The student will explain how the contributions of ancient China and Egypt have
influenced the present world in terms of architecture, inventions, the calendar, and
written language.
Objective:
Given a group quiz students will be able to identify the author’s purpose and summarize
the main ideas in the story with at least 85% accuracy.
Procedure:
Introduction
 Have students come to the carpet
Questions to Ask Students
 Who has ever flown a kite before?
 Who can tell me why someone might fly a kite?
o As you have learned previous one of the inventions of Ancient China is
the kite
o the kite was created for a specific reason other than for leisure which is the
reason we fly kites in America
 Today we are going to read a book that explains how and why kites were created
according to the Ancient Chinese
 I want you to listen very carefully to the story because I will ask you some
questions during the reading
 Some things I want them to think about while I am reading is if this a non-fiction
or fiction text? What is the author’s purpose, is it to persuade, entertain, or
inform?
Development
1. Start reading “Kites Magic Wishes that Fly up to the Sky”
During Reading
2. Why did the local women want a kite instead of a regular holy painting? pg 4
 So that her wish could be more easily seen by the gods and they would not have
to visit the temple
3. What is another reason Chinese people liked to fly kites other than to make
wishes more visible to the gods? pg 20
 Many Chinese used kites to send off bad luck by cutting off string and letting kite
drift away (metaphor) for releasing bad luck
4. What is the festival of kites called? pg 23
 The Double Ninth Festival
5. When is the festival? pg 23
 The Double Ninth Festival is on the ninth day of the ninth month Sept 9th
or...when the chrysanthemum or flower of autumn blooms
6. What do people do at the festival? pg 23
 Families celebrate by climbing to the highest hills, having picnics and flying their
kites
7. What is does kite-flying symbolize at the festival? pg 23
 Symbolizes improving at everything one does (rising higher again metaphor)
After Reading
 Who can tell me if this book is fiction or nonfiction? How do you know?
o non-fiction because it is a true story about ancient china’s invention the
kite

What do you think is the author’s purpose for this book? To persuade, to entertain
or to inform? What makes you think that or how do you know?
o to inform, informational text about one of Ancient China’s inventions

Who can name the two reasons kites were created?
o gods could see it immediately from heavens rather than having to come to
temple
o to send away bad luck

What is the main idea of this text? Who thinks they can summarize in one
sentence what the story was about?
o Kites were an invention by the ancient Chinese created to send off bad
luck and attain wishes, a festival is held on Sept 9th called The Double
Ninth Festival that celebrates kite flying as a symbol of improving in one’s
life

How many of you would like to make a wish by creating your own kite?
o share example and explain steps to making it

Share with students they will first complete a group quiz after returning back to
their desks to review some of the major ideas we talked about together on the
carpet
Have students return to their desks and take Quiz
Note where students are in grasping concepts of summarizing, identifying main
ideas and distinguishing authors purpose


Begin Preparing for Kite Creations
 pass out construction paper, tissue paper, list of symbols to help with
brainstorming and have example circulating
Directions for making kite
1. Plan on “Kite Planning Sheet” what symbol they would like to make on kite
2. Choose desired kite color and cut out kite shape (tracer provided)
3. Write name on kite
4. Draw/create wish symbol
5. Write wish symbol meaning
6. Attach bamboo sticks to the back of kite making a cross like shape with tape
7. Attach string onto kite
8. Add decorations to liking
For advanced students
 Have students help struggling students at table explain how to identify author’s
purpose, distinguish between non fiction and fiction, and summarize main ideas in
text
 In kite activity have students draw and cut out symbol, using cut outs within
symbol and using tissue paper to decorate behind, cut outs for a stain glass effect
For struggling students
 Have students as engaged as possible with peers at table
 Encourage asking questions both during reading time with teacher and during
group quiz
 In kite activity draw symbol directly onto kite and color with crayons or colored
pencils
 Use symbol list for inspiration and guidance on drawing/brain storming ideas
Summary
 Have students put away materials stay at desks
 Go over quiz together on projector
 call on students for answers and ask them to explain answers
 share kites with each other and class if time
Materials
 tape
 bamboo sticks
 colored construction paper
 scissors
 tissue paper
 markers and crayons
 string
 pencil/ paper for planning
 list of symbols
 planning sheet
 quiz sheet
Evaluation Part A:
 asking students questions during the reading to promote thinking about author’s
purpose, summarizing ideas, and finding information in the text
 group quiz promotes cooperative learning students who did not hear answers
during reading time will get the chance to talk with the peers in a smaller group
setting about why certain answers are correct or incorrect
 I will walk around while quiz is being taken to ensure that everyone is engaging
and taking part in conversation not just one individual taking the quiz
Evaluation Part B:
How did the lesson accommodate/address needs of all your learners?
What were the strengths of this lesson?
What were the weaknesses?
How would you change the lesson if you could teach it again?
How did I mange small group/partners?
Kites Magic Wishes That Fly Up to the Sky Quiz
Names:_________________________________________________________________
Date:___________________
Circle One
The book we read was
a) Fiction
b) non-fiction
The author’s purpose for writing this book was to
a) persuade
b) entertain
c) inform
Name two reasons that the ancient Chinese flew kites
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
Summarize what the main idea of the text was in one sentence.
________________________________________________________________________
Bonus: What does kite-flying symbolize at the Double Ninth Festival?
How is the meaning of kite flying different in American culture than it is in Chinese
culture?
_______________________________________________________________________
Symbol Meanings for Kites
Dragon=wealth, wisdom, power, nobility
Phoenix=happiness, peace, luck, compassion and glory
Butterfly= love
Goldfish=happiness, wealth and wisdom
Frog=long life and joy
Lizard=quickness and cleverness
Ox=strength and power
Elephant=power and peace
Peach=immortality
T-ai chi=creativity and harmony in universe
Kite Activity Planning Sheet
Name_________________________________
Date__________________________________
Symbol________________________________________________________________
Wish__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________