Kites are commonly made of two parts that reflect each other down a center axis line, a design known as symmetry. Give preschool students a blank paper cut into the shape of a kite. Instruct them to draw an axis line down the middle of the shape. Using crayons, markers or paints, students create a design on one half of the kite and reflect that pattern on the other half of the kite.
Kites have inspired many poets to write about the whimsical feel of floating on a breeze. Read several poems written about kites and ask students to build a picture in their minds based on what they hear in the poem. Creating a mind-picture is an critical pre-reading skill. Possible poems to consider are: "The Kite," written by an anonymous poet, and "Five Little Kites," attributed to Dr. Holly.
Bring the preschool class outdoors in nature to explore the art of movement. Michael Brody of the University of Montana says the impact of learning in nature is "considered to have natural advantages such as nurturing curiosity, improving motivation and attitudes, engaging the audience through participation and social interaction." Play energetic music outdoors, such as Vivaldi's "Spring." Tell students to listen to the music and stretch out their arms to feel the breeze. Model for students how to move like kites to the music: spinning, raising up on tip toes and lowering down to the ground. Encourage each student to move through the grass, feel the breeze and dance like kites in the wind.
A primary objective for preschool is to identify and make shapes. Give each student moldable clay, a variety of cookie cutters and a length of string. Allow students to explore designing kites of different shapes. Instruct students to flatten the clay with a rolling pin and push a cookie cutter into the clay to create a kite shape. Students push the end of the length string into the kite shaped from clay. Using their imaginations, students hold the kite in the air to envision that particular shape catching a breeze. Give students time to explore with a variety of kite shapes.