2. Facts about the Tetrahedral Kite 1.Four pyramid shapes are joined together to make the Tetrahedron Kite. 2.Each pyramid shape is built according to the instructions and then attached to the other pyramid shapes to form the Tetrahedron Kite. 3.A tetrahedron is a three dimensional object which has four triangular faces. Tetra means “four” and hedron means “three dimensional object.” 4.The completed Tetrahedron Kite is a series of airfoils. Each pyramid shape is an airfoil and provides lift as the air moves across its surface.

3. Constructing a Kite Locate the string measurement guide on the lifting surface template. Locate the spool of kite string. Measure and cut four strings that are 40 in. long. Measure and cut eight strings that are 14 in. long. Using one of the 40 in. pieces of string, thread the string through three plastic straws. Tie the two loose ends of the string together. Leave 2 in. of string on one side of the knot and about 12 in. of string on the other side. The straws should now form a triangular shape. Make an extra knot in the string to strengthen the original knot. Set this triangle aside. Congratulations! You have made the triangular straw framework for one of the four surfaces of the Tetrahedron Kite wings. Tetrahedron kite wing: straw triangle Repeat steps 5 through 7 three more times to make three more straw triangles like the first one.

4. 1.Take a straw triangle and tie one of the 14 in. strings to one of the triangle’s vertices opposite the vertex with the 2 in. and 12 in. string hanging from it. 2.Take another 14 in. string and tie it to the third vertex of the straw triangle. 3.Thread the string from one of the straw triangle’s vertices through a straw. 4.Thread the string from the second vertex of the straw triangle through another straw. 5.Take the two strings just threaded and tie them together. A diamond shape is the result that will form two surfaces of one kite wing. 2 1 4 3 5

5. 1.Repeat steps 9 through 13 three more times to make three more diamond shapes that will form two surfaces of one kite wing. 2.Locate the LST sheet and cut out the template. 3.Fold the 20 in. X 30 in. sheet of tissue paper as shown on the LST. 4.Locate the two construction clips. 5.Attach the LST to the tissue by placing the clips on the long folded edge. 6.Important: Place the LST’s longest side along the long fold of the folded tissue paper. 7.Use sharp scissors to cut around five sides of the LST. Do not cut along the long fold where the clips are attached.

6. 22. Unfold one of the four pieces of tissue paper. The shape it forms should closely resemble the drawing below: Tissue paper shape 23. Place the diamond-shaped straw figure on the unfolded piece of tissue. 24. Place the center straw (between the two triangular shapes) at the center of the unfolded tissue paper as shown in the drawing below. Important: The tissue paper should extend equally in all directions from under the diamond shape. Straw placed on tissue paper

7. 25. Use the glue stick to place a strip of glue along one of the four edges of the cutout sheet. 26. Fold the glued edge of the tissue paper over the straw and press it smoothly to the tissue surface. 27. Repeat steps 24 and 25 until all four edges have been glued to the tissue surfaces. 28. Congratulations! You have attached the wing surface to one of the kite’s wings.

8. 29. Locate the 12 in. string remaining on the diamond object and thread it through a sixth straw. Diamond wing object 30. Tie the end of the string threaded in Step 27 to the opposite vertex. Use one of the 2 in. strings at this vertex to tie the string threaded in Step 27. 31. Congratulations! You have formed one of the kite’s wings.

9. 32. Make three more kite wings by repeating Step 9 through Step 28 for each kite wing. 33. Congratulations! You have formed the four kite wings. 34. Place one of the uncovered sides of three of the kite wings in a triangular shape on a flat surface. Important: Tissue covered faces of all wings should point toward the front of the kite. 35. Using the strings at the vertices, tie the corners of these three wings together where they touch at their bases.

10. 36. Place the fourth wing on top of the three attached kite wings. Important: Ensure that all tissue-covered surfaces face toward the front of the kite. 37. Using the strings at the vertices of the three base wings, tie the fourth kite wing to the top of the three base wings All wings joined 38. Trim the excess strings from each vertex. 39. Locate the front of your kite. When viewed from the front, all surfaces are covered. 40. Attach the end of the kite string on the spool through the vertex of the top wing. Tie it tightly. A second knot should be used to ensure that the kite does not come loose during flight. Congratulations! You have constructed a Tetrahedron Kite.

11. http://makezineblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/neverlandook_tetrahedral_kite.jpg?w=521&h=629

12. http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/- 1/lens1413274_1274685213how-to-build-a-kite.jpg http://www.my-best-kite.com/tetrahedral-kites.html