Activity Overview
The designing of a kite for a kite flyer is incredibly significant: the kite flyer may spend days working on his kite, ensuring that it is both structurally sound and visually beautiful or intimidating. Throughout the novel, students may find themselves connecting with some of the key themes and characters. This is an opportunity for the students to create a visual element that connects the novel to their own lives. Students can design their kite and panels in a storyboard using our Storyboard Creator. The assignment is as follows:
Design your own kite to show a challenge that you’ve overcome in your life, and the people who have helped you along the way.
Panel 1: The Challenge or Problem
In the first panel, design a visual representation of a particular problem you’ve faced in your life. In the description box below, describe the situation.
Panel 2: The People Who Have Helped You
In the second panel, design and place Storyboard That characters that depict the people who helped you resolve your problem or challenge. Describe how they helped you in the description box below.
Panel 3: The Solution
Discuss how you overcame your problem or challenge, and the outcome, and depict this visually in your third panel.
Panel 4: The Lesson
Visually depict the lesson you’ve learned from this situation in the fourth panel. Describe your lesson below the panel.
Cell 5: Title Cell
Place the title of your project in the cell. Write your name in the description box below.
Cell 6: The Tail
Connect to the book. We all have problems and situations we’ve had to overcome. What advice would you give to Amir to help assuage his guilt over his betrayal of Hassan? Write it here, and create a kite tail for your kite.
Completed Example Project for The Kite Runner
| Cell 1: Panel 1 | A problem I have faced this year is my parents’ divorce. It’s been really hard on my brothers and me, and my parents fight a lot over us. |
|---|---|
| Cell 2: Panel 2 | The people who have helped me a lot through this experience are my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jimmy. They let me come over when I am feeling overwhelmed, and they help me with my homework. |
| Cell 3: Panel 3 | My parents’ divorce is still ongoing, but I’ve been able to come to terms with it through counseling, and by sitting down and telling them how their fighting hurts us. My Aunt and Uncle helped me with deciding what to say to them before I sat down to talk to them about it. |
| Cell 4: Panel 4 | A lesson I’ve learned from this is to ask for help when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’ve also learned not to try to take on other people’s problems and disputes; I should focus on making sure that I am doing well in school, being captain of my soccer team, and making sure that my brothers have someone to talk to. |
| Cell 5: Title Cell | My Kite |
| Cell 6: The Tail | Some advice I would give to Amir to help him assuage his guilt over Hassan is to remind him that he was just a kid, and his father perpetuated the unfair treatment between him and Hassan. By keeping their blood connection a secret, he let Amir believe that Hassan was just a servant, and his constant criticism of Amir did not help the situation. The fact that Amir helps Sohrab is a huge sacrifice and a brave decision. I believe Hassan would be pleased by Amir now. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first panel, design a visual representation of a particular problem you’ve faced in your life. In the description box below, describe the situation.
- In the second panel, design and place Storyboard That characters that depict the people who helped you resolve your problem or challenge. Describe how they helped you in the description box below.
- Discuss how you overcame your problem or challenge, and the outcome, and depict this visually in your third panel.
- Visually depict the lesson you’ve learned from this situation in the fourth panel. Describe your lesson below the panel.
- Place the title of your project in the cell. Write your name in the description box below.
- Connect to the book. We all have problems and situations we’ve had to overcome. What advice would you give to Amir to help assuage his guilt over his betrayal of Hassan? Write it here, and create a kite tail for your kite.
- Save and Exit
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
The designing of a kite for a kite flyer is incredibly significant: the kite flyer may spend days working on his kite, ensuring that it is both structurally sound and visually beautiful or intimidating. Throughout the novel, students may find themselves connecting with some of the key themes and characters. This is an opportunity for the students to create a visual element that connects the novel to their own lives. Students can design their kite and panels in a storyboard using our Storyboard Creator. The assignment is as follows:
Design your own kite to show a challenge that you’ve overcome in your life, and the people who have helped you along the way.
Panel 1: The Challenge or Problem
In the first panel, design a visual representation of a particular problem you’ve faced in your life. In the description box below, describe the situation.
Panel 2: The People Who Have Helped You
In the second panel, design and place Storyboard That characters that depict the people who helped you resolve your problem or challenge. Describe how they helped you in the description box below.
Panel 3: The Solution
Discuss how you overcame your problem or challenge, and the outcome, and depict this visually in your third panel.
Panel 4: The Lesson
Visually depict the lesson you’ve learned from this situation in the fourth panel. Describe your lesson below the panel.
Cell 5: Title Cell
Place the title of your project in the cell. Write your name in the description box below.
Cell 6: The Tail
Connect to the book. We all have problems and situations we’ve had to overcome. What advice would you give to Amir to help assuage his guilt over his betrayal of Hassan? Write it here, and create a kite tail for your kite.
Completed Example Project for The Kite Runner
| Cell 1: Panel 1 | A problem I have faced this year is my parents’ divorce. It’s been really hard on my brothers and me, and my parents fight a lot over us. |
|---|---|
| Cell 2: Panel 2 | The people who have helped me a lot through this experience are my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jimmy. They let me come over when I am feeling overwhelmed, and they help me with my homework. |
| Cell 3: Panel 3 | My parents’ divorce is still ongoing, but I’ve been able to come to terms with it through counseling, and by sitting down and telling them how their fighting hurts us. My Aunt and Uncle helped me with deciding what to say to them before I sat down to talk to them about it. |
| Cell 4: Panel 4 | A lesson I’ve learned from this is to ask for help when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’ve also learned not to try to take on other people’s problems and disputes; I should focus on making sure that I am doing well in school, being captain of my soccer team, and making sure that my brothers have someone to talk to. |
| Cell 5: Title Cell | My Kite |
| Cell 6: The Tail | Some advice I would give to Amir to help him assuage his guilt over Hassan is to remind him that he was just a kid, and his father perpetuated the unfair treatment between him and Hassan. By keeping their blood connection a secret, he let Amir believe that Hassan was just a servant, and his constant criticism of Amir did not help the situation. The fact that Amir helps Sohrab is a huge sacrifice and a brave decision. I believe Hassan would be pleased by Amir now. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first panel, design a visual representation of a particular problem you’ve faced in your life. In the description box below, describe the situation.
- In the second panel, design and place Storyboard That characters that depict the people who helped you resolve your problem or challenge. Describe how they helped you in the description box below.
- Discuss how you overcame your problem or challenge, and the outcome, and depict this visually in your third panel.
- Visually depict the lesson you’ve learned from this situation in the fourth panel. Describe your lesson below the panel.
- Place the title of your project in the cell. Write your name in the description box below.
- Connect to the book. We all have problems and situations we’ve had to overcome. What advice would you give to Amir to help assuage his guilt over his betrayal of Hassan? Write it here, and create a kite tail for your kite.
- Save and Exit
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Create Your Own Kite Activity
Organize a classroom kite showcase to celebrate student work
Showcasing student projects lets everyone appreciate creative efforts and encourages students to take pride in their learning. Creating a display or event builds classroom community and helps students make connections between personal stories and the novel.
Gather and prepare all student kites for display
Ask students to submit their finished kites or storyboards. Check that each kite includes all required panels and is labeled clearly with the student’s name. This helps ensure every student is recognized at the showcase.
Set up an engaging display area in your classroom
Arrange desks, bulletin boards, or wall space for displaying kites. Hang kites with string or tape, or display digital versions on classroom screens. Add labels or short descriptions so viewers understand each story.
Invite students to present their kites and share their stories
Give each student a chance to explain their kite panels and the personal challenges they illustrated. This builds confidence and empathy as students listen to each other’s experiences.
Encourage peer feedback and reflection
Facilitate a brief discussion or have students write positive notes for classmates. Reflecting on others’ stories helps foster respect and deeper understanding of the novel’s themes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Create Your Own Kite Activity
What is the 'Create Your Own Kite' activity for The Kite Runner?
The 'Create Your Own Kite' activity invites students to design a kite storyboard that connects personal challenges they've overcome with the themes of The Kite Runner. Each panel represents a different stage: the challenge, helpers, solution, lesson learned, project title, and advice for Amir, allowing students to reflect on their experiences while engaging with the novel.
How can students connect their own life challenges to The Kite Runner using this lesson?
Students visually represent a personal challenge and the people who helped them, then relate their experience to The Kite Runner by offering advice to Amir. This process encourages empathy, self-reflection, and deeper understanding of the novel’s themes.
What are the steps for completing the kite storyboard assignment?
Steps: 1) Illustrate a personal challenge in Panel 1. 2) Depict helpers in Panel 2. 3) Show the solution and outcome in Panel 3. 4) Share the lesson learned in Panel 4. 5) Add your project title in Cell 5. 6) Connect to the novel by advising Amir in Cell 6, creating the kite tail.
Why is designing a visual kite a meaningful classroom activity?
Designing a visual kite helps students express emotions, connect literature to real life, and build storytelling skills. It transforms abstract themes into tangible, creative work, fostering both engagement and personal growth.
What advice might students give to Amir about overcoming guilt in The Kite Runner?
Students often suggest that Amir should forgive himself, recognize the role of circumstances and adults, and focus on making amends. Sharing advice helps them process their own feelings and understand moral complexity in literature.
More Storyboard That Activities
Kite Runner, The
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