Keara's Kite
Average Rating: 0.0
Country: Grenada
Author: Kissandra Smith
Illustrator: Laura MacNeil
Ages: 5–8
Publisher: Room to Read
Story Source: Literacy cloud

About The Story

Kite flying in Grenada, like in many parts of the world, is a joyful tradition that lights up the skies with bursts of color and imagination. Children and adults eagerly await kite season, sometimes even crafting or flying their own creations. Across the globe, kites carry meaning. In India, they mark festivals like Makar Sankranti; in Japan, they celebrate children’s well-being; in Brazil, they fill city skies; in Indonesia’s Bali, they’re flown to bless harvests. In this story, young Keara longs to join in the fun, but she can’t afford to buy a kite. Determined and inventive, she gathers simple materials to make her own. Along the way, she discovers that not everything flies—some things soar, others flop. Through trial, error, and persistence, she finally sends her kite soaring. This tale celebrates tradition, resourcefulness, and the basic science behind flight. Keara’s journey invites children to explore how things fly, while also encouraging creative problem-solving and cultural curiosity.

Themes

Culture & Tradition
STEAM
Family & Friends
Social & Emotional Learning

Sub Themes

Creativity & Problem-Solving

Parent-Teacher Guide

Learning Outcome

  • Discover how kites are linked to cultural traditions around the world.
  • Understand basic concepts of flight and why some materials or shapes fly better than others
  • Appreciate how creativity and resilience help solve problems.
  • Reflect on how traditions can be shared and adapted using local resources.
  • Be inspired to explore STEAM learning through simple, everyday materials.

Lesson Plan

  • This story can be used in classrooms to connect culture, science, and characterbuilding. Children will investigate kite designs, experiment with materials, and learn about global traditions linked to kite flying.

Activities

  • Make Your Own Kite (Art + Science): Design and test homemade kites.
  • Fly Around the World (Culture): Explore kite traditions in Japan, India, Brazil, and Indonesia.
  • Wind Test Challenge (Science): Test which materials and shapes fly best.
  • Character Reflection (SEL): Write/draw a time you used creativity to solve a problem

Story Discussion Guide

Before reading

  • Have you ever flown a kite? What did it look like?
  • Why do you think people in different countries fly kites?
  • What do you think makes a kite fly?

During reading

  • How do you think Keara is feeling when she sees others flying kites?
  • What materials does she choose? Why?
  • What happens when her first kite doesn’t work?

After reading

  • Why do you think some of Keara’s kites didn’t fly?
  • What helped her finally succeed?
  • Can you think of a time you made something yourself instead of buying it?

Applicable Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 4: Quality Education

The story fosters curiosity, problem-solving, and foundational science learning through storytelling.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Keara’s innovation and hands-on design promote a spirit of experimentation and early engineering thinking.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

It highlights the challenges faced by children with fewer resources and shows how determination can help overcome inequalityx

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