Flying High: Cultivating Cultural Understanding through Kite Flying

This grant aims to provide students with an immersive and experiential learning opportunity while studying Khaled Hosseini's acclaimed novel, The Kite Runner. By integrating kite flying activities into the curriculum, students will delve deeper into the cultural, emotional, and thematic layers of the text, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a nuanced understanding of Afghanistan's rich cultural heritage.

Objectives:

Enhance Comprehension: Utilize hands-on experiences to deepen students' comprehension of the novel's themes, characters, and cultural context.

Foster Empathy: Engage students in kite flying activities to promote empathy and understanding towards the characters' experiences and challenges depicted in the novel.

Promote Cultural Awareness: Explore the cultural significance of kite flying in Afghanistan and its portrayal in "The Kite Runner," fostering a greater appreciation for diverse cultural perspectives.

Encourage Collaboration: Facilitate teamwork and collaboration through kite flying tournaments and group discussions, encouraging students to work together towards common goals.

Stimulate Critical Thinking: Encourage students to reflect on the symbolism of kites in the novel and how it relates to broader themes such as friendship, redemption, and the complexities of human relationships.

Provide Enriching Experiences: Offer students a multisensory learning experience that integrates literature with hands-on activities, promoting engagement and retention of the material.

Overall, "Flying High: Cultivating Cultural Understanding through Kite Flying with 'The Kite Runner'" aims to enrich students' educational experience by combining literature with experiential learning, ultimately fostering deeper insights and appreciation for the complexities of the human experience.

As a class, students will have a chance to go to Flushing Meadows Corona Park after their AP English Literature exam in order to fly the kites in our class culminating activity.