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Website Design by JackrabbitAlong with the chance for children to express themselves creatively, paper making presents a great opportunity to talk about recycling. And children can use the paper they create for other activities in this curriculum, like paper marbling and print making.
Gather as much scrap paper as you can. Used copy paper and newspaper work well. If you have different kinds of paper you can mix them up, though it is better to keep them separate. By separating the different kinds of paper, students can compare paper made with newspaper vs. copy paper vs. construction paper, paper bags, etc.
Embroidery hoops are used to stretch fabric—in this case you’ll use them to stretch pieces of window screening. These hoops come in many sizes, often 6″ and 10″ across. If you have plastic tubs that will fit 10″ hoops, then use this size. You’ll need 2 hoops per team of students. Cut squares of window screening that will fit into the embroidery hoop. You’ll need 1 piece of screen for each team, and you should cut the screening so that it’s a bit larger than the hoop—7″–8″ squares if you’re using the 6″ hoops, 11″–12″ squares if you’re using the 10″ hoops.
Next, you need to place the screening squares inside the embroidery hoops. The hoops are made up of two circles – the outer circle has a screw on it that tightens it around the inner circle. Loosen the screw, separate the circles, drape the screening over the smaller circle, then place the larger circle around the smaller circle and tighten the screw. Make sure that the screening is nice and tight. Make enough of these screened hoops so that each team of students has one. These screened hoops are called “molds”. Students will use these along with a second, empty hoop to make paper—this second hoop is called a “deckle” (see Step 2, “Make it Happen”).
Make sure that you use a blender that is not going to be used again for food.
Have your students brainstorm all of the different kinds of paper they can think of. Write this list down—you will use it later. Ask your students if they know what paper is made from. What about recycled paper? What are some other materials that are recycled?
Can you make your own recycled paper?
Note: Newsprint will cause a gray tone to the paper you make. You can start with white or colored paper or add food coloring to the pulp to get different colored papers.
While their first batch of paper is drying, bring your students together to talk about what they discovered. Did anyone learn any tricks to getting a good piece of paper on the mold? Refer to the list of different kinds of paper that the class brainstormed. Are there any other kinds of paper they might like to try to cut up and make new paper out of? What do they think this new paper will look like?
Give them an opportunity to try another piece of paper, then spend 2 more sessions making new kinds of paper, following some of the suggestion below.