Paper Making

Art
Time Multi-session
Age 7 & up
Group Size Less than 10
Tags Crafts, Paper, Recycle

Do you know how paper is made?

Along 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.

Preparation

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.

Paper Making
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Suggested Materials

  • Several plastic tubs (rectangular if possible; at least 12″ wide, 6″ deep)
  • Scrap paper (copy paper, newspaper, construction paper—any kind you can get)
  • 4 mixing spoons
  • Window screening (fiberglass)
  • 10-20 wooden embroidery hoops, 6″ wide (see Preparation)
  • 4 sponges
  • Felt swatches, 9″ X 12″ (50)
  • 2 irons
  • 1 or 2 blenders
  • Measuring cups
1

Make it Matter

Opening Discussion

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?

The Challenge

Can you make your own recycled paper?

2

Make it Happen

Doing the Activity

  1. Divide your class into 4 teams and give each team a plastic tub.
  2. Have students tear the scrap paper into small pieces about the size of a penny. Each team will need about 2 cups of scraps.
  3. Place the paper scraps into a plastic tub and add 1 quart (4 cups) of water.
  4. Taking turns, each team should bring their tubs to the teacher, who will then place 2 cups of the paper and water mixture in the blender and mix until it is the consistency of oatmeal. Never use more than 2 cups of liquid in the blender at one time. Dump this mixture (also called “slurry”) into another tub. Repeat until all of the paper/water mixture has been blended into slurry and poured into the new tub.
  5. Add 3 more quarts of water to the slurry in the new tub and stir with a spoon.
  6. Place the embroidery hoop “mold” screen-side up on the table. Place the “deckle” on top of the mold and hold them together as you pick them up.
  7. Dip the mold and deckle into the slurry and water mixture with a scooping motion, then slosh it around slowly on the bottom—this will stir up the slurry and ensure more even distribution of the paper fibers. Remove the mold and deckle from the mixture, making sure to hold them level, and let the excess water run out. Lift the deckle off of the mold.
  8. Place a piece of felt on top of the pulp-covered mold, and flip the whole thing over, felt-side down.
  9. Blot the screen with a sponge to absorb excess water. Carefully remove the screen, leaving a wet piece of paper on the felt. If the paper is sticking to the screen, blot the screen with the sponge again.
  10. Cover the wet paper with another piece of felt to make a sandwich. You can then let the paper air dry, or use the iron to speed up the drying process by ironing the piece of felt that is resting on the wet paper. If you air dry it, place a book on top of the felt—this will speed up the drying process. You can also stack all of the students felt and paper “sandwiches” on top of each other—this will save space and help with drying.

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.

3

Make it Click

Let’s Talk About It

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?

4

Make it Better

Build On What They Talked About

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.

Suggestions

  • This activity presents a great opportunity to talk about recycling. When new paper is made, it is made out of wood from trees (and sometimes cotton or other materials). When paper is recycled, it is made out of old paper—just like what they have made!
  • Try different kinds of paper—newspaper, paper bags, paper towels, toilet paper—all of these can be used.
  • Sprinkle or arrange tiny colored pieces of paper, flowers, glitter or seeds on the pulp while it’s on the mold. You may need to place a little more pulp over part of your “decorations” to hold them.
  • Try grinding up other fibers such as lettuce, seaweed, celery, boiled and bleached sawdust, fluff from the dryer, pulled-apart cotton balls and grasses. You can float these on the top of the pulp and water mixture and scoop them up along with the pulp.
  • Try “laminating”—a technique where one or more wet sheets of paper are placed on top of each other. When you press and dry these pieces, they will bind together.
  • Try “embedding”—pressing materials like leaves, feathers, twigs, etc. into still-wet paper before it dries.
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