  Real paper that you buy is made using a very complicated and smelly process, that involves dangerous chemicals and a lot of expense. This is because people like to write on paper that is smooth and white. But it is possible to make attractive and fun-to-use paper safely in the classroom, with a minimum of expense. Papermaking can become an exercise in recycling, since the raw materials you will use are otherwise waste. In order to make paper, you'll need the following supplies:
The wooden frame is used to wash the pulp, and then capture a thin, flat layer of it. You'll need to build it in advance. Keep it simple; you can use an old picture frame without the glass, if you want. Attach a piece of screening; pull it tight and tack it to one side of the frame.  Soak the pieces of scrap paper in the large bowl for at least 30 minutes. Fill the blender half full of warm water, and add some of the soaked paper. Blend at medium speed until the individual pieces of paper are broken up, and the pulp has the consistency of a thick soup. Pour the pulp onto the screen, and wash it to remove any chemicals or colour. Put the pulp into the large container, and mix it thoroughly. You can add a little liquid starch at this stage to give your paper more stiffness. Add small pieces of construction paper for color, or pieces of thread, dried flowers or herbs for an unusual texture. Just stir them in ... don't blend. Insert the frame into the container under the surface of the mixture. Slide it back and forth as you bring it to the surface, to get an even layer of pulp across the screen. Keep it level, and hold it above the surface to drain off the excess water. Press the pulp layer gently with your hand to remove even more water, and use a sponge to soak up the water from the bottom of the screen. Place a clean dishtowel on a flat surface, and turn the screen upside down on the towel. Lift the screen carefully, leaving the paper behind. Cover the paper with another dishtowel, and iron it at a medium dry setting. When the paper is dry, gently remove pull the cloth.  You can also use newspaper as a blotter, instead of dishtowels. Don't pour any left-over pulp down the drain... it will cause a really nasty blockage!Don't be afraid to experiment with different fibers. Add flower heads to the pulp mixture after it has been through the blender. You can add scraps of yarn, tin foil, even seeds. Some of your paper will turn out, and some of it won't. Have fun trying to find what works. The paper you've made makes great card material ... use it for home-made Mother's Day or other occasion cards. (Thanks to Mrs. Golinowski's Grade 3/4 class in Worsley for allowing us to use these photographs.) |