Make Your Own Paper Students investigate the papermaking process by trying it themselves. Students are Activity thrilled to find that they can make paper and that their product is practical, as well as beautiful. See the PLT website, www.plt.org, to watch a video of the paper-making 51 process used in this activity.
Levels OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES Grades 1-8
Subjects n Students will describe the steps of the paper- n Ask younger students to write the directions Science, Social Studies, making process and identify the elements and for making paper on the piece of recycled paper Language Arts, Visual Arts outputs of the process. that they made. n Concepts Have students use concept mapping, graphics software, or write a script for a n By reducing waste and recy- video that explains the papermaking process. cling materials, individuals and societies can extend the value and utility of resources and can promote environ mental quality. (2.7) The process begins when trees, grown BACKGROUND Skills especially for papermaking, are harvested Observing, Organizing and transported to a paper mill. At the Information, Comparing and Paper is a simple material. It is essentially mill, large machines strip away bark and Contrasting a mat held together by a fiber’s rough- shred the logs into millions of chips the ness, and can be made from almost any size of breakfast cereal. The wood chips fibrous material such as cotton, hemp, travel on conveyors to gigantic “pulp Higher Order Thinking, Paired/ flax, wood or recycled paper. And yet, this Cooperative Learning, Realia/ cookers,” where chemicals and steam are Hands-on Learning simple product has a tremendous effect added. The mixture is heated and pres- on our lives. Imagine how different your surized, breaking the chips into smaller day would be without paper! and smaller pieces and finally forming a Graphics Software dilute water suspension of wood fibers We use paper for countless things in called pulp. The pulp then passes through Materials our everyday lives, including newsprint, cleaners and screens and sometimes goes Scrap paper torn into 1” x 1” magazines, schoolbooks, photocopies, through a bleaching process that will give (2.5 cm x 2.5 cm) pieces (paper computer printers, envelopes, stamps, it the whiteness needed for the grade of towels, construction paper, and tissue and sanitary products, bags, boxes, toilet paper work well; a large paper being manufactured. Other chemi- bowl; a wooden frame 5” x 7” (13 containers, food packaging, gift wrap, cals such as dyes, pigments, sizings, or cm x 18 cm) or 8” x 10” (20 cm wallpaper, disposable dishes, lamp- resins are sometimes added to provide x 25 cm); nylon or wire screen; shades, and as an art medium. Industrial the paper or paperboard (thick paper for staples; a plastic basin at least uses include gaskets, speaker cones, 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) in capacity, boxes) with the appropriate finish. that is larger than the frame; liquid and gas filters, insulation, and fric- cloth dishtowels (felt, blot- tion devices. The pulp is then pumped through pipes ting paper, or newspaper may to a paper machine where it is sprayed substituted, blender; sponge; The process for making paper was strainer; colored paper, pieces of onto a wide, moving wire screen. After colored thread, or dried flowers invented in China in the second cen- the water in the pulp drains through (optional) Variation: scraps of tury A.D., and all paper was made one the holes, a damp mat of wood fibers construction paper, newspaper, sheet at a time until 1798. With the remains; this is the paper. It is picked water, blender, 9” x 14” (23 cm Industrial Revolution and the papermak- x 36 cm) cake pan, 8” x 13” (20 up from the end of the moving belt and cm x 33 cm) piece of window ing machine, papermaking became a dried over steam-heated rollers. screening, two 16” x 16” (41 cm x major industry that provides countless 41 cm) pieces of wood products, from books and newspapers to Commercial papermaking affects the packaging and note pads. Some modern Time Considerations environment in several ways. The energy machines can make a sheet of paper 26 Preparation: 30 minutes plus needed for papermaking comes primarily time to gather materials feet (8.8 m) wide and nearly 40 miles (64 from fossil fuels, which are nonrenew- Activity: two 50-minute periods km) long in just one hour! While the tech- able. Burning those fuels can put carbon nology has changed dramatically over dioxide and other pollutants in the air. Related Activities the centuries, the basic steps are simple Paper Civilization However, for public safety, there are state enough for your students to do in class. and federal guidelines that control emis-
Project Learning Tree • PreK–8 Activity Guide 224 © Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. students might use stations so some students can make paper while others do a different activity. For younger students, you might ask a parent or aide to help at sta- tions, or have an activity for the rest of the class while you help small groups make paper.
The papermaking process is a wet one, so plan to use a work space that won’t be harmed by moisture. You might want students to wear “wet gear”-an apron or smock, or old clothing. Remove any plastic or staples from the scrap paper, and tear it into small pieces (1-inch or 2.5-cm squares). Soak the paper in hot water in the large con- tainer for at least 30 minutes.
Buy or build a wooden frame, which you will prepare for paper making. Tightly staple or tack nylon or wire screening to the frame, making a sions. Most of what you see coming the fibers deteriorate. After repeated “deckle,” which is the surface on which out of the mill’s smokestacks is steam, recycling, the fiber is no longer suitable you will layer the fibers. not pollutants. Many mills recycle the for papermaking. waste paper they produce, and use wood waste to generate their own Producing recycled paper requires DOING THE ACTIVITY electricity for the process. about 40% less energy than produc- ing non-recycled paper. And making 1. Introduce the activity by asking stu- The wastewater from the paper recycled paper produces 70% less water dents what they think paper is made of making can cause pollution problems. pollution and much less air pollutants, and how it is made. However, in the United States and such as greenhouse gases, particulates, Canada, the water discharged from and other hazardous pollutants. 2. Fill the blender halfway with mills is tightly monitored and con warm water, then add a hand- trolled. Traditionally, the pulp-cooking In 2003, the United States, for the first ful of the soaked paper. Blend at process created strong odors, but most time ever, recycled more than 50% of medium speed until you no longer mills now have systems in place to alle- the paper it consumed. This means see pieces of paper, and the pulp viate this issue. that fifty million tons of paper did not has a soupy consistency. You can end up in the waste stream—equiva- blend in a piece of construction Most paper comes from trees, a renew- lent to two hundred and thirty Empire paper for color; or stir in short piec- able resource. Most of the trees used State buildings full each year. In total, es of thread, dried flowers, for paper are managed for that pur- recycling paper reduces the amount of or herbs for texture. pose. In commercial papermaking, solid waste produced in the manufac- more than half of the fiber comes from turing of paper by over 60%. 3. Pour the mixture into the large lumber mill residues and from paper basin and then fill the basin with that has been collected for recycling. warm water, mixing thoroughly until GETTING READY the ingredients are evenly dispersed. Paper is easily recycled, which helps Adding a few ounces of liquid starch reduce waste. However, no matter Decide how you will conduct the will help make the paper firm. how much paper we recycle, new trees activity. If you are short on still will be needed for paper products, materials or adult supervision, you because paper cannot be recycled can demonstrate; but, ideally, you indefinitely. Each time paper goes should try to find a way for the stu- through the manufacturing process, dents to participate. Middle school
Make Your Own Paper © Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. 225 4. Slide the deckle into the basin. Put Variation—Pictures 9. Press firmly on the top board to some pulp onto the screen and, still from Pulp squeeze out moisture. holding the deckle underwater, gently move it back and forth to get an even 1. Collect plenty of construction paper 10. Turn the paper press upside down. layer of fibers on the screen. scraps and sort them by color, tearing Take off the board, then the newspa- them into dime-sized pieces. per, and then, very carefully peel the 5. Lift the deckle out of the mixture, screen away from the paper. This is the keeping it flat. Allow it to drip until 2. Make different colored pulps. For back of your picture. most of the water has drained off. You each color, repeat this process: fill the should have a uniform layer of pulp blender half with paper pieces, and 11. Leave your picture face down on mixture on the deckle. Press the pulp half with water. Blend at medium the newspaper and put it in a warm, gently with your hand to squeeze out speed until smooth. Pour each color safe place to dry. Once it’s dry, carefully excess moisture (rubber gloves will pulp into a separate container. peel it off to reveal your work. help). Soak up any excess water from the bottom of the screen with a sponge. 3. Fill the cake pan halfway with water Enrichment and submerge the screen. 6. Place newspaper on a flat surface n Students can use different types of and turn the screen paper-side-down 4. Choose a background color for your materials to make paper, and then on the cloth. Lift the screen gently, leav- picture, and put one-half cup of that compare the papers. Students might ing the paper. Gently tap the screen to color pulp in the cake pan. Mix it so it try newspaper, paper towels, typing help release the paper. is evenly dispersed in the water above paper, or cotton balls. Which paper the screen. is the strongest? Which is water 7. Let it dry naturally for several hours resistant? Which is best for writing? or overnight. Gently peel off the paper 5. Carefully lift the screen out of the What other comparisons can stu- when it is dry. water and allow excess water to run dents make? What kinds of uses can off. Your background layer will remain they think of for their new paper? 8. When you’re finished making paper, on the screen. What materials can they use that collect the leftover pulp in a strainer might otherwise be thrown away? and recycle it, or freeze it in a plastic 6. With the background pulp on top, bag for future use. Don’t pour the pulp place the screen on several sheets of n Students create a book or bulletin down the drain! newspaper on one of the boards. board showing different kinds of manufactured paper, and describ- 9. Discuss these questions: 7. Create your picture by carefully drip ing the characteristics, benefits, and ping thin layers of the other pulps on limitations of each. For example, n What materials did we use top of the background pulp. This can they might include samples of in making paper? be done by pouring the colored pulps newsprint, gift wrap, parchment, n What forms of energy did you into small paper cups and pinching the wallpaper, vapor barrier for houses, need to make the paper? (electricity cup rims to make pouring spouts. Once packaging, milk cartons, greeting and students’ own energy) pulp is dripped onto the screen, do not cards, and so on. n What types of wastes resulted try to remove it, or you will tear the from making paper? (dirty background pulp water, leftover pulp) and create holes in n What did we do with the your picture. waste products? n What were some problems 8. When you finish with making paper? (cleaning your design, place up the mess) a few layers of n What would it would be like in a newspaper on top. paper mill, where tons of paper are Put a board on the being made a day? Why do you think newspaper, creat- recycling paper is important? What ing a paper press about reducing the amount of paper “sandwich.” (See you use? diagram on the n How is the new paper different from next page.) the old paper that you recycled?
Project Learning Tree • PreK–8 Activity Guide 226 © Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. Paper Press
n Have students investigate the pro- n If you live near a paper mill, invite cess used in modern paper factories. a representative to help your class Discuss ways it is similar to and make paper. Ask him or her to bring different from making paper by samples of wood chips, pulp, and hand. paper, if possible. n Students can make paper for the n Research to find out what other school to be used as class “thank fibers—in addition to wood fiber— you” notes, graduation invitations are used to make paper such as and so on. They might also use the hemp, flax, cotton, and rice straw. paper to write a poem (as in Activity 5, “Poet-Tree”) for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Grandparent’s Day.
pop-ups perfect for celebrating all types book explaining how trees are made READING CONNECTIONS of occasions, and tell stories on a scroll. into paper. This book carefully explains Students will enjoy choosing the style that’s the papermaking process so children Curtis, Neil and Peter Greenland. How Paper is just right for what they want to say and do. understand how changes in matter occur. Made. Lerner. 1992. Describes how paper is Grades 5+. ISBN: 1579903266. Grades PreK-2. ISBN: 082250720X. made, beginning in a forest and ending in a Grummer, Arnold E. Paper by Kids. Dillon Press. Woods, Samuel G. Recycled Paper: From Start paper mill. Grades K-3. ISBN: 0822523760. 1980. Step-by-step instructions for various to Finish. Gale Group. 2000. Demonstrates Diehn, Gwen. Making Books That Fly, Fold, methods of making decorative paper using how waste paper is recycled into useful Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist & Turn. Sterling materials found around the house and household products at the Marcal paper Publishing Company, Incorporated. 2006. simple equipment that can be bought or mill. Grades 2-7. ISBN: 1567113958. This book’s projects showcase a host of constructed. Grades 1+. ISBN: 0875181910. features and magically unfold like a map, Marshall, Pam. From Tree to Paper. contain cards that slip into pockets, include Sundance. 2002. An exciting photo-essay
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