Homemade Paper
Big Idea: Some material, like paper, can be recycled to make new products.
Materials:
- Newspapers
- Buckets
- Wire whisks
- Measuring spoons
- Pieces of screen (about 6'' across)
- Rolling pin
- Plastic wrap
4.B Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
5.B Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.
6.A Demonstrate knowledge and use of numbers and their representations in a broad range of theoretical and practical settings.
11.A Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry.
11.B Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of technological design.
31.A Develop a positive self-concept.
Pulp: A soft, wet, shapeless mass of material
Activity Directions:
- Tear newspapers into small pieces, filling bucket half full.
- Add water and let it sit for at least two hours.
- Beat the mixture into a creamy pulp with the wire whisk.
- Submerge the piece of screen in the pulp and mix again. Repeat until the screen has about 1/8'' thick layer of pulp.
- Lay the pulp covered screen on newspaper and cover with plastic wrap.
- Press out the excess water with a rolling pin and set the screen up so that the air can dry the pulp.
- When dry, peel from the screen. Paper can be painted or decorated.
Investigation Questions:
Q. What is paper made out of? How is it made?
A. Paper is made from trees. A pulp is made from the wood of the tree. It is pressed together and dried.
Q. What happened to the paper pieces in the water?
A. The paper absorbs water and turns into a mushy mix, called pulp.
Q. What happened when the pulp was laid on top and dried?
A. It blended together to make new paper.
Q. Why did we roll a rolling pin over the pulp?
A. It pressed the paper pieces really close together so they stick to each other and squeezed out the excess water so it would dry better.
Q. Why do you think recycling is important?
A. Recycling helps us to use less garbage and cut fewer trees.
Q. How can we use this paper?
