Although there are many pollutants contributing to the problem of global warming, the basic ones are those that even young children can understand and address. This includes the problem of wasted paper, which not only pose a garbage problem but consequently results in more trees being cut down to meet the need for more paper. As such it can be a very rewarding experience to guide young children through the process of making recycled paper so that they can grasp more fully how trees are related to the waste paper problem.
For this project, you will need: used paper, one rectangular wooden frame, a second rectangular wooden frame with screen backing, an electric egg beater, a pail of water, a large basin, blotting cloth, and a heavy weight.
To make the process a way of instilling consciousness of the environment in young children, it would be best if you already started collecting waste paper at least a few weeks in advance. You can compile scrap paper from school assignments that are no longer needed, old newspapers, and table napkins that have been used to wipe down dry areas, among others. Magazines do not work as well because the pages are glossy and are difficult to mesh together for this project. This preparation time can be a great way to hype up the excitement for the project, as they can spend a couple of weekends scouring around the house for possible pieces of paper to use.
You will also need two wooden frames, one of which has a screen backing. If you do not have time to have one made, buying a silkscreen frame can suffice. Make sure the other frame, the one without the screen backing, is slightly smaller, as you will be using it to form the piece of paper.
Step 1. Tear up the used pieces of paper and soak them in the pail of water overnight. Try not to cut them up as the straight cuts of the scissors destroy the fibers. But if you have access to a shredder, shredded paper works best.
Step 2. Use the electric egg beater to mash the soaked paper bits into a pulp. The smoother you make the pulp, the better will be the consistency of your finished product. Remember to clean the egg beater thoroughly after use or else you might find paper bits sticking to your next scrambled eggs.
Step 3. Pour the pulpy mixture into the basin with water. Hold the two wooden frames together, the screen backing meeting the other frame tightly. Submerge them into the basin and bring it back up quickly. You will see the pulp being carried up by the screen. Give the frames a quick shake top to bottom and left to right to settle the pulp pieces.
Step 4. Quickly turn the flat pulp mixture over onto your blotting cloth, and blot behind the screen to transfer the wet sheet. Cover on top with another blotting cloth. Repeat the process until you have set all the pulp into thin sheets, and cover the entire thing with a heavy weight.
Step 5. By the next day or two, you should be able to hang the blotting cloths up to dry, and you can peel off the recycled paper after another day or two. This can make for a great ingredient in crafts project, as little ones will appreciate how the pulp actually formed bonds to form the piece of paper they are now holding!
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