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WHAT WILL YOU DO?:
Paper is made from cellulose (fibers from trees). These fibers come from
chopped down trees. The trees are ground and mixed with
a chemical that dissolves all the tree material EXCEPT the cellulose fibers.
In this activity you will work in a team and make paper by
recycling the fibers from used paper.
This is a messy operation - but fun!
STEPS TO FOLLOW:
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For the lesson presenter -- to assist the students:
Make at least one mold and deckle
in advance. (An extra mold will speed up the operation.)
Make a piece of paper in advance to show the students.
Make up some slurry in advance to start the operation. (The
slurry will keep several days in the refrigerator or can be frozen.)
This activity is a messy operation. It helps if you have two people
with this activity. An older child will do for the second person.
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Review the information in the
background section.
Spread table with newspapers and/or plastic. Spread area for paper
drying with thick layer of newspapers.
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To Make The Slurry:
Tear the paper (newspaper or new or used computer paper)
into small stamp-size pieces. Put these into a bowl
with water to soak. (If you use newspaper, you can skip the soaking step.)
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Fill the blender halfway with water. Put a handful of paper that
has already been soaked into the blender.
Blend in short bursts to make a fairly uniform slurry.
(If the blender
blades become bogged down with
the paper, add more water.) When you can no longer
see any bits of paper, pour the slurry into the holding pan.
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To Make The Paper: Add the slurry to the pan
of water. Optional: you can add a small amount
of glitter.
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You should have 90
percent water and 10 percent pulp. The more pulp you have,
the heavier the paper is going to be. (Heavier
paper releases from the mold easier.) Add about a
tablespoon of white glue as a binder. Stir.
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MATERIALS:
Mold and Deckle
(Make In Advance, See Instructions)
Food Processor or Blender
Paper Towels
Large Pan With Water
Pan or Bucket (For Holding Slurry Temporarily)
Newspaper
2 Bowls or Other Containers (For Soaking The Paper)
Cutting Board (or Other Flat Board)
White Glue
Water
Sponges
Large Cup (For Recycling Water Between Stages and
Transferring Slurry
Colored Glitter (Optional)
Plastic Tablecloth (Optional)
Strainer (Optional)
Extension Cord (Optional - For The Blender)
New or Used Computer Paper (Optional)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
If you use computer or other white office paper, you
will make white paper with black flecks. The glitter masquerades
the flecks. If you use newspaper, you will
make gray paper.
CLEAN-UP:
Do Not Pour
slurry down the drain -- it
will clog the drain. Strain the slurry to remove most
of the water and freeze in a zip lock bag for future use or
throw out in the garbage.
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Place deckle on top of the mold, screen side up.
Hold them firmly together with your hands in the center on opposite
sides. Place the mold and deckle to the bottom of
the tub. Now, lift the mold and deckle out very slowly. Let the water
drain out for about a minute over the tub (or over another pan).
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When most of the water has drained, remove the deckle
without disturbing the paper. Tip to one corner to finish
the draining. Sponge the back of the mold to
remove excess water. Take the mold to the drying area.
Place the long edge of the mold on a paper towel
sheet and quickly flip over. Carefully lift an edge of
the mold and pull the mold away.
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When you have approximately 6 pieces of paper made,
stack them neatly on more newspaper, cover with another piece of
paper towel and newspapers and press with the board. Let the paper dry.
(The paper will take overnight to be completely dry
and ready to remove from the paper towel, but it can be
carried on the paper towel while still wet.)
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