Making recycled paper

Suitable for Key Stage 1/2/3. Curriculum links: Design and Technology, Mathematics (Shape, space and measures) Ma3

 

Let your children have a go at recycling their very own paper! Make your own papermaking frames using the instructions below or arrange to borrow our complete papermaking toolkit by simply calling 01329 236100 and ask to speak to a Waste and Recycling Officer.

This activity requires a fairly high level of supervision (3 or 4 adults per 30 pupils). We recommend dividing classes into 2 or 3 groups – depending on the number of supervisors and letting them try each stage of the activity on rotation.

Stage one: Making the paper pulp

Equipment:

• Used paper (no newspaper or glossy newsprint)
• A washing up bowl or bucket
• Warm water
• A stirrer
• A blender (optional)

You can either get the children to make the pulp or to speed up the process you can make the pulp in advance of the session by using shredded paper – only paper that has been shredded in two directions works.

If you are getting the children to make the pulp, get them to tear the paper into small pieces, exposing the fibres along the rip (if using a blender, the pieces must be no bigger than the size of a postage stamp, if a blender is not being used pieces half this size again).

Put the ripped up paper into the bucket or bowl and fill with enough warm water to just cover the ripped paper. Leave the mixture for at least half an hour, stirring at regular intervals. You should be left with a coarse pulp, which is ready to use!

To refine the pulp further (to produce a smoother piece of paper) put the coarse paper pulp in a blender a few large handfuls at a time alternatively you can use a hand blender.

Top Tips:

It takes quite a lot of pulp to produce one piece of recycled paper so set the children a challenge…who can rip up the most paper in 15 minutes? (this needs supervision to ensure the pieces are small enough).

Using the coarse pulp (without a blender) produces thicker paper with a rougher finish, with the original fragments still visible in the final piece.

Stage two: Making the paper

Equipment:

• Paper pulp
• Papermaking frames (ideally 4 sets)
• Dipping tray (shallow and rectangular – a cat litter tray would be ideal)
• Paint, glitter, dried flowers etc (optional)
• Roll of jay cloths
• Drying rack

Fill the dipping tray with water deep enough to entirely submerge your papermaking frames.

Add four big handfuls of pulp and stir, so that the fibres are dispersed through the water.

Ensure that the frame is the correct way up (the mesh frame should be on the bottom with the mesh face up and the empty frame should sit on top).

Give the water another quick stir with your hands to bring some of the pulp to the surface before plunging the frame to the bottom of the dipping tray - keeping the frames horizontal whilst being submerged

Hold the frame under water for approx 3 seconds then lift up from the water – being careful to keep the mesh parallel with the waters surface. Keep it over the tray until most of the excess water has drained from the frame.

Remove the top half of the frame and put to one side. Place a jay cloth over the pulp left on the mesh surface covering the bottom frame.

Next, flip this half of the frame over and place on a flat surface. The jay cloth should now be underneath the pulp and the mesh frame on top.

Take another jay cloth or sponge and dab at the mesh to draw out any excess moisture from the pulp. Once the pulp is dry enough the frame should lift away from the pulp, leaving a rectangular piece of pulp attached to the original jay cloth.

Put the jay cloth on a drying rack to allow the pulp to fully dry out. Once it dries the paper should peel off the jay cloth with ease.

The paper will get finer and finer with each dip - as there is less fibre in the water to get caught in the frame. Add more pulp, a handful at a time, as required.

Top Tips:

Get the children to work in pairs for this part of the activity. One can stir the water and pulp mixture whilst the other dips the frame. The task of ‘dabbing dry’ can then be shared and the paper can be cut in two at the end of the activity so each pupil can take away their own piece of paper.

To help the children estimate the time to leave the frame under water get them to chant ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ before removing the frame from the dipping tray!

Experiment with different art effects by adding a teaspoon of paint, some glitter or dried flowers to the pulp before adding it to the water in the dipping tray.

Making the frames

(Note - 1:1 supervision required if children participate in this activity)

Equipment (for one set of frames):

• 4 x wooden strips 21cm long
• 4 x wooden strips 15cm long
• An old nylon net curtain or aluminium mesh (available from car parts shops)
• Staple gun and staples
• Gaffer tape

To make the bottom half of the frame, take 2 x 21cm strips and 2 x 15cm strips and staple together to form an A5 frame.

Cut some netting or aluminium mesh and fit it over the frame, stapling it in place around the edges. It is important to ensure the material is stretched taut across the frame.

Use gaffer tape to make a seal where the edges of the netting/mesh meet the wooden frame.

To make the top half of the frame, use the remaining strips of wood to make another A5 frame. Leave this frame ‘empty’ – do not add the mesh layer.

Top Tip:

A coat of varnish on the frames will protect the wood from warping in the water!

For more information or to arrange a talk on recycling in your school please call 01329 236100 or email customerservices @fareham.gov.uk