Teaching students how to make recycled paper is a great activity to reinforce the purpose of conservation and importance of recycling. Students love this activity. Although it is best suited for mid-to-lower elementary grades, with some added information about recycling, it can be modified for older students. This is a great activity to have students participate in when celebrating Earth Day.
Supplies to Make Recycled Paper
- one metal coat hanger per student
- blender or food processor
- a pair of old pantyhose per student
- white glue
- water
- sink or large container with a few inches of water
- scrap paper
Send a note home with each student explaining to the parents that the class will be participating in a recycling activity and making paper. Request that each parent send in an old metal coat hanger that she does not care about getting back, as well as an old pair of pantyhose for her student to use. If you have a prolific number of metal coat hangers and want to purchase all the pantyhose yourself, that is fine. Regardless, you should have several extra on hand just in case. Send this note home at least a week prior to the activity to ensure that students have enough time to bring in the items necessary.
Steps to Make Paper
- You should have been keeping a box for students to put used paper in instead of throwing this paper away. Pass out this scrap paper and have the students each rip the paper into small strips or squares.
- Have the students bend their metal coat hanger into a square to make a frame for their paper.
- One at a time, have students bring their paper to you at the blender or food processor. Pour some water in with the paper and blend on high until all you have left is a mushy glob.
- Add two tablespoons of white glue into the sink or tub of water and all of the paper mush from the blender.
- Have the student use his hands to mix the glue and paper mixture up.
- Stretch one leg of the pantyhose over the coat hanger paper frame.
- Then, starting at the bottom of the sink or tub beneath the paper mixture, count to 20 as you slowly lift the frame out.
- Let the water drip for a minute after bringing the frame completely out of the mixture
- Hang the hanger frames up to dry.
- Once the paper is completely dry, you can peel it off
- Optional: if you would like to iron the paper to make it flat, you can.
Once your students have each made a piece of recycled paper, you can have them write down the steps to making paper to finish the project. This is a fun activity to do with your class, and learning about recycling is very important. Visit Recycle City for more ideas on teaching students about recycling.
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