Recycling paper, Grade 1

Making our own special paper out of recycled paper in school.

Step 1: Paper mush in trays

Prepare trays filled with paper "mush" and water for the scooping of the frames. Paper mush: Soak the paper you want to recycle for a few days in water, feed it into a food processor with the soaked in water and mix.

Step 2: Fill the frame/ Scooping

Scoop the frame with the net in the tray to gather as much paper mush as you want. Make sure the frame is full, otherwise the paper will be too fragile. Once it is filled add the 2nd net piece on top.

Step 3: Scooping/ Sponge drying

Children work in teams (depending on how many frames you have though). Once the frame is full enough, take a sponge and squeeze as much water out as possible.

Squeeze the water with a sponge

You need some arm strength to do this.

Squeezing is important

Keep "emptying" your sponge and press again and again.

Step 4: Flip on felt

Keep pressing with the sponge (make sure the net is still on top!).

Step 5: Sponge again

Step 6: Remove the net

Recycling paper

Add coloured pieces of paper (which was not in the processor), string, glitter, confetti etc into the tray with the water and mush right at the beginning to make the paper more special.