MATERIALS:
for every 2-3 students:
_ a piece of window screen 5" square
_ a pan big enough for the screen to lie flat
_ a large spoon
_ 2 Tbls. of liquid starch
_ a large jar, can or rolling pin
_ 2 pieces of blotting paper (ordinary paper) the same size as
the screen
_ 2 blank 8-1/2 x 11 pieces of paper
_ 2 sections of newspaper
_ 2 cups of hot water
_ blender
KEYWORDS: paper, reuse
PROCEDURE:
1. Tear paper into very small pieces in the pan (do not cut).
Add 2 cups of hot water and stir for 3-5 minutes. Use a blender
for best results in making pulp.
2. Add Tbls. of starch and stir 3 more minutes. Slide screen under
the paper pulp and move pulp around until screen is completely
covered.
3. Lift screen out, let it drain a few seconds, then place it
on a piece of blotting paper on a section of newspaper. Place
another sheet of blotting paper on top, and then the second section
of newspaper.
4. Press the excess water out by rolling the jar, can or rolling
pin over the newspaper. Take off the top newspaper, turn the blotting
paper sandwich over and take off the top piece of blotting paper
and the screen.
5. Let the recycled paper dry for 2 hours, then loosen it from
the blotting paper and gently peel it off. Let the recycled paper
dry overnight before writing on it.
FOLLOW UP: Discussion
questions:
1. How does your new paper look?
(thick, lumpy, ragged)
2. Would you like to recycle all your own paper yourself?
3. Do you get the same amount of new paper out as you put old
paper in?
(no, you get less because there is some waste)
Back to Solid Waste Activities Grades K-3
Cornell Waste Management Institute ©1991
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Bradfield Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-1187
cwmi@cornell.edu