Generation Green - Make your own Recycled Paper!

This a fun activity that's perfect for both educating and keeping children busy during those long half terms!

What you need:

• A large bowl
• Scrap paper
• Egg-beater or liquidiser
• Wire gauze or fine mesh
• Water
• Two sheets of blotting paper or a newspaper
• Instant starch (optional - to help stiffen your paper)
• An iron
• A rolling pin

What you do:

1. Tear the paper into very small pieces, no bigger than 25mm (one inch) square and place in the bowl (or liquidiser).
2. Fill the bowl with warm water and if you want to use starch, add two teaspoons now.  If you're using a liquidiser fill it with water, beat until the fibres are separated and then add to a large bowl of warm water.
3. Let the paper soak for ten minutes, then beat with the eggbeater or liquidise until it becomes mushy, with the fibres well separated.
4. Scoop the pulp up flat on to the mesh and let the water drip through back into the bowl.
5. Carefully, tip the pulp onto the blotting paper or newspaper so it doesn't come apart.
6. Take away the mesh, place the second sheet of blotting paper or newspaper on top and roll firmly.
7. Iron until dry.
8. Peel back the blotting paper and allow to dry fully for 24-hours.

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