Title/ Description: Papermaking and paper casting
Level: Middle School and High School
Duration: 5, 45 minute class periods
Historical Overview: Japanese Paper
Goals and Objectives: To introduce papermaking process and the importance of recycling, reusing and recycling paper.
Vocabulary: deckle, pulp, cotton, recycling, molds, press, iridescent
Materials: paper making screen, cover screen, drain rack, envelope pattern, botanicals, iridescent flakes, sponges, press bar, hand molds, metallic sprinkles, cookie cutters, support grid, two couch sheets, Field flower and paper press, book press, blender, rolling pin, paper vat ,tarp and newspaper. Pulps: scrubbed corn husk, plum cotton rag with flakes, white 100% rag, blue denim 100% cotton rag
Procedures:
Day 1
- Anticipatory Set: Show students shells and have them identify them using shell chart as oysters.
- Discuss importance of oysters in the environment.
- Have students make molds of oysters using plaster covered in Vaseline placed gently on surface inside card board boxes half filled of plaster.
Day 2
- Show various handmade papers and the materials made to use them.
- Have students collect plant material and press, tear paper and mix with water, and prepare materials for making pulp.
- Review Vocabulary.
Day 3
- Demonstrate how to use blender and pour pulp into vats and pull pulp.
- Have students take turns pulling pulp from screens working in groups, placing between couch sheets, and using press.
Day 4
- Demonstrate how to caste paper and use molds made from oyster shells.
- Have students caste paper in plaster molds.
- Have students use watercolors on flat paper for sea paintings decorating them with sand and shells using glue.
Day 5
- Have students paint iridescent acrylic onto styrofoam balls and glue to caste paper.
- Have students add their pearls of wisdom written on strips of paper to share with other students.