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in STEM Activities

Paper Recycling Project for Earth Day

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Ever wonder how paper is recycled or how to make paper without a screen? In this mini thematic unit, you will find fun activities to learn all about making paper with kids and other fun ways to teach recycling. It’s perfect for an Earth Day theme!

Kids will have tons of fun with this paper recycling project and kids will beg to do this recycling paper project over and over again. Experiment with using different kinds of paper to start with to see if you can change the texture of your final paper.

In this activity on how to make recycled paper at home, you will learn all about how paper is recycled and other fun ways to teach recycling. Making paper with kids is perfect recycling project for kids for Earth Day! #recycling #earthday #earthdayactivities #kidsactivities

What material makes the ultimate recycled paper? It’s the perfect addition to your spring STEM activities!

This activity is one of our favorite technology activities for kids! This activity is a technology activity because you learn about the technologies that are used in recycling and in paper making throughout history.

steam challenge cards

How to Make Recycled Paper

recycling of paper project

For this project, you will make your own recycled paper from cardboard egg cartons and kids will learn how recycled paper is made by making it themselves!

If you don’t want coarse paper, then you can use other forms of paper, like old computer paper, newspaper, or advertisements that you received in the mail.

Each type of paper will produce a different kind of final product.

Kids can experiment with making the best most paper-like recycled paper by adjusting how much of each type of paper base they include in their project.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. 

What You Need to Make Paper at Home

In this activity on how to make recycled paper at home, you will learn all about how paper is recycled and other fun ways to teach recycling. Making paper with kids is perfect recycling project for kids for Earth Day! #recycling #earthday #earthdayactivities #kidsactivities

This post contains affiliate links.

  • Mesh or sheer fabric
  • Craft sticks
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Scissors
  • Cardboard egg carton
  • Rolling pin
Ever wonder how paper is recycled or how to make paper without a screen? Kids will have tons of fun with this paper recycling project and kids will beg to do this recycling project over and over again.

How to make paper without a screen with kids

how to make paper at home

Tear the egg carton into tiny pieces. You will want about 2-3 cups of paper pieces. Place the pieces in a blender and blend them into a pulp.

Try making 3-4 different mixtures of paper using different paper starters. This will allow kids to find out what kinds of paper are best for recycling, and how changing the type of paper changes the final texture of the finished paper product.

Boil about 2 cups of hot water.

recycled paper project

While the water is heating, assemble your craft stick frame. We used eight sticks to make a large square and glued it with hot glue. We then glued the frame to our sheer fabric and cut off the excess fabric.

Once the water is boiling, pour it into your blender with your paper pieces. The hot water will start to turn the carton into pulp. Place the lid on the blender and blend the paper pieces and water until it creates a soup-like mixture.

make paper at home

Place the frame over a large bowl. Pour the paper pulp over the frame and use the rolling pin to spread the pulp evenly across the frame. We had to use a second piece of fabric to keep the paper from sticking to the rolling pin.

how to recycle paper at home

Let the water drip out of the frame. If your frame bends, place it on a glass baking pan turned upside down. This will allow the water to strain out and down the sides of the pan without allowing the paper to sit in water, which will prevent it from drying.

Allow the paper to dry completely, which may take 24 or more hours. We ended up drying ours in the oven set to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the paper is dry, slowly peel it off the frame and use it for whatever purpose you desire!

how to make paper without a screen
steam challenge cards

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Filed Under: STEM Activities Tagged With: earth day

About Brenda Priddy

Brenda grew up thinking she hated science. But when her 4-year- old daughter was more interested in reading science facts than fairy tales, Brenda realized she had to learn more. Through simple at-home science experiments, Brenda developed a passion for science and now works as a STEMed advocate with a team of science educators to create hands-on STEM projects and curriculum for kids.

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What is STEAM?

STEAM activities for kids promote the idea that science, technology, engineering, art, and math can all work together to help kids become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators!

Join us on our journey to discover just how much fun science experiments can be.

What we do… 

STEAMsational offers STEM and science lesson plans and teaching resources to provide a firm STEM foundation for children in the classroom or home.

All you need to do is find your supplies, gather your scientists, and let the innovation unfold.

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