Making Paper--Resources

Resources

Web Sites We Like

Making New Paper from Old
Fifth graders incorporated papermaking in their schoolwide recycling effort. Photos and text show how they did it.

The Prairie Paper Project
An educator describes how to turn straw into paper using traditional methods. Aimed at teachers of fifth grade and above, the site suggests ways to link to chemistry, environmental issues, and studies of traditional handcrafts.

The Papermaking Process
Send your students on a virtual tour of the modern factory process of turning trees into paper.

A Brief History of Papermaking
Find out more about the invention of paper, the evolution of the papermaking process, and Early American papermakers.

Tools for Paper and Papermaking
A good source for materials, kits, books, and equipment for home and classroom papermakers.

Books for Papermakers

The first three titles below are available from Tools for Paper and Papermaking.

Teaching Hand Papermaking: A Class Guide, by Gloria Zmolek Smith
Covers the papermaking process and instructs you how to teach it to others. You'll find connections to history, science, and the arts.

The Papermaker's Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Making and Using Handmade Paper, by Helen Hiebert
Beginners and practiced papermakers will find this detailed guide indispensable. Includes suggestions for crafting with your homemade paper.

Papermaking With Plants: Creative Recipes and Projects Using Herbs, Flowers, Grasses, and Leaves, by Helen Hiebert
Everything you need to know: which plants to use, instructions for making papermaking equipment, and suggestions for artistic applications.

The Cloudmakers, by James Rumford
In the 8th century, when the Arabs and Chinese were at war, Chinese prisoners bargained for release by teaching their captors the secrets of papermaking. This book for kids ages 5 to 9 recounts this piece of history through the story of a boy and his grandfather who make fine paper from the raw materials on hand.