Submitted by: Denise Pannell, Fairview Elementary in Sherwood, OH
UNIT: Papermaking ( Science related - recycling - Nature as subject)
Lesson: Paper Pulp painting
Grade level: Upper Elementary on up

Materials:

White Drawing Paper, Crayons, Construction Paper(recycled), Berry Baskets, mould & deckle screens, blender, plastic bin (like Rubbermaid), plastic food tray (from fast food restaurant or cafeteria), black Sharpie Marker, scrap Mat Board for mounting. Styrofoam meat trays for stencils - optional.

Note from Denise: Upon completing the drawings and ripping the paper, I had one student per period do the actual blending & "painting" and one student be their apprentice & helper. Meanwhile, the rest of the class worked on another project. It all evened out in the end!

Book: The Papermaker's Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Making And Using Handmade Paper - This valuable reference covers everything, from the basics to more advanced techniques like shaped sheets, embossing, laminating, and watermarking. Included are extensive step-by-step instructions on processing pulp, building papermaking equipment, and making paper-based projects like cards, lamp shades, and sculpture.

Encounter:

1. Students plan out drawing on white paper. (We chose to do insects, frogs, and birds). Emphasis is on drawing the creature large enough to fill the paper and adding a simple background of leaves or flowers.
2. These drawings are colored with crayon in order to plan out colors. (Do not use anything which will smear when wet, such as marker).
3. Students choose colors which correspond with their drawings and rip construction paper into small (dime-sized) pieces and put into separate berry baskets. Different shades of green are used for the leaves, etc.
4. Students place their drawings on the counter next to the sink and place the mould (so that the wood is down & the screen is up) and deckle on top of the drawing so as to see their drawing through the screens.
5. Students place one color of paper in to the blender with enough water to cover it and blend the paper into a pulp.
6. This pulp is poured through an extra screen placed on top of the plastic bin. (The screen catches the pulp and the bin catches the water, which may have pulp in it which will clog the sink).
7. The pulp is spread on to the mould & deckle set up on top of the drawing,
   filling in the corresponding area. The pulp should be the consistency of
   mashed potatoes in order to be workable- too dry & it will not bind to the
   other fibers.
8. Repeat with each color until the painting is filled in.
9. Remove the deckle.
10. Place a plastic food service tray on top of the pulp painting and flip the
    mould over. Drop the tray & mould on to the counter so that the painting
    releases and falls on to the tray.
11. Using a sponge, press the fibers together & remove excess water. Be
    careful not to flatten it too much!
12. Allow to dry at least over night.
13. Outline with Sharpie marker or leave as is.
14. Mount on to scrap mat to display.
15. Variation: use Scribbles puff paint to add details.