Paper that has been used and treated for use again is recycled paper.  Paper from homes, offices, and schools can be collected, sent to special recycling centers, and remade into usable paper. This process can take place over and over.  Every year we cut down more trees to meet the world’s demand for paper.  Recycling will help save trees from being cut down.

Activity: Make your own paper from old newspaper.

You will need:  
a blender
a whole section of newspaper 
2 and a 1/2 single newspaper pages
5 cups (1.2 liters) of water
a pan 3 inches (7.6cm) deep
a piece of screen to fit inside the pan
a measuring cup
a flat piece of wood the size of a newspaper’s front page
waxed paper

Follow These Steps:
1.  Tear the two-and-a-half pages of newspaper into tiny strips.

2. Place the strips in a blender with 5 cups of water.  ASK PERMISSION TO USE THE BLENDER.  HAVE AN ADULT SUPERVISE THIS STEP. Cover the blender and blend the newspaper and water.

3. Pour about 1 inch (2.5cm) of water into the pan. Pour the blended paper pulp into the measuring cup.

4. Put the screen into the pan. Pour one cup (240 ml) of pulp over the screen.

5. Spread the pulp evenly in the water with your fingers.

6. Lift the screen and let the water drain off.

7. Open the newspaper section  to the middle.  Put the newspaper on a waterproof surface. Place waxed paper in the center of the newspaper. Place the screen  with the pulp on the waxed paper.  Close the newspaper.

8. Carefully flip over the newspaper section so the screen is on top of the pulp.  THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT. 

9. Place the board on top of the  newspaper and press out extra water.  Open the newspaper and take out the screen.  Leave the newspaper open and let the pulp dry for at least 24 hours.  When your paper pulp is dry, peel it off the waxed paper and write on it !

http://www.childrenoftheearth.org/Kid’s%20Entries/Make_Paper.htm

I would like to thank the students & teachers at Valley Middle School in Oakland for their wonderful hospitality last week.  I always enjoy my presentations here & hope it helped the students with their research project. A special thanks to Mr. Para for being a wonderful host.

Kathy Arciero

It was great visiting my neighbors at Oakview Elementary School in Bloomfield last week!  I had the pleasure of meeting with grades 1-3 and learning about all the recycling that the students do at home and in school.  Thank you for having me, and keep up the great work!

Cheryl Pavliv

Make your own indoor golf game using recycled materials - so that your kids can enjoy a craft activity and the game afterwards! The instructions below are for a 6-hole game, perfect for younger kids, but of course you can make a full 9 hole golf course if you like. Finish it off by making your own special box to hold your game in for next time.

You will need:

6 x 1 litre ‘tetrapak’ (fruit juice) cartons
Paper in 6 different colours
Pens

To play: child’s golf set, pillows, cushions, towels etc (to make obstacles)

Instructions:

Cut the top off each carton so you are left with a piece about 3 inches high. Wrap each carton in a different coloured piece of paper. Cut a 6 inch square of each colour paper.

On each square draw a cross in the centre and write on a number from 1 – 6. Write the same number on the carton with the same coloured paper and decorate the carton with the pens.

To play:

Lay the cartons on their sides around the room. Put down the squares of paper (these are the tees). Scatter around some pillows, cushions and blankets to be obstacles. Starting on square 1 players take it in turns to try and put the ball in the number 1 carton.

The player who completes all 6 holes in the least number of strokes wins. If you like, you can use our score sheets to keep track!

Go to http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/indoor_golf_game.htm for more information.

Summer’s almost here & the weather has been beautiful. Do the environment and yourself some good & take a walk! Cars create pollution, so the less we drive, the healthier our planet will be.

Next time you need to go somewhere, think twice before you ask for a ride. Is it close enought to walk? Can you ride a bike? Encourage your parents to walk or ride with you. Remember wear your helmet!

http://www.50simplekids.com/

Thanks to Eve Tomaseck at Colonial Road School for setting up a Recycling  presentation for the students. We were very lucky to have a reporter & photographer from Patch.com there to cover the story for earth week.  The students were very informed & great to work with!

Kathy Arciero

Education Specialist

We had the pleasure of visiting St Marys in Denville on Monday 4/18 to kick off  Earth Week. The students were very excited & knowledgeable on the importance of recycling. We hope they keep up the good work! Thanks to Jaclyn DeMarzo for coordinating the presentation.

Kathy Arciero & Cheryl Macdonald