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DIY Papermaking at Home: Fun Hands-On Craft and Art History

Your kids will learn about the history of paper, papermaking, and the journey it took from East to West while making their own sheets with household items.
Jessika Raisor
Average rating:
4.7
Number of reviews:
(53)
Class
Play

What's included

1 live meeting
1 in-class hours

Class Experience

Paper has been around for thousands of years and is used for letters, art, and school supply lists!

This class is all about the appreciation for the art of paper and papermaking. Students will learn about the early starts of people figuring out how to mesh together plant fibers, to the eventual spread of the secret to Europe. We’ll answer questions like “What was the first paper made out of?”, “Is all paper really tree bark?” and “How big are papermaking machines?” + many more! 

To add to the history trip, students will also be guided into how to make their very own sheet of paper at home using supplies you can find around the house! We’ll put the historic techniques to practice and your kid will have the tools to make the paper for future art projects.

Learning Goals

Students will learn: 
- The terms and techniques associated with papermaking
- How early paper was made and changed throughout history
- How papermaking travelled across the globe
- How modern paper is made

Students will be able to construct a sheet of paper based of teacher’s instructions.
learning goal

Other Details

Supply List
- A shallow dish (like tupperware or a casserole dish)
- 2 cotton t-shirts (preferably plain with no decals)
- A large bowl
- Sponge
- Towels
- Old paper (you can pre-shred if you have a shredder)
- Water (2-3 cups of water for 1 cup of paper)

None of the supplies will be “ruined” by this craft and can return to the kitchen or closet after cleaning!
Please reach out about possible substitutions. A detailed supply video with examples will also be available after enrollment.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
History content is referenced from “The Papermaker’s Companion” by Helen Hiebert and "Papermaking: The History and Technique of an Ancient Craft" by Dard Hunter
Joined April, 2020
4.7
53reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have been an art instructor since 2017 and have been a papermaker since 2022. 

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
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$12

per class

Meets once
60 min
Completed by 7 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
1-12 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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