- Definition
Handmade paper is paper created by mixing plant fibers or old paper with water to make a mush, then shaping and drying this mush into new sheets of paper.
Blending shredded newspaper with water to create a slurry, then pouring it onto a screen to drain, creates a sheet of handmade paper.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Making handmade paper is like making a smoothie — you blend up ingredients like old paper scraps with water into a pulp, then spread it out to dry.
Ask your child: What interesting things could we add to the pulp to give the paper texture?
Common mix-up: Students may think you're just gluing wet scraps together. The process actually breaks the old paper down into a pulp, reforming the fibres into a completely new, unique sheet.
Examples
- Mixing dried flower petals or threads into the pulp before drying to create a decorative sheet.
- Using old cotton rags instead of paper scraps to create a softer, more durable handmade paper.
handmade paper is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
