- Definition
Papier-mâché is a craft where you layer strips of paper soaked in glue over a frame to make sculptures, which can then be painted once dry.
You can make a papier mâché bowl by layering gluey paper strips over the outside of a real bowl.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Papier mâché is like putting a strong, paper-and-glue cast on a shape to build something new.
Ask your child: What shape could we build using wet paper and glue?
Common mix-up: Kids may think it's just soggy, weak paper. The real magic is how the layers of paper and glue dry into a surprisingly strong, hard shell.
Examples
- Making a piggy bank by covering a balloon with paper strips, letting it dry, then popping the balloon.
- Building a dinosaur sculpture by adding paper strips over a frame made of cardboard tubes and boxes.
papier mâché 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 ↗
