Recipe for Papyrus

This is a hands-on activity your children will love.

Paper is made  for papyrus by peeling off the outside layer of a reed. The paper is then beaten and smoothed with a polishing stone.

We can do this nowadays using everyday materials.

           

Materials for Homemade paper

Recycled paper        Lint from a dryer filter

Small piece of window screen

Waxed paper            Electric blender

Newspaper               Cornstarch

Heavy books or weights

Tear recycled paper into pieces and let them soak overnight in a bowl with just enough water to cover the pieces.

Add dryer lint and beat with an electric blender until the mixture is pureed. Dissolve three tablespoons of cornstarch into two cups of water and add to the mixture.

When a pulp rises, slip a piece of window screen under the pulp in the bowl. Lift the screen and drain the water. Spread the pulp evenly on the screen and then place several sheets of newspaper on top. Cover with waxed paper and use some heavy books to weight it down. Allow to dry. Remove the heavy books and waxed paper, and carefully peel the sheets off the screen.

Your children can use the papyrus sheet complete, ot they can cut it into stripes, flatten them even more with a rod, and weave them to create a piece of art.  Then, they can paint like Egyptians, or  write in hieroglyphs.