The children from Rainbow Nursery, Middlestone Moor, have been highly motivated by their recent explorations into making paper. 'We demonstrated basic paper-making methods to the children initially, and gave them support with using the blender, but the choice of additional materials was entirely their own,' says nursery manager Karen Crawford.
PLANNED LEARNING INTENTIONS
To display high levels of involvement in activities
To use talk to connect ideas, explain what is happening and anticipate what might happen next
To explain own knowledge and understanding and ask appropriate questions of others
To respond to what they see, hear, smell, touch and feel
RESOURCES
Recycled newspapers and shredded paper; water; blender; plants, flowers and herbs to add colour and smell, such as beetroot, onion skins, carrots, leaves, flower heads, coriander, lavender, rosemary; water; large bowl; spoons; paper towels; rolling pins
STEP BY STEP
- We began by looking at different kinds of paper and talking to the children about how paper was made, before suggesting that they try making their own. We invited them to mix shredded paper and torn-up newspaper with water, and an adult poured some of the mixture into a blender. The children watched intently as the contents whizzed around for a few seconds to become a thick sludgy liquid. We poured it back into the bowl so that the children could look, smell and feel. The language that they used as they explored the 'uggy' mixture was wonderful.
- We left our gooey mixture to stand overnight and then pressed blobs with paper towels to remove the excess moisture. (A flower press would probably be more efficient for this). The children had fun rolling out their blobs until they resembled stiff pieces of paper. A little more drying and they were finished.
- We discussed the paper-making process together, and talked about how we could make our paper smell, look and feel more exciting, before inviting the children to search outdoors for natural materials with different smells, textures and colours. We provided additional materials, such as beetroot and onion skins, to extend their choices.
- The children loved cutting up their ingredients and dropping them into the mixture, and the resulting lumpy bumpy sheets were amazing. Their imaginative language certainly reflected their child-initiated learning. (One child decided her paper resembled her Mum's face when her chosen leaves became very effective teeth!)
- The children explored paper-making for several days, culminating in the decision to make a 'paper tree'. Staff provided chicken wire for the frame and the children built up their tree by sticking their gooey paper mixture to the frame. They named it 'The Bonker Tree', and staff created a wonderful display as a reminder of their experiences.
- Throughout these explorations, staff focused on providing an enabling environment where children could use their individual skills and interests. The highly imaginative language, and eagerness of the children as they talk about their activity to visitors, is proof of the success of this project.
Sheila Gardiner is director and Karen Crawford is manager at Rainbow Nursery, Middleston Moor, County Durham. They spoke to Jean Evans.
