Free lesson with a practice sheet
Crafts from waste paper
Turn clean old newspaper and paper into pen stands and paper beads, and learn why reusing paper helps the Earth.
Let us begin
The big idea
Paper that we throw away can become something lovely. A clean old newspaper can turn into a pen stand or a necklace. Reusing things is good for the Earth and fun too.
We can follow the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reduce means to use less. Reuse means to use again. Recycle means to turn old things into new things.
Clean, dry paper is best for crafts: old newspaper, magazine pages, used wrapping paper and the clean back of old sheets. Do not use paper that is wet, oily or has food on it.
Paper can be rolled into tubes or beads. Tubes can be glued together to make a pen stand. Beads can be threaded on a string.
Keep your craft table tidy. Put the small scraps in the dry-waste bin when you finish.
Worked examples
See how it works
Counting tubes for a pen stand
Put 1 tube in the middle and 6 tubes around it. 1 + 6 = 7 tubes in all.
Paper bead necklace
A necklace needs 24 beads. One sheet gives 6 strips, and each strip makes 1 bead. Sheets needed = 24 ÷ 6 = 4 sheets.
Which paper can I reuse?
Clean old newspaper: yes, reuse it. Paper plate with curry on it: no, it is dirty and oily. Dry magazine page: yes.
Try it at home
A rolled-paper pen stand
You will need
- Old clean newspaper
- A pencil
- School glue or paste
- A rubber band
- A piece of old thick cardboard for the base
- Crayons to decorate
What to do
Fold a sheet of newspaper in half and roll it tightly around a pencil, starting at one corner.
Put a dab of glue on the last corner and stick it down. Slide the pencil out. You have a paper tube.
Make 7 tubes in the same way.
Stand one tube in the middle and 6 tubes around it. Hold them with a rubber band while the glue dries.
Glue the bundle onto the cardboard base. Colour or decorate your pen stand.
An adult should cut the thick cardboard base into a square or circle (child-safe scissors only, with adult help). Keep glue away from eyes and mouth.
Practice sheet
Check what you learned
Practice sheet: Crafts from waste paper (Classes 3-5, Drawing and craft)
- What are the three Rs?
- Which paper can you reuse for crafts: clean old newspaper or paper with food on it?
- Why is it good to reuse paper?
- Who should cut thick cardboard?
- A pen stand has 1 tube in the middle and 6 around it. How many tubes is that?
- One sheet of newspaper gives 6 paper beads. How many beads will 4 sheets give?
- A necklace needs 30 beads. One sheet gives 6 beads. How many sheets do you need?
- What should you do with small paper scraps when your craft is done?
- Name three things you can make from waste paper.
- Tell one way you can use less paper at school or at home.
Answer key
Answers: Crafts from waste paper
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
- Clean old newspaper.
- It saves trees and makes less waste.
- An adult.
- 7 tubes (1 + 6).
- 24 beads (4 × 6).
- 5 sheets (30 ÷ 6).
- Put them in the dry-waste bin (or keep them for another craft).
- Sample answers: a pen stand, paper beads, a paper boat, a card, a bookmark.
- Sample answer: write on both sides of the page, or use the back of old paper for rough work.