How Things are Made

Given: Instructions to make recycled paper at home.

Materials needed:
• Old newspapers
• Fenugreek seeds (methi)
• Water
• A grinder or hands for mashing
• A flat base and a rolling pin

Steps:
1. Tear old newspapers into small pieces and soak them in water. Add a small quantity of fenugreek seeds to the water and leave it overnight. (Fenugreek seeds act as a binding material.)
2. Using a grinder, blend the soaked paper and fenugreek seeds into a wet mixture (pulp). You can also mash it with your hands.
3. Spread the paste on a flat base and roll it out into thin sheets.
4. Leave the rolled sheets to dry completely.

Result: Your recycled paper is ready for use!

Given: Pieces of recycled paper of the same size, coloured with equal quantities of natural ingredients.

Concept: Natural dyes are made from different parts of plants (leaf, flower, root, seed, stem) and are safe to use.

Observations table (sample answers):

| Natural ingredient used | Colour and brightness |
|---|---|
| Turmeric | Yellow, dull |
| Spinach | Light green, dull |
| Beetroot | Pink/Red, bright |
| Henna | Orange-brown, dull |

Conclusion: Different natural ingredients give different colours to paper. Some colours are bright (like beetroot) while others are dull (like turmeric and spinach). Natural dyes are safe for use and come from plants.

Given: Recycled paper made from old newspapers and fenugreek seeds.

Example – Making a Greeting Card:
1. Cut the dried recycled paper into a rectangular shape (e.g., 15 cm × 10 cm).
2. Fold it in half to form a card.
3. Use natural colours (turmeric for yellow, beetroot for pink) to paint a design or picture on the front.
4. Write a message inside using a pen or pencil.
5. Decorate with dried flowers or leaves if available.

Result: A beautiful, eco-friendly greeting card made entirely from recycled materials is ready. This is a creative and environment-friendly way to reuse old paper.

Yes, we do waste a lot of paper in our daily lives.

Examples of paper wastage:
• Writing on only one side of a notebook page and throwing it away.
• Using too many paper napkins or tissues.
• Printing documents unnecessarily.
• Throwing away paper bags, wrapping paper, and newspapers after single use.

Conclusion: Since making paper requires cutting many trees and uses a lot of water and energy, wasting paper harms our environment. We must use paper responsibly.

We can reduce wastage of paper in the following ways:

1. Write on both sides of a sheet of paper.
2. Use blank pages of old notebooks instead of buying new ones.
3. Avoid printing unless absolutely necessary; prefer digital documents.
4. Use cloth bags instead of paper bags for shopping.
5. Recycle old newspapers and paper into new handmade paper.
6. Share books and newspapers with others after use.
7. Use a handkerchief instead of paper tissues.

Conclusion: By following these simple steps, we can save trees, water, and energy, and protect our environment.