Newspaper Tree

For the past two weeks I have been blessed with a free trial of the local newspaper. I had thought about subscribing and wanted to try it out. This also meant that a huge stack of newspapers has been growing next to my garbage can because I can't bear to throw it all out.

As I threw a new wad of paper into the stack the other day my mind randomly flashed back to elementary school and a fuzzy memory of making trees out of newspaper. I suddenly had the insatiable need to show my boys how to make a tree out of newspaper and off we went (with grateful help from Making Science Fun since my memory really was that fuzzy).

All you need is tape, newspaper (about 6 large sheets), scissors, and if desired a paper towel or similar size tube.



Once everyone is done reading the comics...
Tape your sheets together until you have a long strip of paper. Maybe wait until the baby is napping to prevent damage to your future tree :)

Roll up your newspaper around the paper towel tube...
Until you have a huge tube. Remove the paper towel tube and tape your tube together on the outside...
Start cutting at one end of your tube. Cut a straight line until you're half way down the tube. Rotate your tube a quarter of the way and cut again until you have 4 sections.
While holding the outside of your tube, grab the innermost layer and pull it out of your tube. Watch in awe
As your newspaper turns into a palm tree!
Take your tree outside so it can be in a natural setting and use this time to teach your little ones about paper, recycling, and how trees grow!I'm linking up to Messy Monday @ The Pumpkin Patch.