Newspaper Paint Brush
1. Take one or two
folded pages of a
newspaper. Fold into
1/4 of page.
2. Cut strips along the
side that is not folded.
Strips should be about
2 inches long and 1/2
inch to 1 inch wide, depending on how thick
you want your bristles.
4. Tape just under the
cuts and at the bottom of
the brush.
3. Started from the
folded end role the
newspaper up.
Your finished brush
Rubber Band Paint Brush
1. Take 20 rubber
bands and cut them
in half.
4. Take another strip of masking tape,
lay it flat on the table, and tape rest of
the cut rubber bands to it. Wrap it
around the first piece of tape on the
pen. Wrap extra tape on the pen to
secure the rubber bands.
2. Take one strip of
masking tape, lay it flat
on the table, and tape
10 of the cut rubber
bands to it.
5. Trim the rubber
bands.
3. Wrap the masking tape
with the rubber bands on it
around the end of the pen.
This is what your paintbrush will look like.
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Educational Benefits
Children enjoy the process and don’t notice
the difference between homemade and
store bought materials.
Language — Discuss vocabulary words like
stroke, paint, rubber-bands, reuse, and
landfill.
Science — Predict what the paintbrush
strokes will look like. Discuss mixing colors.
Math — Count the rubber bands or number
of cuts made in the newspaper.
Motor Skills — Cutting, rolling, taping, and
painting.
Art — Think of other creative things to
paint with or on.
Social-Emotional — Reflect on children’s
competence in making their own painting
utensil. Children can paint on their own or
in small groups.
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Environmental Benefits
The cost of making your own art supplies
from reused products is significantly
cheaper than purchasing supplies. For
example a set of 10 paint brushes costs
$6.99 you could make 100 paint brushes
from old newspapers for the cost of 1 roll of
masking tape which is $2.29.
Every ton of newspaper reused or recycled
saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill
space.
Most pens cannot be recycled so they should
be reused to prevent them from going into
landfills.
When reusing materials, instead of creating
new products from virgin materials, there is
less burden on the economy.
Reuse provides an excellent, environmentally
-preferred alternative to other waste
management methods, because it reduces
air, water and land pollution and limits the
need for new natural resources.