Paper

Paper has gone far beyond its original use as a writing material since being invented in China in 105 A.D. With each person in the United States using about 700 pounds of paper a year, paper is used in thousands of products ranging from books and newspapers to money, construction materials and, of course, election ballots in the United States. Learn about the history of paper, explore the scientific processes of papermaking and recycling and discover the impact of paper as historical record and versatile art form through these direct links on The Times Launch Point Web site: https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint

Level 1

Pieces and Creases: Origami: Origami, the Japanese art of folding paper, has a long history of being used to exchange gifts and celebrate occasions. Learn how the Japanese paper crane has become an international symbol of peace, read poems and stories about the art of origami, and try many fun activities.

https://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5402/history.html

Paper in Wisconsin: The invention of paper revolutionized written communication because it was lighter and more portable than engraved clay tablets. Learn about the history of paper, take a step-by-step tour of the papermaking process and learn some fun facts and activities.

https://www.wipapercouncil.org/homepage.htm

The Pulp and Paper Information Centre: Kid’s Corner: Cellulose is the key ingredient for making paper, which can be found not only in wood pulp from trees but also from cotton, straw and hemp. Learn all about the papermaking process, read about the life of trees and find out how to make paper at home.

https://www.ppic.org.uk/htdocs/info/archive.html

Level 2

Paper University: Learn all about paper, from its history and production to art projects, paper recycling processes and statistics, careers in the paper industry and a variety of science experiments including making a Mobius strip.

https://www.tappi.org/paperu/welcome.htm

Papyrus: Gift of the Nile: The word “paper” comes from the word “papyrus,” a plant that grows along the banks of the Nile River and that the ancient Egyptians used to create a type of paper as early as 3000 B.C. View photos that explain this process.

https://menic.utexas.edu/menic/cmes/out/papyrus/papyrus.html

Joseph Wu’s Origami Page: Since the time paper was invented in China in 105 A.D., the art of paper folding has been practiced in many cultures including Spain and North Africa. Learn about the rich history of origami, view astounding examples of this artistry and discover the fun of origami for yourself.

https://www.origami.vancouver.bc.ca/

Level 3

National Archives Online Exhibit Hall: The many uses of paper--photographs, newspapers, posters, diaries and more--provide rich resources for historians’ research. Learn how the National Archives preserves historical documents and view important moments of history recorded on paper, such as the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence and President Nixon’s letter of resignation.

https://www.nara.gov/exhall/exhibits.html

American Forest and Paper Association: Did you know that recycling paper uses half the amount of energy needed to produce paper from new materials? Get acquainted with the many products made from paper and wood, learn about the important roles of recycling and responsible forestry and read about political issues regarding paper.

https://www.afandpa.org/

Institute of Paper Science and Technology: Trace the history of paper from its initial use as a writing surface to a product that affects almost every aspect of our lives through this illustrated collection of articles.

https://www.ipst.edu/amp/museum_virtual_tour.htm

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

How many times can paper be recycled?

CLUE: See the Pulp and Paper Information Centre: Kid’s Corner

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point covers more than 150 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Answer to last week’s Quest: More than 12 million immigrants landed at Ellis Island.

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Shana Saxon-Waltz, Nikki Hoffman, Wendy Hsiao and Anna Manring.