How to Make a Newspaper Tree Newspapers are made from trees and trees grow... email to friend
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1. Tape the sheets of newspaper together lengthwise as shown. Use the cardboard tube as a guide to roll the newspaper into the shape of a tube.
2. Remove the tube from the center of the newspaper roll.
3. Starting at the top end of the cylinder, cut the edge of the newspaper cylinder down the middle of the cylinder. Turn the roll a quarter turn and make another cut from the top down to the middle. Do this two more times so you have four equal strips.
4. Bend back each of the strips so that you can see the inside of the roll.
5. Hold onto the base of the tube with one hand while reaching into the center of the newspaper roll with the fingers of the other hand. Pull up on the newspaper inside the tube to start the tree growing. Keep pulling to make the tree grow taller and taller.

Of course, you could cut the newspaper and then hide the cuts by rolling it up in another sheet of newspaper. Leave the last few inches unrolled to give the appearance that you are merely rolling up a few sheets of newspaper. At the appropriate time, tear the outer sheet of newspaper along the same lines where the inner roll of newspaper was cut with the scissors. This will give the appearance that you are simply tearing the roll of newspaper into four equal sections. Hold the newspaper roll at the bottom and pull the newspaper straight up from the middle. Magically the tree appears.

How does it work?

The production of the Newspaper Tree could be the perfect introduction to a unit on the origins of paper and the importance of recycling. While causally rolling up the newspaper and tearing it into four equal sections, ask the students if they know how paper is made and where it comes form. When they respond by saying, "Paper comes from trees," quickly pull the center of the newspaper roll straight up to produce the incredibly tall tree. It's a magical experience that will not be soon forgotten.