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Create Your Own Antique Paper

  • History & Social Studies
  • Grades 4-5
  • Grades 6-8
  • Grades 1-3

Learn how to make the look of aged paper while creating a patriotic scroll.

Materials


  • 25 Pack Assorted Paint Brushes
  • Hemp Cord
  • Watercolor Paint Palette
  • Round Dowels Assorted Sizes
  • Cardstock
  • Paper Plate or small tray (for glue)
  • Craft Glue
  • Scissors
  • Clear Tape

Instructions


 

Step 1. Gather your supplies.

President's Day Craft

 

Kids Art Activity for President's Day

 

Step 2.

 

Print and cut out an image of your chosen document. In honor of President’s Day, we used an image of the U.S. Constitution printed from the government website, USHistory.org found here.

Make a scroll

 

Step 3.

 

Gently crumple your larger paper into a ball.  You want to make sure the paper is wadded up tight but gentle enough that you don’t have major rips in the paper.

Historical Scroll Craft for President's Day

 

Step 4.

 

Unfold the paper to reveal lots of creases. Add water to the Watercolor Paint and paint the entire paper with brown paint and a Large Brush.  Tip: Make sure the brown is light in color so it will show up darker in the creases for a unique, aged look.

Historical Scroll Craft

 

Step 5.

 

Pour craft glue onto a paper plate or small tray. Using a foam brush, add glue to the back of the document then glue to the aged paper. Apply glue around the edges as well. Allow to dry.

Art Activity for Presidents Day

 

Step 6.

 

Place some strips of clear tape on the backside of the bottom edge with the sticky side facing up.

Presidents Day Craft Activity

 

Step 7.

 

Place a 5/16” Wood Dowel along the sticky edge of the tape. Gently roll the Dowel so the bottom edge of the paper is wrapped around the Dowel.

Arts and crafts activity for Presidents Day

 

Step 8.

 

Add some tape along the edge of the paper, where it meets the Dowel. This will secure the Dowel to the paper, and create a nice finished look.

Independence Day craft activity

 

Step 9.

 

Repeat Steps 7-9 with the top edge of the paper.

Independence Day ScrollStep 10.

 

To finish your scroll, tie some white Hemp Cord across the top Dowel for hanging.

 

Partner this craft with a discussion on documents which are important to country’s history.

 


Create your own Declaration of Independence and study the history behind this important document!    

  • Song of Independence: There’s no better way to dive into American history than with this Schoolhouse Rock song! While crafting, listen and sing along to gain a better understanding of the founding fathers’ reasons for creating the United States of America.
  • National Treasure: Much like the scrolls crafted by your students, old documents like the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence are yellowed and faded due to years of sun exposure. That’s why they’re protected under state-of-the-art glass and displayed in Washington’s National Archive Museum — take a virtual field trip in class to get up close and personal with the documents!     

Although the Declaration of Independence became official on July 4th, it wasn’t signed by all 56 men until August 2nd. Why did it take so long? Take some educated guesses from your students, then explore even more fun facts about this special document by watching this video