In this interactive English-language lesson, the students explore the origins and production of paper in Europe. Beginning with a brainstorming session on the question “Where does your writing paper come from?”, learners uncover the complex path from raw material to final product. Through a crossword puzzle, they acquire some key terminology related to paper production. Then, in a collaborative activity, they reconstruct the stages of the papermaking process and learn how wood and recycled paper are turned into new products. Finally, the students reflect on how consumers can contribute to sustainability by applying the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The teacher starts by writing the following question on the blackboard/whiteboard: „Where does your writing paper come from?“ and collects spontaneous answers (forest; store; brands such as Ursus, Mondi, Clairefontaine; made from recycled paper…).
Students should solve the crossword in teams of two or three to become familiar with the important words and idioms.
Students are assigned six different parts of the paper making process (handout of M2 and M3). They need to find out which step of the process precedes their own step and which follows. What happens to the wood? What happens to the paper? B1 is used as an example (with no preceding production step). The groups have 10 minutes to answer the questions regarding their own role. Starting with B1, the groups present their main findings. (M4 provides the solutions for the Production Puzzle, M5 the original diagram.)
M3_Role Cards
M4_Solution for the Papermaking Production Puzzle
M5_Original diagram of the Papermaking Process
The teacher explains: Paper production is a complex process involving many different steps. Besides wood and used paper, energy, water, chemicals, machines and transport are needed and emissions are created. So how can we as consumers reduce the demand for wood? There are at least three different ways: reduce, reuse, recycle.
- How can we reduce paper consumption? (e.g. think before you print)
- How can we reuse paper? (e.g. use both sides of paper, use old magazines for collages and other art projects,…)
- Where can we use recycled paper? (e.g. notebooks, toilet paper,…)
- What do we have to take into consideration if we want to recycle paper? (e.g. paper should not be oily/greasy, should not contain food leftovers,…)
Kompetenzorientierte Lernziele
The students learn basic terminology of the paper making process.
The students organize production steps logically and communicate their findings in English.
The students explore practical ways how to act more sustainably as consumers.
Quellen
Umweltdachverband (2025): HolzBOX. Ein aktivierender Einstieg in Holz, Wald & Nachhaltigkeit. In: eLABoration Wood. Fachhochschule Salzburg.
