Fireplace Logs from Newspapers

Purpose

To help people learn that energy can be recovered from trash.

Grade level

1st through 6th grade

Science TEKS

1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2d, 1.3b

2.1a, 2.1b
3.1a, 3.1b, 3.2d
4.1a, 4.1b, 4.2c, 4.2d
5.1a, 5.1b, 5.2c, 5.2d
6.1a, 6.1b, 6.2c, 6.2d, 6.8a, 6.9a, 6.9c

Objective

To help the students learn how to re-use materials in environment

Focus

Begin by talking about recycling. Name ways and things we recycle. Hold up newspaper and ask how
many people recycle their newspaper. Tell the students we are going to learn how to make fireplace
logs from newspaper. This saves trees.

Materials

containers large enough to hold several soaking logs

newspapers

used twine or string

broomsticks

scissors

water

Procedure

1. Take eight pages of newspaper and lay unfolded on a table lengthwise. Lay broomstick at the top of
the paper.

2. Tightly roll the newspaper around the broomstick to about 8" from the end. Overlap another eight
pages and continue rolling until you have a good size log.

3. Tie with used string or twine (3" from each end).

4. Soak overnight in water. The water will break down the paper's fibers and reduce the amount of fly
ash when the logs are burned.

5. Take the logs out of the water and bang them on the ground to pack the paper.

6. Remove the broomstick and dry thoroughly.

Enrichment

1. Discuss how burning newspaper logs illustrates the concept of waste to energy. Show examples of
how waste to energy plants burn "garbage" to generate electricity.

2. Discuss whether these "logs" burn clean. Do they produce a lot of ash? What happens to the ash that
is produced?

Acknowledgments

Stacy Butler, Stephen F. Austin State University TES course, 1994