| Day | Theme | Sprouts (3-7) | Shoots (8-12) | Stalks (13-18) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explore & Gather | Touch, smell, explore hemp fiber. Collect ingredients. | Examine fiber. Chop & measure crosslinking solution. | Safety briefing. Chop fiber & weigh chemicals. |
| 2 | Prepare | Weigh & bag dry ingredients. Tear fiber. Pick molds. | Soak fiber. Spread & press into hemp paper. | Dissolve NaOH, soak 2 hours, wash to pH 7. |
| 3 | Transform | Cook bioresin (adult), mix fiber, press into molds, oven dry. | Apply crosslinking solution. Press. Oven cure at 140C. | Oven dry cellulose. Weigh. Mix with glycerol. |
| 4 | Finish | Demold. Decorate. Compare raw fiber to finished coaster. | Wash cured sheet. Cut shapes. Compare all samples. | Pack mold. Hot press. Demold. Compare all samples. |
-Based on Approach B (fiber + bioresin composite). Kids mix hemp fiber into a seaweed & corn starch bioresin, pour into molds, & take home a coaster or ornament. Adult handles stove & oven only. +Based on Approach B (fiber + bioresin composite). Kids mix hemp fiber into a seaweed & corn starch bioresin, pour into molds, & take home a decorated coaster or ornament. Adult handles stove & oven only. Short daily sessions match young attention spans.
@@ -142,7 +187,7 @@ Based on Approach B (fiber + bioresin
SHOOTS
-
Based on Approach C (citric acid crosslinking). Students soak hemp fiber in a citric acid solution, press flat, & cure in an oven. Citric acid comes from lemon juice concentrate, keeping everything food-safe. Result: rigid tiles, bookmarks, or plant labels.
@@ -159,11 +204,11 @@ Based on Approach C (citric acid cros
Inputs: raw hemp fiber, lemon juice concentrate, glycerol, scissors, kitchen scale
@@ -320,16 +379,16 @@ Based on Protocol 2 (gentle cellulose
Ages 8-12: Citric Acid Tiles (3 days)
+Ages 8-12: Citric Acid Tiles (4 days)
Process:
-1. Examine raw hemp fiber. Pull apart a strand. Notice how fibers separate into thin threads. Discuss where it comes from (stalk bark, not leaves or seeds).
+1. Examine raw hemp fiber. Pull apart a strand. Notice how fibers separate into thin threads. Discuss where it comes from (stalk bark, not leaves or seeds). (~5 min, everyone)
2. Students chop 25g hemp fiber to 2-3 cm lengths with scissors. Bag it. (~15 min, students active)
3. Students measure 15 mL lemon juice concentrate into a small jar. Weigh 5g glycerol, add to same jar. Stir. Cap it. Label "crosslinking solution." (~10 min, students active)
-4. Set aside a small sample of raw unchipped fiber for comparison on Day 3.
-5. Review the 3-day plan: chop → paper → crosslink. Each day's output feeds the next day. (~5 min, everyone)
+4. Set aside a small sample of raw unchopped fiber for comparison on Day 4.
+5. Review the 4-day plan: chop → paper → crosslink → finish. Each day's output feeds the next day. (~5 min, everyone)
Output: bag of chopped fiber + jar of crosslinking solution + raw fiber sample. Stored until Day 2.
@@ -179,14 +224,14 @@ Based on Approach C (citric acid cros
1. Students pour chopped fiber into a bowl. Measure & add 500 mL water. Stir. Start a 30-minute soak. (~5 min, students active)
2. BREAK (25 min). Fiber soaks unattended. Snack, sketch the process so far, or discuss hemp plant anatomy.
3. Students spread soaked fiber evenly onto a flat screen or mesh. Spread thin & even, like making a pancake from fiber. (~10 min, students active)
-4. Students press flat with a board. Drain for 5 minutes. Set aside a small piece of this untreated hemp paper as a comparison sample. (~5 min, students active)
+4. Students press flat with a board. Drain for 5 minutes. Set aside a small piece of this untreated hemp paper as a comparison sample for Day 4. (~5 min, students active)
-Output: rough sheet of hemp paper + untreated paper sample for comparison. Store paper flat between sheets of parchment until Day 3.
+Output: rough sheet of hemp paper + untreated paper sample. Store paper flat between sheets of parchment until Day 3.
Hands-on: ~20 minutes. All student labor. No adult needed.
-Day 3: Crosslink & Cure (~1 hour 30 minutes + overnight dry)
+Day 3: Crosslink & Cure (~1 hour 30 minutes)
+
+Day 4: Wash, Cut & Compare (~45 minutes)
+
+
+
+Process:
+1. Students remove cured sheet from water. Pat dry with towel. Feel the difference: stiffer, smoother, more plastic than the untreated paper from Day 2. (~5 min, students active)
+2. Students cut tiles, bookmarks, or plant labels from cured sheet using scissors. Adult supervises if using a craft knife. (~15 min, students active)
+3. Compare all three samples side by side: raw fiber (Day 1), untreated hemp paper (Day 2), cured crosslinked tile (today). Pass them around. Bend each one. Feel the difference in stiffness. Drop water on each to compare absorption. (~10 min, everyone)
+4. Discussion: what changed at each step? Why did lemon juice & heat turn floppy paper into rigid tile? Pack take-home bag. (~10 min, everyone)
+
+Output: 2-3 tiles (~5x8 cm), or 3-4 bookmarks, or 4-5 plant labels per student.
+
+Hands-on: ~30 minutes. All student labor. No adult needed (unless craft knife).
Sprouts (ages 3-7)
-Kids handle: all measuring (Day 1), tearing fiber (Day 1), stirring (Day 2), molding (Day 2), demolding (Day 2).
+Adult handles: stove & oven on Day 3 only. Nothing else requires adult hands across all 4 days.
+Kids handle: exploring (Day 1), all measuring & tearing (Day 2), stirring & molding (Day 3), demolding & decorating (Day 4).
Watch for: kids putting fiber or starch mixture in mouths. All ingredients stay food-safe but taste terrible.
Allergens: check for corn & seaweed allergies before Day 1.
Shoots (ages 8-12)
-Students handle: all chopping & measuring (Day 1), all soaking & paper-making (Day 2), all crosslinking & washing (Day 3). All solutions stay food-safe (lemon juice & glycerol).
+Adult handles: oven on Day 3 only. Craft knife supervision on Day 4 if needed.
+Students handle: all chopping & measuring (Day 1), all soaking & paper-making (Day 2), all crosslinking & soaking (Day 3), all washing & cutting (Day 4). All solutions stay food-safe (lemon juice & glycerol).
Watch for: lemon juice in eyes on Day 3 (stings but not dangerous). Keep a damp cloth nearby.
Allergens: citrus sensitivity. Glycerol stays hypoallergenic.
Take Home Checklist
-☐ 1 hemp fiber coaster or 2-3 ornaments
+Sprouts take home (Day 4):
+☐ 1 decorated hemp fiber coaster or 2-3 ornaments
☐ A piece of raw hemp fiber to compare with finished product
-Shoots take home (after Day 3, plus overnight dry):
+Shoots take home (Day 4):
☐ 2-3 citric acid tiles, bookmarks, or plant labels
☐ Raw hemp fiber sample (saved Day 1)
☐ Untreated hemp paper sample (saved Day 2)
-Stalks take home (after Day 4, plus slow cool):
+Stalks take home (Day 4, plus slow cool):
☐ 1 pressed bioplastic disc or container
☐ Raw hemp fiber sample (saved Day 1)
☐ Dried cellulose sample (saved Day 3)
