Construction paper facts for kids
Construction paper is a type of paper that's strong, a bit rough, and comes in many bright colors. You might know it as sugar paper too! It feels a little bumpy and you can sometimes see tiny bits of wood in it. This paper is super popular for art projects, crafts, and school assignments.
The name "sugar paper" comes from a long time ago when it was used to make bags for sugar. Bakers in England even used a similar "blue paper" for sweets like macaroons back in the 1600s!
Did you know that some famous animated cartoons, like Blue's Clues and the early episodes of South Park, were actually made using construction paper and a technique called stop motion?
The Story of Construction Paper
The idea of construction paper started in the late 1800s. This was when factories began making paper on a large scale and new ways to make colorful dyes were invented. By the early 1900s, the name "construction paper" became common. It was often advertised for classrooms, as it was great for drawing with different art supplies.
The paper was made by adding dyes to the wood pulp while it was still wet. This made sure the color went all the way through the paper and looked very bright. However, during World War I, it became harder to get some of the special dyes, especially from Germany. This meant paper makers had to find other ways to color the paper for a while.
Why Construction Paper is So Colorful
One of the best things about construction paper is its amazing, bright colors! Before modern methods, most paper was colored using pigments and vegetable oil. These didn't make the colors as strong or as bright.
Later, scientists developed new kinds of dyes called synthetic dyes. These dyes offered many more colors, made the paper much brighter, and cost less to make. However, there's a small downside: the bright colors from these dyes can sometimes fade over time, especially if the paper is left in sunlight. You might notice old construction paper looking a bit duller or even becoming brittle.
