Construction paper or sugar paper, is a type of coarse colored paper typically available in large sheets. The texture is slightly rough, and the surface is unfinished. Due to the nature of the source material that the paper is manufactured from, small particles are visible on the paper’s surface.

How construction paper is made

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Wood chunks and hot water are mixed to form a mushy mixture called pulp. Recycled paper is also added to make the pulp thicker and dye is then added to give it color. Then the pulp mixture is moved over a wire conveyer belt to remove the water and as a result, the pulp becomes less shiny, less mushy and more like paper. The pulp is then moved over big heated barrels where the heat dries up remaining water and the pulp then becomes construction paper. The paper is put into big rolls, where it is sent to a machine called a feeder and is cut into large sheets. The sheets are then cut into smaller pieces and wrapped in plastic to be sold in stores.

Use

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Construction paper is used in school projects mostly, and was made to have paper already colored so that the user wouldn't have to color it themselves. The hit animated show South Park was originally made using contruction paper and stop motion techniques.

Etymology

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Construction paper’s term probably originates from its use in schools; it was often used to make things—therefore it was paper that was constructed with—and the term construction paper stuck. It is also called school paper, poster paper, and colored school paper. In the UK, it is usually called sugar paper.

References

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• Information for the Construction Paper Uses & Origination of Term

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