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CREATING A SIMPLE BOUND BOOK – Measurement, Form

Students use basic bookbinding techniques to create a hardcover book.

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CREATING A SIMPLE BOUND BOOK – Measurement, Form

Supplies:

  • Crayola Washable Glue Sticks
  • Crayola Construction Paper - 22.9 cm x 30.5 cm (9" x 12") - 2 pieces per student
  • Crayola Marker & Watercolour Paper - 22.9 cm x 30.5 cm (9" x 12") - 6 pieces per student
  • Crayola Scissors
  • Waxed Dental Floss
  • Sharp Sewing Needle - 1 per student
  • Rulers
  • Duct Tape
  • Large Paper Clips - 4 per student
  • Corrugated Cardboard - 22.9 cm x 30.5 cm (9" x 12") - 2 pieces per student
 

Steps:

1
Step 1
  1. Work on a plastic placemat or smooth table.
  2. Cut a piece of duct tape twice the length of the cardboard.
  3. Roll one end of the tape under itself and stick it to the plastic placemat.
  4. Visualize a vertical line running from top to bottom in the middle of the tape.
  5. Place the 2 pieces of corrugated cardboard on top of the tape so that they are beside each other on either side of the centre line, and with a space about 1.25 cm between them.
2
Step 2
  1. Tape the cardboard pieces together so that the tape wraps around both sides of the cardboard.
3
Step 3
  1. Press the tape together along the centre.
  2. This will be the spine of the book.
4
Step 4
  1. Stack the white paper onto the 2 sheets of coloured construction paper (these will be the endpapers).
  2. Fold the pile of papers in half short end to short end.
  3. Open the papers and paper clip the pile together.
  4. Place the clips on either side of the fold, top and bottom.
  5. Place the pile of papers on the desk with the construction paper facing up.
  6. Draw a line along the fold.
  7. Use a ruler to mark off 2 cm spaces along the line.
  8. Be sure you are working on the construction paper side.
  9. Be sure these marks are exactly on the line.
5
Step 5
  1. Place the pile of papers on top of a piece of thick sponge.
  2. Use a sharp darning needle to poke holes through the paper at the 2 cm marks.
6
Step 6
  1. Thread your needle with a piece of waxed dental floss about twice as long as the width of the pages.
  2. Push the needle through the bottom hole on the construction paper side.
  3. Hook the end of the dental floss under the paper clip.
  4. Sew a running stitch in and out of the holes until you reach the last hole at the top of the paper.
7
Step 7
  1. Flip the papers over
  2. Sew a running stitch in and out of the holes until you reach the bottom.
  3. Stop sewing when the last stitch at the bottom is on the coloured construction side of the papers.
8
Step 8
  1. Tie the 2 ends of the dental floss together.
  2. Press the ends along the sewn line and towards the centre of the pages.
9
Step 9
  1. Place the papers on your desk with the construction paper facing up.
  2. The stitching line is the centre of the paper and the line of symmetry.
  3. Completely cover one half of the construction paper with glue.
  4. Make sure you do not leave any dry spots.
10
Step 10
  1. Place the pages on the inside of the corrugated cardboard.
  2. Make sure the fold is on the centre of the taped spine.
  3. Carefully flatten the endpaper using a ruler to smooth away any bubbles.
  4. Start at the centre of the book and work your way out to the edges.
  5. There will be a space at the side of the book where the coloured paper does not cover the cardboard.
  6. Repeat this process on the other side of the pages.
11
Step 11
  1. Your book is ready to use.

  • Subjects:

    • Grades:

      • Grade 2,

      • Grade 3,

      • Grade 4,

      • Grade 5,

      • Grade 6,

      • Grade 7,

      • Grade 8,

      • Grade 9,

      • Grade 10

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