Printing Press hands-on at home activity

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Fun fact: Printing press letters were stored in drawer-like cases. The capital letters were stored in the upper case, the small letters in the lower case. This is where we get the terms "upper case" and "lower case" letters.

Every book or unit study I've seen on the printing press (including my own book) has an activity to "make your own printing press"

In its simplest form, any soft object can be carved (balsa wood is pictured here). Potatoes are a popular medium. Most any material with a consistency soft enough to carve and firm enough to hold the shape will work for this quick and simple hands-on project to illustrate the process of printing used in the first printing press.

The material is carved to represent a shape, letter or symbol; then ink is applied and the carving is pressed onto paper.

The ink can be rolled on with a small roller. To ensure success with the young children trying out this project, we chose some tempura paint rather than a thinner and less predictable ink.

Keep in mind this produces a mirror image, not a replica. So, go ahead and try it. It is a fun, hands on project the kids can do while you tell them about Gutenberg's invention of the printing press.

If you are looking for a book to read out loud while your children experiment with different designs and colors, you might like this one called Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press

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