Give each child a sheet of paper and a regular pencil.
Place a container of colored pencils on your desk. Instruct the children that when they’ve completed the design for the paper, for example a wanted poster or an old map, they must bring it to your desk. Once you’ve checked the design, allow the student to take two pencils of dark colors. Limit the choice to two; a design with lots of colors will not create an antique-looking paper.
Walk around the classroom as the children are coloring their designs. If the children are collaborating, ensure each child is getting a turn. Do this by asking the children which part they did. If a particular child can’t show you what he did, ask him to add something to the design under your supervision.
Instruct the children to write their names on the back of the paper and hand them in at the end of class.
Fill a tea cup to approximately 80 percent capacity with water boiled in the kettle.
Put a tea bag into the cup. Allow it to steep for five minutes, then remove and discard the tea bag.
Pour the tea into a pitcher. It’s essential to use a pitcher with a lid so you can limit the risk of spills. Leave the tea to cool until tepid.
Pour the pitcher of tea into a tray. Instruct the children to line up. Give them their papers.
Tell the first child in the queue to submerge her paper in the tea. Let the children gather round to see how the tea discolors the paper, giving it an antique appearance.
Remove the paper and shake off the excess liquid over the tray.
Give each child four clothespins to clip to each corner of the paper. This prevents the paper from curling as it dries.