Yes, basically most papier mache artists make their own pulp and tend to use either a cellulose wallpaper paste as part of the mix or they boil up flour and water glue.

In a primary school you are barred from using wallpaper paste as it contains a fungicide which may cause allergic reaction or irritation of the skin.
If you use boiled flour paste then you are prone to mildew developing in the pulp.

Either way it is not an option to use with small children.  We can really only use paper strips and pva (our version of Elmers glue).

There are bought premix versions available, eg paperclay, but the price is prohibitive and when you have 30 kids in a class it would use up the entire art budget for that class for a year.

Hey:

That's what I thought, one of the reasons I've always preferred PVA mache over wallpaper paste.

I've seen a recipe for paper clay on the web somewhere, but I can't remember where.  If I spot it I'll post the link.

Marty

Will any of these work............... I'm not sure about the mold issue. Will keep looking 

http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=paper+clay+recipe&FORM=MSNH

http://home.eol.ca/~props/recipes.html

Billy D.

That is neat info involving paper mache and health concerns.....I never really thought of that before. 

I hope your project goes well.

Can't wait to see pictures.

Daryl H