Students make paper-mache mush instead of using strips of paper. I have the students make the mush one afternoon and the paper-mache planets the next day. To make the mush students simply tear newspaper into strips and drop the strips into a big plastic tub. Add enough water to cover the strips of newspaper. It is best to let the paper sit in the water over night, but it will work if you don't.
Students start pulling apart the soaking wet paper making tiny pieces.
Then you mash it and mush it until it's more like fine oatmeal. It's pretty easy to do. The children like to do it because they are playing in the water. Actually, the wet paper will be softer and easier to pull apart if you let it soak over night and then mash and mush it the next day. Sometimes, we mash and mush it a couple of days before using it.