With ancient roots, basket making has been practiced since the earliest civilizations, and according to textile experts, probably pre-dates pottery. This is partly conjecture since few baskets remain. It is through evidence found in clay impressions that the earliest baskets reveal themselves. Basically, basketry construction is like flat weaving. A base is woven flat with elements called stakes or weavers. These are then "upstaked," or bent, to weave the sides. For this basket, the weavers used to make the base are crossed for the sides in what is referred to as "bias plaiting." This simple basket--an appropriate project for middle- and high-school students--holds lessons in art, in reusing materials to create something new, as well as providing a practical lesson in the study of the art and crafts of Native American and ancient cultures. It is a powerful message that, even today, baskets are a product of the hands. In this article, the author presents some of the baskets she made and provides a step-by-step procedure for weaving a plaited paper basket.