Crafts you can make with 100-yen shop items! A collection of fun project ideas that elementary school kids will love

First Paints

“First Time with Paints”: Elementary School Art Ideas #elementaryschool #art #paints #3rdgrade #firsttime

This craft invites you to explore color expression by enjoying how paint layers and spreads.

Start by drawing lots of balloons on drawing paper.

Varying their sizes and shapes adds movement and a playful feel to the composition.

Drawing thicker outlines or giving each balloon its own pattern will add depth to the piece.

Carefully paint the balloons with your favorite colors.

The way colors bleed and blend becomes part of the artwork’s charm.

The finished picture looks like colorful balloons soaring into the sky, brightening the viewer’s mood.

It’s an idea that helps you learn painting basics in a fun way while fostering the freedom to express yourself.

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Cardboard 3D craft

Elementary school art project ideas: hands-on 3D creations using single-face corrugated cardboard

Three-dimensional creations using single-faced corrugated cardboard make the most of the material’s qualities depending on the direction and shape of your cuts.

If you cut along the direction of the flutes, the cardboard bends easily; by changing the cutting direction, you can form pillar-like shapes.

Cut long strips and coil them or make rods to combine into towers, arches, or animal bodies—shape them freely.

Connecting multiple parts in three dimensions results in sturdy works.

Painting the surface or adding patterns enhances the finish.

Sculptures born from everyday materials convey the depth of making and the freedom of imagination.

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Matchstick crafting play

Art project idea for 3rd and 4th grade elementary students: “Matchstick Art”

Crafting with matchsticks—creating any shape you like—is a fun hands-on activity that nurtures creativity and fine motor skills.

From arrows and railroad tracks to burst-like patterns reminiscent of fireworks, you can freely assemble designs from flat compositions to three-dimensional forms.

You can arrange matchsticks to draw patterns like a picture, or angle them to build a 3D tower—the key is that each piece emerges from your own unique ideas.

The materials are light and easy to handle, allowing delicate expression even with small combinations of parts.

Displaying the finished pieces side by side reveals a miniature world and sparks the imagination.

With new discoveries each time you make something and the creator’s individuality shining through, matchstick crafts are an idea you can enjoy again and again.

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Funny Hundred Faces

[For Kids] Craft: “Funny Hundred Faces.” Easy to make and play with just paper and colored pencils. Art/craft/project ideas for elementary schools, kindergartens, and preschools. DIY activities usable in nursing homes and elder care. Introducing play tools you can make at home with your children.

This “Funny Hundred Faces” activity is perfect for people who love drawing and have time to take it slow.

It’s a foldable where you open up a square-folded paper and the expression changes bit by bit.

Draw several different faces—smiling, crying, angry, and more.

You can use your teacher’s or friends’ faces as models, or your favorite animals like rabbits or cats.

If you make it with a big sheet of paper, it could even work as a simple mask.

Since the main focus is on drawing illustrations, have fun while you create it!

A piggy bank with a wagging tail

How to Make a Tail-Wagging Piggy Bank [Paper Clay, Swan, Creative Piggy Bank]

When it comes to classic summer independent projects, a “piggy bank” is a staple.

The “Yucho Idea Piggy Bank Contest” held by Japan Post Bank is also well-known.

You might think, “Have all the ideas been used up by now?” but every year a lot of creative piggy banks appear.

So, here’s one to introduce: the “wagging-tail piggy bank.” The simple mechanism is that the weight of the coin you drop in makes the tail sway gently.

If you expand on this mechanism, you could adapt the idea to things like a fishing game or a dinosaur’s neck.

We recommend using air-dry paper clay, which you can paint once it dries!

Let’s make a train out of a milk carton

[Handmade Toy] Let's Make a Train with a Milk Carton!

A must for train lovers! Let’s make a train using a milk carton.

First, cut off the bottom 5 cm of the carton.

Open up the remaining part and cut it into four large panels.

Accordion-fold each of the four panels and pack them into the bottom section.

Secure them firmly with tape so nothing comes out.

Next, tape magnets to both sides so the trains can couple together.

Finally, decorate the train with construction paper and seal it with packing tape to finish.

Try making trains in various colors and designs and connect them freely as you play!

locked treasure chest

Lockable Treasure Chest [Cardboard Crafting Recipe]

Treasure chests are kind of exciting, aren’t they? And this one even comes with a lock! It’s perfect for curious first graders because they can make it while learning how a lock works.

The process is to use cardboard to create the box, lid, and key parts, then assemble them.

As long as you cut and prepare the parts correctly, you can just glue them together and the build will go smoothly.

Since you’ll be using a hot glue gun to bond the cardboard, be careful to avoid burns while working.

There’s a URL in the video description where you can download the templates, so be sure to check it and give it a try!