Recommended for elementary school students! A fun collection of craft ideas for first graders

Plastic bottle drum

[Anywhere Art] [Summer Vacation Crafts] Plastic Bottle Drum [Handmade Instrument]

Simple yet loud! Here’s how to make a plastic-bottle drum.

First, cut off the bottom of an empty plastic bottle and wrap the cut edge with vinyl tape.

Next, stretch a balloon over the opening and secure it firmly with tape so it doesn’t come off.

Decorate the bottle with pens or stickers as you like! Finally, tape a 10 cm square piece of aluminum foil to the tip of a chopstick, crumple the foil into a ball to make a beater, and you’re done! It could be fun for everyone to make their own and enjoy a group performance.

Give it a try!

Authentic handmade guitar

[Summer Vacation Craft] Authentic! How to Make a Cool Guitar (Toilet Paper Rolls, Rubber Bands, Paper Cups) [Handmade Instrument, Playable Toy, Playable Craft] Upcycled Fun • Lower and Middle Elementary Grades • Independent Study

Here’s an introduction to a genuine-sounding guitar you can make using items like toilet paper rolls and paper cups.

You’ll also use a sample-size paper cup; the key is to choose one whose bottom fits the toilet paper roll.

Cut slits in the paper cup, hook rubber bands onto both the cup and the toilet paper roll, and stack the two pieces together.

By adjusting the position of the toilet paper roll, you can improve the sound when you pluck the rubber bands.

If you attach the sample cup and make a pick, you can create an even more authentic guitar—give it a try!

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Nakajima Junko

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A soccer game you can make with straws

[Summer Vacation Crafts] Easy! Playable Crafts (For Elementary School Students) [Soccer] [Handmade Toy] Independent Research

How about making a simple toy out of straws so you can enjoy soccer at home? It’s a fun, engaging game you can play together with friends or family! Another great point is that you can make it using familiar materials like an empty box and some straws.

Use the empty box to create the field and the straws to build the goals.

Attach straws to the player pieces you cut out from the box, and control them as you play.

It could be even more exciting to model the players after your favorite stars! This toy is sure to help kids develop dexterity and concentration.

We’ve shared detailed instructions in a video, so check it out and give it a try!

Boomerang made from paper cups

Throw and catch! A boomerang with paper cups? A fun toy for 1st and 2nd graders. “Paper Cup Boomerang” (takes about 10 minutes to make) #craft #handmadetoy #papercup

Let me introduce a unique boomerang that might boost kids’ reflexes.

This boomerang is made from paper cups, but it’s apparently hard to catch when it returns—so it could help train reflexes.

Fix and connect the bottoms of two paper cups with cellophane tape.

Insert a bent paper clip into the joined section.

Set the paper-cup boomerang onto a launcher made from a chopstick with a rubber band fixed to it, and then just launch it.

It takes some technique to throw and catch, but mastering it might be part of the fun.

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Nakajima Junko

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PET bottle air cannon

Air Cannon with a Plastic Bottle! Recycling Craft! (For 1st–2nd Grade Elementary Students, About 20 Minutes) #Craft #HandmadeToy #AirCannon

Recommended for kids who are bored with ordinary toys! Let’s make a plastic-bottle air cannon and play.

First, cut off the bottom of an empty plastic bottle, cover the cut edge with a balloon, and secure it firmly with tape.

Tie the end of the balloon so you can pull it.

Next, cut a few slits in one end of a toilet paper tube, wrap it with vinyl tape to reinforce it, then attach it to the bottle to make a handle.

Finally, make a few targets and you’re done! It’s a science toy that lets you have fun learning how air can knock down targets.

It’s easy to make, so give it a try and play with it!

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!

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!