Third graders will be hooked! A collection of science project ideas using everyday materials
For summer vacation independent research, especially for third graders, it’s common to think, “I want to pick an interesting topic, but I don’t want it to be too hard.” Actually, with familiar materials and a little creativity, you can do experiments and crafts packed with scientific discoveries.
Here, we introduce curiosity-sparking ideas like learning about chemical reactions by making bread, observing plant mechanisms with colorful flowers, and reviving a dried-out marker.
Try exciting research and craft projects that will make your friends say, “Awesome!”
- For summer vacation homework! Simple and amazing crafts for elementary school students that you’ll want to make after seeing them
- Simple yet amazing crafts: craft ideas that elementary school students will want to make
- DIY science projects that elementary school boys will love: ideas you can make with everyday materials
- [Summer Vacation Crafts for Lower Grades] Make It with Everyday Materials! Simple Yet Awesome Craft Ideas
- Fun crafts using straws
- Recommended for elementary school students! Science fair topics & craft ideas
- Recommended for lower elementary school students! A collection of plastic bottle craft ideas made with everyday materials.
- [For 4th Graders] Fun Independent Research Ideas You Can Do With Everyday Materials
- Paper cup crafts that elementary school kids will love! A collection of fun project ideas
- [Milk Carton Crafts] Fun ideas for elementary school kids. Perfect for summer vacation homework!
- Simple and cute summer project crafts! A collection of ideas for girls that will make you want to create
- For upper-grade boys! Simple yet awesome craft project [Don’t call it lazy]
- Toys you can make from cardboard crafts! Authentic ideas you can build and play with
Ideas for Independent Research Projects (61–70) That Third Graders Will Love: Made with Everyday Materials
Creeper made from a milk carton
Minecraft is a hugely popular game among kids.
Creepers are characters that appear in Minecraft and explode when they get close to the player.
Let’s make a craft that captures that feature using an empty milk carton.
Besides a milk carton, prepare green plastic bottle caps, bamboo skewers, and oil-based clay as well.
Cut the milk carton and wrap it with green vinyl tape to make the Creeper’s body.
Then cut the body section further and attach parts.
Use another milk carton for the head along with vinyl string or rubber bands to create a mechanism that “explodes.” Because kids use fine motor skills to build it, it helps improve their concentration.
Once it’s finished and displayed at school, you can almost hear friends saying, “Wow, that’s awesome!”
stone art
Let’s make stone art using materials close at hand, like those from rivers and parks.
Start by collecting stones and twigs.
Choosing stones without sharp edges will help you create cute pieces.
Also, selecting twigs with branches is a key tip for making a lovely work.
Arrange the stones and twigs you found on a frame or cork board, which you can also buy at a 100-yen shop.
As children think, design, and create on their own, it boosts their imagination.
You can paint the pieces, and it’s also nice to add pinecones, leaves, and other items besides stones and twigs.
Accessory box made from an empty box
Some children who love fashion may have lots of charms for rings or clothes, right? Since they can easily get lost, it’s handy to have a box that can store them all together.
Here’s an accessory box that’s practical too.
You can make it with an empty box you already have at home.
Add thickness by attaching pieces cut from a quilted surface to the lid and the sides of the box.
The soft, cushioned thickness gives it a luxurious feel, turning it into a proper jewelry box.
If you roll up some felt fabric and place it inside the box, you can store rings neatly.
The finished product won’t look like it was made from an empty box, so give it a try for inspiration!
Mini violin made of clay
There are many kinds of musical instruments with different shapes, and those differences heighten our expectations about what kinds of sounds they can produce.
Focusing on the shapes of instruments, this activity has you use paper clay to make a violin shape.
A real violin has a unique form made by combining pieces of wood, so let’s carefully reproduce the details, such as the indented areas.
Once the overall shape is refined, paint it and attach separate parts like the strings to finish it as a realistic-looking violin.
Let’s make a tomato with paper clay
Let’s make one of the classic vegetables—tomatoes—using paper clay.
Knead red paint into the paper clay, shape it into a ball, then stick it onto a stand with a wire post.
Paint it further in red, and layer yellow at the top center to capture a tomato’s coloring.
Knead green paint into another piece of paper clay to make the calyx, attach it to the red fruit, and adjust the size and shape.
Add green coloring, and finally paint the stand to finish.
Mounting the tomato on a stand makes it easier to paint and to submit as a finished piece.
3 simple coasters
How about making coasters as a summer vacation craft? Here, we’ll introduce three methods.
The first is a coaster made by arranging tiles on top of paper clay.
The second is a coaster made by lining up beads and melting them in the microwave.
The third is a summery coaster that expresses a seasonal scene by placing shells, sequins, and stickers in resin.
They’re all easy to make, so give them a try.
You can buy most of the materials at 100-yen shops.
Edible jewels
If you’re unsure what to do for your independent research project, why not try making “edible jewels”? You’ll need 150 g granulated sugar, 100 ml water, 2 g agar, and a suitable amount of food coloring or syrup.
Put the sugar, water, and agar in a saucepan and heat.
Once it boils, reduce to low heat and stir well until it thickens.
When it has thickened, pour about half into a tray, then divide the rest into several containers and add color.
Drip the colored mixtures little by little into the liquid in the tray to create a marble pattern.
Chill in the refrigerator until set, then cut into your preferred sizes and shapes.
Let them dry in a well-ventilated place for 2–3 days, and they’re ready!