DIY science projects that elementary school boys will love: ideas you can make with everyday materials

paper cup trumpet

[Instrument Craft] Paper Cup Trumpet (A Trumpet Like a String Telephone) [Easy Craft] Handmade Toy with Chopsticks

This is a craft using a paper cup that can produce a trumpet-like sound when you pull the string sharply.

First, make a hole in the bottom of the paper cup, thread a string through it, and secure it with a short, folded toothpick so the string doesn’t slip out.

Then, when you pull the string vigorously, the impact on the string is transmitted to the paper cup, creating a trumpet-like sound.

You can pull the string with your hand, but using chopsticks is also recommended—try it out and see how the sound changes.

Since just building the mechanism can look simple, it’s also important to add your own decorations to the paper cup.

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kappamaki

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The Marble That Won’t Come Out

Summer vacation science project idea: The ungrabbable marble — ready in 2 days!

A DIY science project to make a marble-in-a-wooden-frame ornament that makes people think, “How did you even get it in there?!” The materials are balsa wood, marbles, and sandpaper.

You’ll also use a pencil and a utility knife, but these are common household items, so you can make this with ease.

First, cut a square hole in the center of the balsa wood that’s just barely too small for the marble to fit through.

Work carefully, scoring with the utility knife.

Once the hole is made, fill a mug or similar container with water, submerge the balsa wood, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave at 500W for 10 minutes.

The wood will soften and the marble will go in.

After inserting the marble, heat for another 5 minutes, then let it dry for a day.

Finally, use sandpaper to clean up the appearance.

You can finish this in two days, so it’s perfect even if you forgot about your project until the last minute.

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sasashina

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Super Ball

[Independent Research] Let’s Make a Super Ball!

When we think of super balls, we tend to associate them with things you buy or get at fairs, festivals, and events, but it’s surprising that you can actually make them yourself.

The polyvinyl alcohol contained in laundry glue becomes a super ball.

All you need are laundry glue, paint, and table salt.

By changing the paint color, you can make super balls in your favorite colors.

This makes a good independent research project for upper elementary grades.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Remaking a 100-yen shop clock

@broccoli_family

Remake a 100-yen shop clock! Clip clock 👍✨Summer Vacation Craft#Summer Vacation Workshop#100-yen shop DIY#100-yen shop arrangement

Original Song – Nanmo-kun – Broccoli Family

The part you can see from the back of a table clock or wall clock—the section with the battery compartment and the knob for setting the time—is called the movement.

You could say it’s the heart of the clock.

In fact, clock movements are sold on their own at 100-yen shops and home improvement stores, and you can use them to make your own original clock! If you’re good at woodworking, try starting from scratch by buying a wooden board and cutting a groove to fit the movement.

If that’s not your strong suit, there are also assembly kits with pre-cut grooves available, so you can use those instead.

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Hane Keisuke

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Milk Carton Rolling Tower

@silk_haru3mama

[Summer Vacation Craft/Independent Study] I made a rolling ball tower out of a milk carton 🌻#Summer VacationSummer Vacation Independent ResearchSummer Vacation Crafttranslation#HandmadeToysworkIndependent ResearchScrap Material CraftingSimple craft#AtHomePlay#craft

♬ Electro Swing Jazz – Retro, strange, mysterious(1137053) – Ponetto

Let’s reuse empty milk cartons to make a fun rolling tower where a ping-pong ball tumbles down! Cut the milk cartons and connect two of them to create a long cylindrical base.

Make holes and slits in paper plates, attach them in a stepped arrangement, and adjust the angles so the ball rolls smoothly through.

Add slits to the side of the cylinder so the ball won’t stop midway and will drop all the way to the bottom.

If you wrap the whole thing with a tube-shaped cover made from a clear file, the ball won’t fly out and it’s safer to play with.

A bonus is that kids can learn about gravity and incline through the speed of the rolling ball and the fun sounds it makes.

It’s an eco-friendly idea that uses recycled materials to create a moving, interactive project.

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mutō

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A piggy bank that helps you save while having fun

http://www.lemon8-app.com

Let’s use Daiso’s 3-tier drawer case to make a fun, game-like piggy bank over summer break.

First, flip the second and third drawers upside down and reassemble them so the flat sides face the front.

Next, cut corrugated plastic (plastic cardboard) into any shapes you like and attach it to the outside of the drawers to create a design that looks great.

Inside, apply double-sided tape so coins pause partway and drop slowly as they travel down.

With a piggy bank you made yourself, saving money becomes fun and easier to turn into a habit.

It’s a unique, practical idea that can change your everyday life through creativity and ingenuity.

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mutō

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desk lamp

@gakky_07

How about this for your summer vacation project?Summer Vacation Craft#Summer VacationDesk lamp

♬ Fun Isono Family / Sazae-san [Cover] – Sound Works

Here’s an idea for making a desk lamp that uses a magnet-mountable LED light.

The stand is entirely wooden, and the arm is movable so you can adjust the angle.

First, think about what size you want and what kind of structure you’re aiming for, and try drawing a design plan.

Once the plan is ready, figure out the lengths and quantities of wood you’ll need and source the materials.

These days, you can even find small pieces of wood at 100-yen shops, so those might work as well.

One of the joys of woodworking is choosing the finish—whether to go for a natural look with varnish or oil, or paint it your favorite color—so definitely consider a variety of options.

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Hane Keisuke

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