DIY science projects that elementary school boys will love: ideas you can make with everyday materials
For a summer vacation independent research craft project, you’ll want ideas that really grab boys’ interest.
In this article, we introduce craft ideas that boys can get absorbed in—like making a capsule toy (gachapon) machine out of cardboard, creating genuine fishing gear with a reel, and handcrafting air hockey or a basketball game.
They all look impressive yet can be made with everyday materials.
How about creating fun summer memories by playing with your favorite project together with friends?
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Hands-on science projects that elementary school boys will love! Ideas you can make with everyday materials (1–10)
Air hockey
How about trying your hand at making a competitive, fast-paced air hockey game? Build the table out of cardboard, and make the puck roll by putting a marble inside it.
The key to this craft is attaching cooking paper (parchment paper) to the playing surface.
That makes it more slippery, boosting the puck’s speed.
By the end-of-summer class, everyone might be totally into it.
By the way, the thing you hold to hit the puck is called a “mallet.”
Cool rubber band gun
Let me introduce a strong and cool rubber band gun.
Prepare 17 bendable straws, a clothespin, tape, and scissors, and let’s make it.
Take two straws and tape their bendable sections together to secure them.
Attach one clothespin to the gap of the joined straws to create the base.
When bundling straws, secure them tightly so the stacked pieces don’t shift.
Stack eight straws by grouping them in sets of four, extend the bendable sections, and build the structure.
When attaching parts together, make sure the straws are firmly fixed so they don’t slip.
Once it’s finished, hook on a rubber band and give it a try!
I tried making a Super Ball.
Super balls are attractive for their colorful appearance and exceptional bounciness.
Because they absorb impact and rebound strongly, many of you probably remember bouncing them high when you were kids.
How about making your own super ball by hand? This time, we’ll use a store-bought kit, so there’s no need to gather materials individually—you can easily make one by following the included instructions.
Since the process involves using hot water and fine metallic powder, be sure to work together with an adult.
Create a one-of-a-kind original ball and have fun playing with it over summer vacation!
Hands-on science projects that elementary school boys will love! Ideas you can make with everyday materials (11–20)
Crane Game-style Piggy Bank
It’s a piggy bank shaped like a crane game that lets you save money while you play.
This is sold as a kit under the name “Crane Game Piggy Bank,” so you can just follow the instructions to assemble it.
The main unit has a white base, so even though it’s a kit, you can color or decorate it to make it your own unique creation.
As for how you save, you put real money in and play the game—then simply don’t take that money back out.
When you play, try putting in your own prizes and enjoy!
gachapon
Let’s try making a capsule toy machine out of cardboard! Use a utility knife and a ruler to create a door for retrieving the coins.
Cut out each part and assemble the main body, securing it with a hot glue gun.
For the base parts, use a compass to cut a circular hole to make a window you can see through.
Attach a card case from a 100-yen shop to the main body.
Make the hand-twisted rotating mechanism, glue it carefully with the hot glue gun, attach it to the main body, and you’re done! Be careful not to burn yourself when using the glue gun.
It’s also fun to change the contents and enjoy seeing what kind of prizes come out!
Paper Cup Rocket
Here’s an idea for a paper cup rocket that’s easy to make and flies really well! Prepare two paper cups.
You’ll use one as a launcher and turn the other into the rocket.
On the rocket cup, make slits at the top rim in four directions—up, down, left, and right—and hook a rubber band, threaded through a 1 cm piece of straw, into the slits.
Then make and attach the rocket’s window and fins using construction paper, and you’re done! Push the rocket down onto the launcher and let go—your rocket will shoot off with great force!
Let’s make dinosaur fossils
Let’s make some exciting dinosaur fossils! First, think about what kind of fossil you want to create, then draw your fossil illustration on a sheet of foam board (styrene paper).
Cut out the fossil shapes with scissors.
Glue the cut foam pieces onto cardboard to form your design.
Paint it with acrylic paints.
When it’s finished, attach a decorative ribbon to the back so you can display it.
It’s also a good idea to round off the corners of the cardboard.
Have fun creating your very own original fossil!