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 (161–170)
Model of the solar system
An idea to express the mysteries of the universe right on your desk: try making a model of the solar system.
Arrange the planets in the order Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and build them while considering their relative sizes and distances.
You can use a commercially available kit, or, if you’re really keen to get intricate, make everything from scratch.
There are websites that compile the planets’ sizes, ratios, and distances, so be sure to take advantage of those.
Craft the romance of space with your own hands!
dinosaur plastic model
There are many “independent research kits” for summer vacation on the market.
If the boy likes dinosaurs, have him try a dinosaur plastic model.
The highly detailed world of plastic models is perfect for an independent research project.
Simple ones can be assembled in a few hours.
Just assembling it might not be enough for a research project, so try creating some materials about dinosaurs as well.
Have you ever been to the Dinosaur Museum in Fukui Prefecture? If possible, it would be great to go there during summer vacation and submit a report about the trip.
Aim for a plastic model plus something extra!
wooden chair
A practical idea you can keep using even after summer vacation: try making a wooden chair! The materials and tools will vary depending on the size of the chair you’re making, but you can even find what you need at a 100-yen shop.
The biggest key to chair-making is measuring accurately.
If the lengths aren’t consistent when you cut the wood with a saw, or if the nail points differ between the left and right sides, that alone can cause failure.
How carefully you carry out those steps will dramatically change the quality.
Cute crafts in the kitchen
Do you know the book “Cute Crafts in the Kitchen for Elementary School Students,” published by Gakken? It’s packed with fun craft ideas, including many that would be perfect for summer vacation projects and crafts.
Let me introduce one from the book: the “Paper Dome Cup.” The simple process is to coat a water balloon with glue, wrap it with Japanese paper or tissue paper, and once it’s dry, pop the balloon.
It doesn’t take much time, so it’s recommended even for those who are short on time.
PET bottle air cannon
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!
autonomous self-driving robot car
Make and play! Here are some ideas for an autonomous robot car.
Many of you have probably played by moving toy vehicles like cars or trains by hand.
This time, let’s try building a robot car that moves on its own.
In the video, they use tools and kits.
The completed self-driving robot car runs along a course drawn with a black pen on paper.
When using tools, be sure to work together with a teacher or guardian.
Give it a try!
cardboard sword
As an irresistibly exciting idea for a summer research project, let me introduce the Cardboard Sword.
This project involves creating a three-dimensional sword out of cardboard.
The appeal is that you can recreate swords from your favorite games or anime.
First, choose a design as your motif and make a template.
Then cut the cardboard, layer the pieces, and assemble the sword.
There are many tutorials online on how to make cardboard swords, so try working on it while using those as references.
It can also be fun to make other items using the same approach.
