Kids get hooked on crafts with toilet paper rolls! Idea collection for elementary school students
Many of you are probably wondering what to make for your summer vacation craft project.
So here, we’re sharing fun craft ideas you can make using a familiar material found at home: plastic wrap cores (cardboard tubes).
We’ve gathered lots of projects—like a lint-roller-style cleaner, hanging toys, and coin clappers—that you can play with and learn from once they’re finished.
All of them use easily sourced materials and have simple instructions.
Use this as a guide to get creative with your kids and make a one-of-a-kind original piece together!
Kids Get Hooked on Toilet Paper Roll Crafts! Ideas for Elementary Schoolers (1–10)
plastic wrap core pop-gun
An idea that’s sure to get everyone excited is making a toy gun.
The method is simple: first, glue cardboard around a plastic wrap tube.
Then attach a part to hook a rubber band onto.
After that, just place the rubber band along the barrel and it’s done.
For the ammo, cardboard works well, and for the target, paper cups are recommended.
It also sounds fun to set some rules and compete.
By the way, you can tweak it to increase range with some fine adjustments.
lint roller
It’s not only fun to make, but it could also get kids to help with chores—the idea is a DIY lint roller.
You know that cleaning tool you roll over carpets? Keep that in mind.
First, prepare a cardboard tube from a roll of plastic wrap and cut it to about half its length.
Next, make several slits at both ends.
Finally, loop rubber bands around the tube so they bite into the slits, and you’re done.
As you roll it, the rubber bands will snag and pick up dirt.
Rainstick
Do you know what a rainstick is? A rainstick is a musical instrument that originated in Africa, and it looks like a tube.
Inside, it’s filled with things like beans, and when you tilt it sideways it makes a sound that resembles falling rain.
If you’re making one with a cardboard tube (like from a roll of wrapping paper), first make several holes, then attach the bottom and the lid, and pour beans inside.
After you make it, listen closely and let it soothe you.
By the way, if you mix different kinds of beans, the sound becomes even more realistic.
Experimenting with blends is part of the fun.
Speaker
Making a simple speaker with a plastic wrap tube and a smartphone—amazing! It enhances the sound resonance, so you can enjoy your favorite songs with powerful impact.
You only need items you already have at home, so it’s easy on the wallet, too.
It’s great for outdoor use as well—perfect for listening to music at a picnic! The crafting process is fun, and the finished product is practical.
It’s good for recycling, fosters creativity, and offers not just two benefits but maybe three.
Highly recommended for elementary school science projects.
Adults, please try it together with your kids!
Balloon pistol
You can play a fun target game using the power of a balloon! Use decorative pom-poms as the balls.
First, cut a balloon around the middle and attach it to a paper towel roll core.
Secure it with a rubber band so it won’t come off, and it’s ready! Put the decorative balls inside, pull back the balloon, and launch the balls to play.
Make the targets out of milk cartons.
It’s also recommended to decorate the launcher and shape it like a cool pistol using cardboard or any decorations you like.
Have fun with your own original ideas!
cardboard table
This is a table that combines simplicity and sturdiness, with legs made from plastic wrap cores attached to a cardboard tabletop.
Holes are punched in the corners of the cardboard, and the wrap cores are inserted to form the table shape.
A notable detail is that the tabletop is made by stacking two sheets of cardboard, which not only makes it sturdy enough to place items on but also secures the legs firmly.
Circular pieces of thick paper are attached over the holes in the wrap cores, creating a structure that allows the holes to be used as pen holders, and so on.
It also seems fun to adjust elements like the placement of the holes in the cardboard or the height of the wrap cores to suit different uses.
Marble run
This is a fun craft where a marble spirals around and drops down along the core of a plastic wrap roll.
All you do is stick skewers into the roll while keeping step-like levels in mind—simple, but the skewers’ angles and spacing are key.
If you place the skewers poorly, the marble won’t make it to the bottom, so it’s best to experiment as you go.
The light, pleasant sound as it rolls is part of the fun, too, so aim for a satisfying sound by fine-tuning the number of skewers and the angles of the steps.
kaleidoscope
How about making a kaleidoscope using a plastic wrap core? All you need are the core, silver origami paper, and small beads or colorful paper bits.
Fold the silver paper into a triangle and place it inside the core, then attach a small case with beads to the end—that’s it.
Since you’ll use a craft knife or scissors, it’s best to make it together as a parent-child activity.
Enjoy crafting safely and have fun.
Once it’s done, delight in the colorful magic of light.
It’s great for parent-child communication, and since you can use it long after homework is finished, it’s all upside!
Small box for cling film cores
There’s a way to make a small container using a used plastic wrap core.
First, cut the core crosswise to match your desired size, as if slicing it into rings.
This length will be the depth of the container.
Next, make a bottom and a lid from thick paper or cardboard, and you’re done.
It’ll be on the smaller side, so it’s perfect for things like accessories or erasers.
Another charm of this container is that the impression changes a lot depending on the lid’s design.
Try to finish it with as cute a look as possible.
Pythagorean device
Have you ever watched the popular show “PythagoraSwitch”? It’s exciting to wonder, “What kind of Pythagora device will appear today?” You can actually use empty plastic wrap tubes to make those kinds of devices.
The most common use is to set up the tube like a tunnel and have a marble roll through it.
You can also adapt it into a long rail, which sounds fun.
And if you cut it or make holes in it, the ways you can use it will expand even more.