Stand Out at the School Festival! A Collection of Unusual Ideas You Can Do at School and in the Classroom
We want to make the most of our once-a-year school festival.
When deciding on our class attraction, the classic exhibits and presentations are great, but since it’s a day to remember, we’d love to try a slightly unusual idea that visitors won’t forget.
So here, we’ll introduce unique class-room-based attraction ideas! From handmade attractions to interactive events, we’ve gathered unusual concepts that are a bit different from other classes.
You’re sure to find the perfect idea for your class!
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- [For Elementary Schools] Recommended Exhibits and Recreational Activities for a Cultural Festival
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Classroom cafe, sales, food and drink, festival booth, exhibition-type (recommended mock stalls/booths for school festivals) (21–30)
maid cafe
At maid cafés, it’s standard for the staff to play the role of maids and greet customers with “Welcome home, Master!” It’s a classic for school festival attractions, and precisely because of that, it’s one of the safest, most reliable choices.
By choosing a theme, putting care into the costumes, and planning the staging, you can create your own original maid café.
Many students have done this attraction before, so take inspiration from various examples and come up with a maid café that reflects your group’s style.
Tea ceremony experience
Sen no Rikyū, revered as the Tea Sage, even served as a close advisor to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Accounts vary, but it’s said that Hideyoshi, fearing Rikyū’s almost charismatic influence, ultimately ordered him to commit seppuku.
So it seems he wasn’t devoted solely to the Way of Tea.
While some high schools have tea ceremony clubs, for elementary school students the tea ceremony can feel a bit remote.
How about organizing a hands-on tea ceremony event? Once you learn a few basic manners, the Way of Tea actually offers quite a bit of flexibility—I’m sure even elementary schoolers would enjoy it.
And the traditional sweets that accompany the bitter tea are a real draw, too!
Target shooting
A handmade shooting gallery is a recommended attraction to bring energy and creativity to a school festival.
Speaking of shooting galleries, a variety of prizes shine and draw challengers in.
Using safe and easily available materials, build the guns and targets from scratch yourselves.
The key is to make rubber band guns using chopsticks and to create three-dimensional targets out of cardboard, arranging them to make the game engaging.
This friendly, approachable attraction is sure to delight visitors.
Above all, there is special joy in the fun you create with your own hands.
Liven up this year’s school festival with a playful shooting gallery.
Bank Bowling
Here’s an introduction to bank bowling, a bowling game that uses a slope.
In regular bowling, you roll the ball straight down a lane to knock over the pins.
In bank bowling, there’s an incline like a ramp.
You calculate how to use that sloped section and throw the ball.
Not only do power and release position matter, but changing where you throw the ball can send it to completely different spots.
It might be harder to hit the pins, but when you do and they fall, it’s sure to be exciting.
You can make the sloped section using cardboard.
Pe-tan Darts
At a school festival, it’s nice to have a game everyone can enjoy together.
How about having fun with a darts game? You can make darts using items like construction paper and straws that you can buy at a 100-yen shop.
If you make darts using straws, prep should be easy.
But straw darts won’t stick into the target, right? In that case, attach a small ball made by rolling up cellophane tape to the tip.
The key is to use slightly larger pieces of cellophane tape.
With homemade darts, everyone’s sure to have a great time.
Cardboard Corinth game
How about including the classic “Corinth Game,” a staple you’ll almost always find at game corners, as one of your attractions? Since you just launch a ball using a shooter, it’s fun for all ages.
If you prepare prizes based on the scores, people are sure to love it.
The Corinth Game can be easily made out of cardboard.
If you make several, many people can enjoy it at once.
If you’re making a larger version, be sure to reinforce it by layering multiple sheets of cardboard to increase its strength.
Cardboard crane game
Claw machines are loved by both kids and adults, aren’t they? That thrill when you operate it yourself and win a prize is ageless! In fact, you can even make a claw machine by hand.
Of course, building a large one can be challenging, but a small version can be made in just a few hours if you have cardboard! For prizes, you can put in snacks or handmade trinkets—coming up with the contents is fun too.
If you have the time and budget, try making a large claw machine that can be the highlight of a school festival.