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Simple yet amazing crafts: craft ideas that elementary school students will want to make

“I don’t have much time for crafts…” “But I want to make something that will amaze everyone when it’s done!” If that sounds like you, you’re not alone.

In this article, we’re sharing craft ideas with simple steps that still make you say “Wow!” when they’re finished—featuring clever mechanisms and magical effects.

From moving toys to piggy banks where coins disappear, these are fun, play-with-after-you-make-it projects.

They’re easy to try with everyday materials, so go find your favorite and give it a go!

Moving! Fun Toy Craft Ideas You Can Play With (11–20)

smart ball

[Summer Vacation Craft] A “Smart Ball” you can make with 100-yen shop items—perfect for your child’s summer homework or independent research project!
smart ball

You can make a smart ball game, a timeless favorite at festivals, using only items from the 100-yen shop: perforated board, square dowels, rubber bands, marbles, nails, double-sided tape, wooden dowels, and wood glue.

First, cut the lumber with a saw to fit the board and build a frame.

Attach the frame and the plunger with nails and a hammer, and fix a plastic sheet with double-sided tape to create the arch that rebounds the marbles.

Since the perforated board lets you place dowels freely, kids can have fun customizing and adding their own ideas!

A car powered by rubber

[Craft] A PET Bottle Car Powered by Rubber Bands | DIY: How to Make a Rubber Band-Powered Car
A car powered by rubber

Here’s an introduction to building your very own rubber-powered plastic-bottle car! Use a rectangular plastic bottle for the body, and cut four bottoms from cylindrical plastic bottles to make the tires.

As for the power source, it uses rubber bands: connect the rear axle to the front of the car—that is, to the bottle cap.

Just like with a toy car, when you pull back the rear wheels the rubber band stretches, and when you let go, it contracts and propels the car forward.

Tires with a textured surface provide better grip and run more smoothly, so wrap corrugated cardboard (with one wavy side) around them.

soccer game

DIY Handmade Soccer Game: Penalty Kick (PK) Game | How to Make a Football Penalty Game
soccer game

How about making a handmade soccer game for your summer vacation project that you can enjoy playing after the crafting is done? It’s especially recommended for upper-grade boys who’ve been putting off their projects! If they like soccer, they’ll likely be surprised and impressed.

It’s also great that you can make it simply with everyday materials and tools like toilet paper rolls, rubber bands, wire, and bamboo skewers.

You can stylishly design the soccer field’s grass vibe, the stands, and the players themselves depending on your arrangement.

Playing a game you made yourself will surely become a wonderful summer vacation memory.

A marble coaster with interchangeable tracks!

Interchangeable Tracks! Marble Coaster, Marble Run No. 9 – Marble Run Machine #9
A marble coaster with interchangeable tracks!

When you keep playing with the same toy, you can get bored, right? At times like that, try making a marble run with interchangeable courses so you can keep it fresh! First, build the base track out of cardboard.

Using bamboo skewers or similar materials, create features like an escalator-like lift that carries the marbles upward, or a spiral where the marbles twirl down.

For the swap-in courses, prepare pieces of cardboard shaped to fit into the base track, and on each one attach small cut pieces of cardboard, straws, or short wooden sticks to make a variety of course types.

By swapping these in and out, you can enjoy your marble run for a long time without getting bored!

A marble coaster with interchangeable tracks!

Interchangeable Tracks! Marble Coaster, Marble Run No. 9 – Marble Run Machine #9
A marble coaster with interchangeable tracks!

When you keep playing with the same toy, you can get bored, right? At times like that, try making a marble run with interchangeable courses so you can keep it fresh! First, build the base track out of cardboard.

Using bamboo skewers or similar materials, create features like an escalator-like lift that carries the marbles upward, or a spiral where the marbles twirl down.

For the swap-in courses, prepare pieces of cardboard shaped to fit into the base track, and on each one attach small cut pieces of cardboard, straws, or short wooden sticks to make a variety of course types.

By swapping these in and out, you can enjoy your marble run for a long time without getting bored!