Amazing discoveries with everyday materials! Fun summer vacation independent research ideas
Many children probably still haven’t decided on their summer vacation independent research project yet, right? For those of you thinking, “I want to do something interesting!” but wondering, “What theme should I choose?”, here are experiment and observation ideas that will make you think, “I want to try this!” From fun experiments you can do with everyday materials to studies where you can observe the fascinating behavior of living creatures—these are all activities anyone can enjoy.
Through your independent research, new discoveries and excitement are waiting for you!
Amazing discoveries with everyday materials! Fun summer vacation independent research ideas (1–10)
A toy that uses a lid
https://www.tiktok.com/@n.annlee321/video/7477871280075607303Haagen-Dazs is hugely popular for its ice cream.
How about turning the lid—something you’d usually throw away—into a cute science project? In this video, they put sequins inside to make a shaker-style lid, and they also poke in pipe-cleaner flowers to create a little trinket box.
With a bit of creativity, you can use lids from other ice creams to make all kinds of toys.
For example, how about making menko (slap-battle cards)? The weight and thickness seem just right.
With bottle-milk caps, you could make character medals.
If you coat them with gold or silver paper, you’ll get super cool-looking medals.
Cute herbarium
Why not try making a herbarium, a popular interior decoration? Prepare a container, your favorite flowers and beads, and baby oil.
First, place the flowers and beads into the container, being careful not to overfill it.
Also, if anything tends to float when put in liquid, soak it in the liquid beforehand.
Once you’ve added all the parts, slowly pour in the baby oil, close the container lid, and it’s done.
You can also focus on choosing a stylish container and decorate it with stickers or washi tape to make it extra cute.
Torokira Keychain
Do you know those cute accessories with a little doll floating in a tiny plastic bag? You often see them as prizes at festival raffles, but actually, you can make them yourself.
You only need items mostly from a 100-yen shop—like a soft card holder, beads and glitter, liquid laundry starch, and masking tape—so it’s a budget-friendly craft project.
Add cutouts of your favorite character or idol to the decorations, and it instantly becomes merch for your fave! You’ll want to make them for everyone!
Let’s try mixing water and oil
This is an experiment to see what happens when you mix water and oil.
First, make colored water by adding food coloring to a glass of water.
In a separate glass, pour in some oil, then carefully pour the colored water on top.
Strangely, the colored water you added last will settle at the bottom of the glass, and the oil will form a layer on top.
Even if you stir it with a stick, they won’t mix at all.
It’s a fun experiment that overturns the common belief that liquids mix with each other.
Give it a try! The non-mixing liquid you make can also be put into a bottle to create a playful decorative piece.
Transparent cute coaster
Summer is supposed to be hot, but don’t you feel like the summers lately are getting hotter every year? When it’s hot, we crave cold drinks—so why not make coasters to brighten up your drink time and turn it into a summer science project? You’ll be using two-part resin and other chemicals, so be sure to have an adult or an older sibling help you when handling them.
Aside from working with the chemicals, it’s basically just decorating coasters, so even small children can join in! We’re looking forward to seeing your cool, refreshing coasters!
Handmade chenille keychain
https://www.tiktok.com/@n.annlee321/video/7365437076654886160Let’s make a cute bee keychain.
First, stick double-sided tape all over a chenille stem and shape it into a rectangle.
Wrap a yellow chenille stem around it, then wrap a brown one to create the stripes.
Make wings from a clear file sheet, attach them to the body with the brown chenille stem, and add eyes.
Finally, attach the keychain hardware and you’re done! With a bit of creativity, you can make all kinds of insects and animals, so try making your own original keychains.
Cute mysterious bottle
A mysterious bottle where two liquids won’t mix even when tilted.
It’s a fun idea that works great as interior decor or a small gift.
First, fill the bottle about halfway with baby oil.
Next, add colored water tinted with food coloring.
Put in glitter or holograms as you like, cap it, and decorate the bottle to make it cute—and you’re done! The method is very simple, so even younger elementary school children can enjoy making it.
Along with the craft, try summarizing both your own ideas and the correct explanation for why baby oil and water don’t mix.