Make it with everyday materials! A collection of fun summer vacation craft ideas

Cute crafts in the kitchen

Great for free craft time too! 'Cute Crafts in the Kitchen for Elementary School Kids' (Gakken) – children, parents and kids, DIY, at-home activities

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.

A soccer game you can make with straws

[Summer Vacation Crafts] Easy! Playable Crafts (For Elementary School Students) [Soccer] [Handmade Toy] Independent Research

How about making a simple toy out of straws so you can enjoy soccer at home? It’s a fun, engaging game you can play together with friends or family! Another great point is that you can make it using familiar materials like an empty box and some straws.

Use the empty box to create the field and the straws to build the goals.

Attach straws to the player pieces you cut out from the box, and control them as you play.

It could be even more exciting to model the players after your favorite stars! This toy is sure to help kids develop dexterity and concentration.

We’ve shared detailed instructions in a video, so check it out and give it a try!

A whistle you can blow with a straw

[Instrument Craft] Let's Make a Straw Flute You Can Play Tunes With (Handmade Toy / Upcycled Craft) [Easy Craft / Playable Craft] A Handmade Instrument You Can Make Music With

Here’s how to make a whistle out of a straw.

Cut two slits at one end of a straw and trim it so the width forms a rectangle.

Cut the other end of the straw and fit it over the rectangular end, then secure it with cellophane tape.

Adjust the tape so the width becomes a square.

Cut another straw to about 5 centimeters and flatten one end.

Place the flattened end over the side where you can see the square gap, and secure it with cellophane tape.

The key is to test-blow it and check the sound before taping everything down firmly.

Change the lengths of the straws to create different pitches, fix them in place, and you’re done.

Kids are sure to get excited about a whistle made from everyday materials!

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Nakajima Junko

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Make a bow and arrow with straws!

Make a Bow and Arrow from Straws! Recycled Craft! (For 1st–2nd Grade Elementary Students, About 20 Minutes) #craft #handmade_toy

A piece you worked hard to make yourself becomes twice as fun if you can play with it afterward, right? So this time, we’re introducing a bow and arrow you can make with straws.

You can use either thick boba straws or regular straws.

Besides the straws, you’ll just need common household items like a toilet paper roll and rubber bands, so it’s easy to prepare.

The projectile that the bow shoots is made from the toilet paper roll and rubber bands.

Make the bow using a straw and a spherical Styrofoam ball.

Once it’s finished, just aim and shoot at targets made from paper plates or balloons.

Kids will enjoy crafting it with the excitement of being able to play with it after it’s done.

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Authentic handmade guitar

[Summer Vacation Craft] Authentic! How to Make a Cool Guitar (Toilet Paper Rolls, Rubber Bands, Paper Cups) [Handmade Instrument, Playable Toy, Playable Craft] Upcycled Fun • Lower and Middle Elementary Grades • Independent Study

Here’s an introduction to a genuine-sounding guitar you can make using items like toilet paper rolls and paper cups.

You’ll also use a sample-size paper cup; the key is to choose one whose bottom fits the toilet paper roll.

Cut slits in the paper cup, hook rubber bands onto both the cup and the toilet paper roll, and stack the two pieces together.

By adjusting the position of the toilet paper roll, you can improve the sound when you pluck the rubber bands.

If you attach the sample cup and make a pick, you can create an even more authentic guitar—give it a try!

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Nakajima Junko

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Let’s make a train out of a milk carton

[Handmade Toy] Let's Make a Train with a Milk Carton!

A must for train lovers! Let’s make a train using a milk carton.

First, cut off the bottom 5 cm of the carton.

Open up the remaining part and cut it into four large panels.

Accordion-fold each of the four panels and pack them into the bottom section.

Secure them firmly with tape so nothing comes out.

Next, tape magnets to both sides so the trains can couple together.

Finally, decorate the train with construction paper and seal it with packing tape to finish.

Try making trains in various colors and designs and connect them freely as you play!

Crafts you can play with

9 Playable Crafts for Elementary School Kids: Cardboard, Toilet Paper Rolls, and Straws – Easy 2021 DIYs for Moms, Dads, and Childcare Workers

In this Reiwa era, where digital devices have surrounded us since the day we were born, it’s nice to enjoy some analog play from time to time.

So here’s a summer craft you can make and play with right away: the “Wobbly Tree.” Glue a branching tree onto half of a toy capsule.

Hang rubber bands from the branches one by one, and the person who knocks the tree over loses.

If you substitute the toy capsule base with something else, you can make an even bigger tree.

There are also videos introducing other playable crafts, so if you’re interested, be sure to check them out.