[Summer Vacation Crafts for Lower Grades] Make It with Everyday Materials! Simple Yet Awesome Craft Ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Have you ever had the experience of working hard on a summer vacation craft project, only to have someone say it looks “simple”? In fact, with a little creativity, you can make projects that really impress people, even using basic materials.

Here, we’ll introduce craft ideas that even lower elementary school children can enjoy.

Using familiar items, you can create lots of projects that are more fun and interesting than they look.

Be sure to use these ideas to find a favorite craft that you’ll be proud to show off to your friends once it’s finished!

[Summer Vacation Crafts for Lower Grades] Easy but Awesome DIY Ideas Using Everyday Materials (131–140)

Japanese-style pancake made of clay

@pinksoda_yumi
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♬ Happy Music – Mystix Instrumentals

Perfect for a summer vacation project! Why not try sweets art with “Japanese-style pancakes made from clay”? Recreate pancakes in clay to look amazingly real—fluffy batter topped with whipped cream, sweet red bean paste, chestnuts, and sweet potato, inspired by traditional Japanese ingredients.

It’s a stylish and fun craft that results in Japanese sweets that look just like the real thing.

The key to making it realistic is carefully reproducing details like the browned, toasted color.

Try adding the browning with a sponge.

You can also display your creation in your room and use it as decor!

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Cute molded doll

https://www.tiktok.com/@picoton_craft/video/7458288878953188626

A cute doll that conveys a sense of three-dimensionality and softness is assembled using chenille stems (pipe cleaners).

You’ll use thicker, fluffy pipe cleaners, twisting and combining them, then shaping them to achieve your ideal form.

How many pipe cleaners you use is an important point: proceed while considering a size that allows the whole figure to be sturdy and a quantity that gives it dimensionality.

Once the overall shape is set, attach parts like the face to finish it—your choice of parts here adds originality to the craft.

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kappamaki

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Shaka-shaka accessory pouch

http://www.lemon8-app.com

Just looking at it is soothing! Here are some ideas for a “shaka-shaka” trinket case.

Some kids might want to make their own favorite cute container.

This time, let’s make a shaka-shaka trinket case using materials you can find at a 100-yen shop.

You’ll need a clear round gift box, beads and charms, tape, and washi tape.

Put the beads and charms into the lid of the gift box, then secure it to the bottom part of the container with tape—and you’re done! Adding decorative washi tape to the container itself will make it even more festive.

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Minecraft accessories

http://www.lemon8-app.com

Let’s make some game character merchandise! Here are ideas for Minecraft-themed accessories.

Minecraft is a globally popular game, and it even had a movie released.

How about making accessories inspired by Minecraft characters this time? You’ll need a grass-like sheet material, wooden cubes, scissors, black felt, strong double-sided tape or glue, an awl, and accessory findings.

You can get all the materials at a 100-yen shop, so feel free to give it a try!

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Animal-shaped biscuits art with round stickers

@5.3.9.tik
使ったシール投稿はこちら＼丸シールでたべっ子どうぶつ／ <使ったもの> 🦁ライオン🦁 ・油性ペン黒・カラーステッカー大&小サイズ蛍光カラーオレンジ(セリア) ・カラーステッカー中サイズ蛍光カラー黄&緑(セリア) ・ポイントシール大サイズ白(ダイソー) 🐰うさぎ🐰 ・油性ペン黒・水性ペンピンク・ポイントシール大サイズ白(ダイソー) ・カラーステッカー中サイズ蛍光カラーピンク(セリア) 🦛かば🦛 ・油性ペン黒・カラーステッカー大&中&小サイズ蛍光カラーピンク(セリア) 🦒きりん🦒 ・油性ペン黒・水性ペンオレンジ・カラーステッカー大&小サイズ蛍光カラー黄色(セリア) ・カラーステッカー小サイズワールドヴィンテージアメリカ風茶色(セリア) ・ポイントシール中サイズ白(ダイソー) ・ポイントシール極小サイズ赤(ダイソー) ♔∴∵∴♔∴∵∴♔∴∵∴♔∴∵∴♔∴∵∴♔♔∴∵∴♔∴ ご覧いただきありがとうございます。こちらのアカウントではシール遊びを中心に、少ない材料で簡単にできる工作やお絵描き、また、狭いスペースでも安全にできるおうち遊びをご紹介しています。お子様との楽しい時間に少しでもお役立ていただければ嬉しいです♡ ♔∴∵∴♔∴∵∴♔∴∵∴♔∴∵∴♔∴∵∴♔♔∴∵∴♔∴ #AtHomePlay #EducationalPlay Sticker play Round sticker Circle sticker art Tabekko Doubutsu Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Handmade toy #kidscrafts #handmadetoysforkids
♬ Upbeat, fun and bright rock’n’roll(1368783) – $PHIN35

This activity focuses on the popular Tabe-ggo Dobutsu characters—well-loved as snacks, too—and recreates them using round stickers.

Even though the stickers vary in color and size, designing with the same round stickers creates a cohesive overall look.

Since each part isn’t made only of circles, think carefully about how to cut the circles to form the desired shapes.

You can aim to complete this design itself, and it’s also recommended to use the pieces as decorations.

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kappamaki

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Tabletop clay accessories

http://www.lemon8-app.com

Small clay mascots that can sit on a tabletop test your attention to detail precisely because you’re aiming for a compact, easy-to-display size.

While you’re free to create whatever you like, it’s fun to build a unique world with things that don’t exist in reality—like a pig popping out of a flowerpot or a sheep blooming like a flower.

Paying close attention to details such as the pig’s and sheep’s coats to craft them finely adds realism, which in turn makes the finished piece’s strangeness stand out even more.

Using clays in a variety of colors for a colorful finish is a key point that enhances the joy of both the making process and the display.

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kappamaki

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