[Summer Vacation Crafts for Lower Grades] Make It with Everyday Materials! Simple Yet Awesome Craft Ideas
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!
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[Summer Break Crafts for Lower Grades] Make it with familiar materials! Simple yet amazing craft ideas (161–170)
Korokoro Slider

Make it easily with cardboard! Here’s how to build a rolling slider.
It’s super simple! Prepare a piece of cardboard cut into a rectangle, then use smaller pieces of cardboard to make features like hills and tunnels, and tape them on with packing tape.
We recommend deciding the course and rules however you like and writing them with a permanent marker.
For the ball, crumpled aluminum foil or a marble makes it extra fun.
You can expand the play by turning it into a soccer game, or by using a large sheet of drawing paper as the base—there are lots of ways to enjoy it, whether you’re playing alone or with friends.
Let your imagination flow and create a one-of-a-kind toy of your own!
scratch art

Scratch art is an art form where you scrape a black scratch surface with a pointed pen or similar tool to reveal colorful patterns and designs underneath.
One of its charms is how easy it is to enjoy.
Let’s try making scratch art by hand.
First, color a clear plastic file folder with bright colors using permanent markers.
Next, paint over it entirely with black paint.
Once the paint is completely dry, it’s ready.
Use a bamboo skewer to scratch the dried paint and draw any pictures you like!
[Summer Break Crafts for Lower Grades] Made with everyday materials! Simple yet amazing craft ideas (171–180)
10 Musical Instruments Made from Plastic Bottles

Musical instruments can produce all kinds of sounds and are fascinating, but many people may feel hesitant to buy a lot when they’re not sure how much they’ll actually use them.
Here, we’ll introduce many instruments you can make using plastic bottles.
For example, castanets made by attaching plastic bottle caps to cardboard, a whistle made by punching a hole in a cap and inserting a straw, and even instruments with different pitches just by letting the air out of a plastic bottle.
There are also plastic bottle drums and a “petphone,” made by connecting plastic bottles cut to various lengths.
Use these as references and give it a try!
big cracker

Here’s how to make a fun megaphone cracker.
First, cut off both edges of a clear file folder to separate it into two sheets.
Fold one of the sheets in half lengthwise and cut along the fold.
Next, roll one of the cut pieces into a tube, then tape this tube to the center of the larger remaining sheet.
Roll the sheet into a megaphone shape and secure it.
Then roll the other remaining piece into a long, thin tube, thread it through the center of the megaphone, and tape one end so it connects with a rubber band-like loop.
Prepare three pieces of plastic string cut to an appropriate length, attach aluminum foil to their tips, and crumple the foil into little balls.
Finally, tape the strings with the foil tips to the end of the inner tube that runs through the center.
And you’re done! A flashy, eye-catching megaphone cracker—give it a try!
Infinity Cube made from a milk carton

The endlessly flippable infinity cube is so much fun, isn’t it? Let’s make one using milk cartons.
First, wash and dry the cartons, then prepare two cartons with the top and bottom cut off.
Cut each one into eight vertical strips to make 16 long, narrow pieces.
Next, use two pieces to make one cube.
There’s a trick to how the cubes are connected, so be careful not to connect them the wrong way.
Once you’ve connected them correctly, stick origami paper on top, and you’re done.
Let’s make it in 3D! The human body

Why not try making a three-dimensional human figure? Some people may not have given much thought to the body’s balance and structure.
For this 3D human figure, first make sketches: draw the human body from various angles in a sketchbook.
Based on those drawings, create an armature with wire.
Once it’s done, fix the armature to a base and build up the form with paper clay.
Next, paint it with acrylics.
It’s best to hold the base and paint from various angles.
Be sure to separate and paint the finer details carefully.
Let’s make it out of paper

If you want to enjoy art casually, we recommend this crumple-paper art.
As you crumple and tear paper, you imagine what to make and build your piece.
By enjoying the feel of the paper and using your hands a lot, you naturally nurture fine motor skills, concentration, and imagination.
Moments like “It turned into this shape!” and “Let’s try this next!” spark discoveries that reveal the fun of creating.
You can freely express your individuality and easily create one-of-a-kind, captivating works—so give it a try!



