[Milk Carton Crafts] Fun ideas for elementary school kids. Perfect for summer vacation homework!
There are probably plenty of elementary school kids wondering, “What should I make for this summer vacation?” So here are some milk-carton craft ideas that are perfect for summer homework! Milk cartons are something every household has, so they’re very easy to use as a material.
In addition to classics like piggy banks and vehicles, you can make toys that you can play with for a long time.
From moving cars to cute dollhouses, there are lots of different ideas.
Be sure to have fun creating wonderful crafts with milk cartons!
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[Milk Carton Crafts] Fun Ideas for Elementary School Students. Perfect for Summer Vacation Homework! (21–30)
Luck-Trying Piggy Bank
You can make a “lucky dip piggy bank” with a roulette wheel from a milk carton! Use the top part of the carton as the roulette gear and the bottom part as the piggy bank body.
When you drop a coin in, it hits the gear inside and falls, and that momentum makes the roulette spin.
Enjoy seeing what it lands on! Since you’ll use tools like an awl or bamboo skewer during the process, it’s best to have an adult supervise.
buzzing top
Making a buzzing button spinner is super easy! Draw your favorite picture on a milk carton cut into a square, then use an awl to make holes and thread a string through.
Twist the string and pull, and the spinner will whirl with lots of energy.
Be sure an adult handles the part that uses the awl.
This craft is suited for lower to middle elementary school students.
Crane game made from a milk carton
A claw machine made by recycling milk cartons is an eco-friendly craft you can try with everyday materials.
First, open up the carton, cut it into the necessary shapes, and secure everything firmly with duct tape.
Next, create the part where the string will be tied, and staple the arm’s joints while devising how they connect.
Make holes in the control handle, thread the string through, tie it tightly, and reinforce it with duct tape.
Once finished, you’ll have a mechanism that lets you operate an arm moving up and down to grab prizes.
The light weight and easy workability unique to milk cartons are key features, making it perfect for doing with children.
It’s a fun idea that lets you enjoy a sense of accomplishment while playing.
Marble coaster made from drawing paper and milk cartons
Let’s try making a complex marble run using a milk carton and construction paper! First, close the opening of the milk carton to make a complete cube, then wrap it with construction paper in any color you like.
Next, use construction paper to craft detailed tracks in various shapes.
Make different kinds of paths—curves, sharp angles, and zigzags.
Once the tracks are ready, attach them to the milk-carton cube however you like, and you’re done.
There are no rules for how to build the tracks, so create an original and fun course full of personality!
pen holder
When it comes to classic crafts, milk carton pen holders are a staple! If you find the plain rectangular shape too simple, a diamond-shaped pen holder is a great option.
It takes a bit more effort because you open up the milk carton, cut off the top and bottom, and then reassemble it, but you can create a unique pen holder that stands out from the rest.
Snap Frog
A frog made from a milk carton takes a big jump! Cut off the bottom of a milk carton, flatten it, and trim it so it’s about 9 cm wide.
Make small slits along the fold lines of the carton, hook rubber bands into the slits so they bite in, and you’ve got a mechanism that stretches the bands when you press from above and springs up when you let go! Attach parts like eyes and ears to turn it into your favorite animal or character.
Be careful not to crease areas other than the original fold lines—if they bend, the carton will crumple when pressed and won’t jump as well.
Chomp Chomp Castanets
Let’s handcraft castanets—star performers in any ensemble—using a milk carton.
Cut the milk carton into pieces sized for the top and bottom parts of the castanets, and glue construction paper on the outside.
From here, it’s the kids’ turn! Have them freely draw animals or their favorite characters on the construction paper.
Tearing paper for collage or decorating with stickers will also make it look great.
Next, use an awl to make holes, thread a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) cut to a length that fits a finger, and attach plastic bottle caps on the inside so they make a clicking sound.
Your original castanets are complete!
pixel art
If you want to create a large-scale piece using lots of milk cartons, how about pixel art? It’s a craft that makes use of the square bottoms of milk cartons! It’s an idea you can use for summer vacation projects or crafts, so it could be a fun parent–child challenge.
Start by designing the pixel art and estimating how many cartons you’ll need.
Using a video game character as the motif might make it easier to come up with ideas.
Fold the milk cartons into squares and stick origami paper on the bottoms to make lots of pixel-art pieces—having more people will make the work go faster!
yo-yo
An unbreakable yo-yo made from a milk carton.
Cut the milk carton open so it forms a cross, and use stickers or markers to decorate the inside.
Make two holes in the bottom and thread a rubber band through them, then connect additional rubber bands to make it longer.
Gather the four cross-shaped flaps toward the center so the decorations face outward, tape them in place, and then secure firmly with a stapler to finish! If you swing it too hard, it becomes harder to catch.
It’s best to encourage gentle play, saying things like, “Try it gently so the rubber band doesn’t stretch out too much.”
Naruko
Would you like to make a clapper (naruko) with a charming click-clack sound? Cut the corners of one panel of a milk carton into rounded shapes, fold the panel in half, and make a slit at the center of the crease.
Next, fold two panels of the milk carton so each becomes one-quarter of the original width to form a handle.
Insert this handle into the slit you made and secure it with tape.
Then freely decorate the milk carton with drawings, and attach four plastic bottle caps so they overlap on the inside of the folded section and on the upper part of the inserted handle.
That’s it! Simply shake it side to side to make a click-clack sound, so even small children can easily and enjoyably join in musical play.