Paper cup crafts that elementary school kids will love! A collection of fun project ideas
By using familiar materials like paper cups, you can easily create projects that make people say “Wow!” There are lots of fun crafts that also let you learn about the wonders of science, such as beads that bounce with sound, pinwheels that spin, and planes that float gently through the air.
They’re perfect for summer vacation research projects, too! Even kids who aren’t good at crafts can make wonderful creations by following the steps.
Here, we introduce a variety of fun and mysterious crafts made with paper cups.
Be sure to read to the end!
Paper Cup Crafts That Captivate Elementary School Kids! A Collection of Fun Project Ideas (1–10)
push-type trash can
How about making a push-lid trash can that’s perfect for a desktop waste bin or small-item holder? It’s a fun craft you can easily make—even if your summer project isn’t finished yet! All you need are paper cups, origami paper, and thick paper/cardboard.
The mechanism that opens the lid when pressed involves some fine work, so it might be a bit challenging, but you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment when it’s done! To strengthen the mechanism, the trick is to layer a few pieces.
You could also design the lid with your favorite character or motif to give it a personal touch!
airplane
Let’s make and play with an airplane using two paper cups.
It’s easy to make: tape the two cups together bottom to bottom.
That’s all for the body, but it’s a great idea to decorate it—draw pictures with a pen or color it to make it look cute! Once you’ve finished decorating, it’s time to fly.
To launch it, wrap about seven linked rubber bands around the middle of the plane, pull it back like a slingshot, aim slightly upward, and let go…
Surprisingly, it floats gently through the air! Depending on how you launch it, it can fly in different ways, and if it catches the wind it can go even farther—so try flying it over and over to see what happens!
A toy where beads bounce with your voice
Let’s make a toy that makes the energy of your voice visible.
You’ll use two paper cups (one small, one large), a plastic cup, and some small beads.
First, cut out the bottom of the small paper cup.
Next, make a hole in the side of the large paper cup and insert the small paper cup into it.
Then, use scissors to cut about 1.5 cm off the rim side of the plastic cup.
Finally, place the beads on the bottom of the large paper cup, cover them by stacking the plastic cup on top like a lid, and secure it with tape—done! When you put your mouth to the small paper cup and speak loudly, the beads will bounce.
That’s because your voice makes the air vibrate, and those vibrations are transmitted to the paper cup, causing the beads to jump.
It’s a perfect toy for learning how sound works.
Jump Flower
Don’t you think it would be wonderful to make a toy that everyone can play with together? Here’s an idea called the Jump Flower.
It’s simple to make.
First, cut slits into a paper cup.
Next, fold it around the middle—that’s it.
To play, press down on the cup from above as if you’re squashing it.
The rebound force will make the cup spring up with a pop.
Another charm of this idea is its cute, flower-like appearance.
You can also enjoy it as a decorative piece.
A flying octopus? Tako-copter
It’s a toy that combines paper cups and a round chopstick to spin like a bamboo-copter and soar into the sky.
By spreading “wings” that catch the wind and coloring it mainly red, it takes on a curious form—a flying octopus.
You’ll use two paper cups and a round chopstick: attach the chopstick and the octopus’s facial parts to a paper cup with only the bottom left to create a launcher.
Then cut slits into the other paper cup, spread it out to form propeller-like blades, and attach it to the launcher to finish.
Fine-tune the propeller angles to make your octopus fly even higher.
kaleidoscope
You can make a colorful kaleidoscope with a paper cup! Besides the paper cup, you’ll need color film, tracing paper, and colored paper.
Attach several thin strips of color film around the rim of the cup.
Next, cut out the bottom of the cup and cover the opening with tracing paper.
Finally, wrap the sides of the cup with colored paper to decorate it, and you’re done.
Now look at a fluorescent light or similar source through the tracing paper side…
Colorful, beautiful patterns will appear on the tracing paper! It’s so pretty you might find yourself staring at it for a long time.
Well-spinning paper cup top
This is a spinning top made with a paper cup that spins well and is fun to watch because of its colorful look.
All you need are a paper cup and two plastic bottle caps.
First, cut slits into the paper cup and spread them out like propeller blades, then attach an axle made by combining the two caps.
That’s enough to complete the basic shape, but it’s recommended to decorate the “propellers” with an eye toward how it will look while spinning.
The impression changes depending on whether you spread the propellers before decorating or decorate first and then cut the slits, so try out various patterns.
windmill
Here’s an idea for a pinwheel you can make using a paper cup.
Besides the paper cup, all you need are a straw and a cotton swab, so it’s easy to put together.
First, make a hole in the center of the bottom of the paper cup.
Next, cut six evenly spaced straight slits from the rim down toward the bottom, then spread them out slightly at an angle to form the blades.
Decorate the blades with markers if you like, and you’re almost done.
Insert the cotton swab’s stick through the hole you made first, then attach it to the short end of a bendy straw.
That’s it! It’s simple to make, yet it spins smoothly when it catches the wind.
Try adjusting the angle of the blades to see how it changes the way it spins!
Flapping Owl
Let’s make a cute owl with flapping wings! Cut two slits on the sides of a paper cup to form the wings.
Stack another paper cup inside or over it, and cut matching slits in the lower cup so they align with the wings, then attach the two cups together.
Next, cut out eyes, a beak, and properly shaped wings from construction paper, and glue them on to finish.
If you move the lower part of the stacked cups, the wings will flap!
Animal Light
Here’s a simple animal light idea using a paper cup and plastic wrap.
It’s easy to make: First, poke a hole in the center of the bottom of the paper cup, then cut eight evenly spaced slits radiating out from the hole.
Next, stretch plastic wrap tightly over the rim of the cup and secure it with a rubber band.
Finally, draw your favorite animal on the plastic wrap, and you’re done.
Insert a flashlight into the slits at the bottom, turn it on facing a wall, and the animal drawing will appear large on the wall.
Not only black markers but also colored markers show up beautifully, so try using various colors.