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!
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- A simple yet amazing craft using paper cups! An idea that’s also great for independent research projects.
- Fun crafts using straws
- For summer vacation homework! Simple and amazing crafts for elementary school students that you’ll want to make after seeing them
- Simple yet amazing crafts: craft ideas that elementary school students will want to make
- Craft ideas using plastic bottle caps [for boys]
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Crafts you can play with after making them
- [For Adults] Simple yet Impressive Crafts: A Stylish, Eye-Catching Collection
- Crafts parents and kids can enjoy together. Recommended craft ideas to keep children entertained.
- [Milk Carton Crafts] Fun ideas for elementary school kids. Perfect for summer vacation homework!
- [For toddlers] Simple but amazing craft ideas — including toys they can play with
Paper cup crafts that captivate elementary school kids! A fun collection of project ideas (71–80)
boat
You can make a boat that really moves using a paper cup! Make two holes in the side of a paper cup and attach it to a tray like the ones used for meat.
Make two holes in the tray as well, and thread a straw through them so it also passes through the holes in the paper cup—then you’re done! You can even add a flag if you like.
Now you have a propulsion-style boat that moves forward by squirting water from the straw!
Fluffy Paper Cup Ghost
When you blow into it, a ghost appears! This is a fluffy ghost craft made with a paper cup and a plastic bag.
Decorate the paper cup with stickers or markers and make a hole in one spot.
Insert a straw through the hole so that the tip of the straw sticks out from inside the cup.
Next, draw a ghost face on a plastic bag and attach the bag to the tip of the straw so that no air can escape.
Pull the straw outward as far as it will go, tuck the plastic bag into the paper cup, and you’re done! Each time you blow through the straw, the ghost pops out all fluffy, and the kids are sure to love it.
juice dispenser
Here’s a juice dispenser idea that makes snack time more fun.
First, prepare a plastic bottle and a paper cup.
With the plastic bottle placed inside the paper cup, make a hole and insert a straw there.
Next, pinch the straw while pouring juice into the plastic bottle, then put the cap on, and it’s done.
In this state, no juice comes out, but if you twist the cap, the juice will flow.
It’s fun to make, and it could also be interesting to think about why the juice doesn’t come out until you twist the cap.
Paper Cup Crafts That Captivate Elementary School Kids! A Collection of Fun Project Ideas (81–90)
Magic hand
Why not make a magic grabber with irresistibly unique movements? First, prepare two paper cups.
On one cup, cut slits to match the shape of a hand; once you’ve formed five fingers, fold them back to the opposite side.
Next, make a roughly 2 cm slit at the tip of a straw, and staple it to the center of the paper cup you cut into a hand shape.
Finally, poke a hole in the center of the bottom of the other paper cup and thread the straw through—your grabber is ready.
When you move the straw up and down, the paper-cup hand opens and closes so you can grab things like paper scraps.
It’s fun to use when tidying up, and it could work as a crane game, too!
spool tank
Do you know the spool tank? It’s a classic craft that has long been popular, and it looks like a spool with chopsticks attached.
The chopsticks are connected to the spool with a rubber band; when you twist it, it stores energy, and when you let go, it moves forward on its own.
How about making the spool part out of a paper cup? It’s larger than a spool, so it’s more impressive, and you can have fun decorating it.
It also runs quite fast, so racing them can be really exciting.
Paper Cup Catch Ball
Here’s a DIY idea to make a simple catch-and-throw ball machine like the ones you often see outdoors.
You’ll need a paper cup, a balloon, and a paper plate.
Cut out the bottom of the paper cup with a utility knife, then cut the top off the balloon and stretch it over the bottom of the cup, securing it firmly with clear tape.
Tie the balloon’s mouth so that the knot sits as close to the center as possible.
Cut the paper plate to remove one-quarter of the circle along with the center, then make radial slits on the inner edge and attach it to the rim side of the paper cup.
You can play with it as is, but it looks cute if you draw on it or decorate it with colored paper.
It’s a fun item you can use both indoors and outdoors.
Paper cup spinning top
A paper cup spinning top is also great for practicing twisting motions like turning faucets and doorknobs.
The idea is to cut and open a paper cup, then add decorations to turn it into a top.
The appeal lies not only in the making process but also in the many ways to experiment while playing—try figuring out how to spin it well or invent different ways to use it.
Depending on the situation, caregivers or teachers can offer prompts that spark creativity, such as, “What happens if you spin it the other way?”