Paper cup crafts that elementary school kids will love! A collection of fun project ideas

Paper cup spinning top

Easy Craft! How to Make a Paper Cup Spinning Top [Plus the Skills Kids Develop Through Play]

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?”

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yamamoto

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Ghost Shooter

Let’s make a ghost shooter toy that launches a paper cup using paper cups, cotton swabs, and rubber bands.

First, prepare two paper cups with the bottoms cut out.

For the third paper cup, poke a small hole in the center of the bottom and cut off about 5 cm from the rim.

Next, tie a rubber band to the shaft of a cotton swab and thread it through the small hole in the cup you just prepared—that completes the build.

To play, stack the two bottomless paper cups together, then place the cup with the rubber band on top.

Pull the rubber band and release it… and the cup with the rubber band will shoot out with force! It would be fun to make targets, like balloons, and play a shooting game.

You can also decorate the paper cups by drawing ghost faces or adding stickers.

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Hane Keisuke

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Spinning Face-Changing Paper Cup Toy

Let’s play by spinning paper cups! Here’s a fun paper cup toy where the face changes as you turn it.

You’ll need two paper cups, a craft knife or scissors, and colored pens.

First, draw Anpanman’s full body on one cup.

The key is to cut out the face area! Next, stack the cups and draw various expressions—like a smiley face or a surprised face—on the inner cup.

Finally, spin the stacked cups, and you’re done! It would also be fun to make versions with Anpanman’s friends.

A toothbrushing doll to make with children

Fun from infancy! Here are ideas for making toothbrushing puppets with your children.

You’ll need a milk carton, colored construction paper, and white round stickers.

Cut the milk carton and transform it into your favorite animal! For the final touch, stick the white round stickers—pretending they’re teeth—inside the mouth.

Infants can enjoy this step too, so it’s great to work on together with parents or teachers.

How about practicing scrubbing teeth with the milk-carton toothbrushing puppet you made as a team?

Anpanman Cup

@yumiy381

I tried making a cute Anpanman cup using a paper cup! It’s also adorable to fill it with your favorite things and give it as a gift! This one is easy too—just cut and paste and you’re done, so please give it a try!#cuteTranslationpaper cupFeltFunAnpanmanHandmadePresentRecommended for giftsNursery teacher / Childcare worker#Kindergarten

♬ San San Taisou – Kaori Inoue

Make it with felt! Here are some ideas for Anpanman-themed cups.

You’ll need paper cups, felt, a clear file folder, double-sided tape, scissors, and a pencil.

This idea is great for gifts and events.

Cut the felt to fit the size of the paper cup and stick it on with double-sided tape.

Cut out parts like the Anpanman belt and attach them to the cup to finish! It’s fun to decide what to put inside the cup—candy or stationery are great options.

Give it a try!