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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 fun collection of project ideas (71–80)

Tyrannosaurus made from a paper cup

[Summer Vacation Craft] Get all materials at the 100-yen shop! Just paper cups! <Tyrannosaurus・T. rex> [Independent Research] Easy! Can be made in one day! Upcycled craft [For upper elementary grades] A must-see for moms and dads!
Tyrannosaurus made from a paper cup

With summer vacation nearing its end, many people have probably struggled to come up with a topic for their independent research projects.

In times like that, here’s a great recommendation: a budget-friendly Tyrannosaurus made from paper cups that you can finish in a short time! The only materials you need are paper cups from a 100-yen shop.

It’s super easy, yet the result is a cool, realistic-looking T.

rex.

The basic method is to cut and combine the paper cups.

Use a single color for a sleek look, or mix various colors for a pop-style T.

rex—feel free to customize it however you like!

Rubber boots made from paper cups

Paper Cup Craft! How to Make Rain Boots [Easy and Cute Rainy-Season Project! Includes Tips for Fun Variations]
Rubber boots made from paper cups

Let’s make a decoration themed around a rainy-day essential: rain boots.

We’ll use a paper cup and construction paper.

Since we’ll take advantage of the paper cup’s boot-like shape, the steps are very simple.

Once the boot shape is complete, decorate it however you like—draw illustrations or add stickers.

After finishing, it’s also recommended to attach a handle using a chenille stem (pipe cleaner).

You can even use it as a small container, so filling it with your favorite candies or small toys for a gift exchange might be a hit.

Paper Cup Bowling

Bowling play with everyday materials
Paper Cup Bowling

How about an easy-to-make bowling game using paper cups? You could simply place the cups upside down, but they don’t knock over easily that way, so let’s make pins by connecting two paper cups at their rims.

It’s a good idea to put a few marbles or small stones inside as weights.

Then decorate them however you like—draw pictures, add stickers, or glue on origami paper! For the ball, crumple up newspaper or flyers into a ball and wrap it with tape or origami paper to finish.

Paper Cup Merry-Go-Round

A carousel made with paper cups! A spinning craft activity for 5-year-olds
Paper Cup Merry-Go-Round

This is a project to make a merry-go-round that spins when you twist a bar sticking out from the side! Make holes in the side and bottom of a paper cup large enough for a straw to pass through, then insert a bendable straw from the side and out through the bottom.

Cut the protruding end into four equal sections, spread them open, and attach a circular piece of paper—now you’ve created the spinning mechanism.

Make the roof and pillar parts from construction paper, hang drawings of characters the children made from the roof, and assemble.

Twist the straw to spin your handmade merry-go-round!

Mysterious Microphone

A mysterious microphone made from paper cups
Mysterious Microphone

Let’s make a mysterious microphone out of a paper cup that makes your voice sound funny! First, make a hole in the bottom of the paper cup that’s a little smaller than the bottom itself.

Next, attach aluminum foil to the rim (the drinking side) of the cup, and your microphone is done! After that, decorate the outside however you like.

If you speak from the bottom side, your voice will sound weird! It’s super easy and you can play with it right away!