RAG MusicScience
Wonderful independent research

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 Elementary School Kids Will Love! A Collection of Fun Project Ideas (31–40)

How to Make an Easy Guitar

[Instrument Craft] How to Make a Simple Guitar (Rubber Bands, Paper Cups) [Handmade Instrument, Playable Toy, Playable Craft] Upcycling Play – For Preschoolers and Lower Elementary Students
How to Make an Easy Guitar

A simple guitar you can make with paper cups lets you easily live out the dream of strumming a ringing guitar.

First, glue the bottoms of two paper cups together.

Then stack another paper cup on each side with slits cut into them, and attach rubber bands into those slits—done.

The key here is the length of the rubber bands.

By choosing which slit to anchor them in and lining up rubber bands of different lengths, you can create differences in sound just like a real guitar.

Think about what kind of sound will make it feel cool, and fine-tune it into your ideal guitar.

How to make a croaking frog

[Preschool Teacher] Make and Play Right Away! How to Make a Croaking Frog ✨ [Daycare & Kindergarten]
How to make a croaking frog

This is a cute craft where a frog hidden inside a paper cup peeks out while croaking.

You make a hole in the bottom of the cup and insert a bendy straw; by using this straw, you can move the frog up and down.

The key is the bendable part of the straw—when it rubs against the hole in the paper cup, it makes a sound like a frog’s croak.

You can add originality by choosing the frog’s expression and decorating the paper cup however you like.

Handmade maracas

Handmade maracas! You can easily make an instrument with paper cups and straws♪
Handmade maracas

This craft is inspired by maracas made with paper cups that produce a cheerful rattling sound when lightly shaken.

The steps are simple: put beads or finely cut pieces of straw into a paper cup, then cover it with another paper cup as a lid.

What you put inside is important—consider how different fillings change the sound as you make it.

Decorating the outside is also a key point; aim for fun decorations that match the light, lively sound of the maracas.

Paper cup cracker

[Paper Cup Craft] How to Make a Party Popper
Paper cup cracker

Party poppers are a must-have at celebrations—the loud pop and the confetti bursting into the air really bring the fun.

This project shows how to make a popper that bursts confetti using a paper cup.

First, make a hole in the bottom of the paper cup and insert a rubber band that’s been tied to a toothpick, anchoring it to the bottom and securing it with tape so it catches firmly.

Wrap one end of the rubber band with folded aluminum foil to create a piece that can strike the bottom of the cup—this completes the base.

Next, put confetti or finely cut pieces of straw inside.

When you pull and release the rubber band to deliver an impact, the contents shoot out like a party popper.

As you build it, experiment to see how the confetti scatters and rises.

paper cup trumpet

[Instrument Craft] Paper Cup Trumpet (A Trumpet Like a String Telephone) [Easy Craft] Handmade Toy with Chopsticks
paper cup trumpet

This is a craft using a paper cup that can produce a trumpet-like sound when you pull the string sharply.

First, make a hole in the bottom of the paper cup, thread a string through it, and secure it with a short, folded toothpick so the string doesn’t slip out.

Then, when you pull the string vigorously, the impact on the string is transmitted to the paper cup, creating a trumpet-like sound.

You can pull the string with your hand, but using chopsticks is also recommended—try it out and see how the sound changes.

Since just building the mechanism can look simple, it’s also important to add your own decorations to the paper cup.