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!
- Let's play with paper cups! Crafts and indoor play
- Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
- [Craft] How to Make a Paper Cup Rocket: Ideas to Make It Fly Far
- 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 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.
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.