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Fun for elementary school kids! A collection of craft ideas using plastic bottle caps!

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Plastic bottle caps lying around at home can actually be fun and fascinating craft materials! From accessories popular with girls to games everyone can enjoy together, you can create a surprisingly wide variety of projects with just a single cap.

Here, we introduce easy crafts that even elementary school kids can make, like pretend sushi-shop playsets and miniature cakes.

You’ll be amazed at how much fun you can have using everyday materials! Have a great time getting absorbed in crafts made with plastic bottle caps.

Fun for elementary school kids! A collection of craft ideas using plastic bottle caps! (21–30)

Safe Design Marble Game

No.156 “Safe-Design Marble Game” [Handmade Toy by Nursery Teacher]

Safe Design Marble Game

Kids love rolling toys! Many children want to play with marbles, but when kids are small, there’s a risk of swallowing them, which worries caregivers.

So here’s a toy idea that uses marbles safely.

Inside a box, move plastic bottle caps with marbles set inside them toward a goal without letting them fall into holes.

The marbles are firmly fixed to the caps, and the caps are also tied to the box with string, so it’s safe.

Decorate the box and caps with any designs you like, and play by tilting the box to slide the caps around.

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PET bottle cap: small den-den daiko (hand drum)

Would you like to try making a small den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum)? The materials are plastic bottle caps, a straw, cotton twine, and beads.

First, tie the cotton twine near the top of the straw, which will be the handle.

Sandwich that section between two plastic bottle caps and secure them with tape or glue.

Finally, cut the twine to an appropriate length and attach the beads, and you’re done! It’s fine as is, but if you decorate the caps and straw with masking tape or colored tape, it will become colorful and an even cuter toy.

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Flower keychain

I did a INCREDIBLE job with plastic bottle caps, yarn. You’ll love this super idea. DIY recycling

Flower keychain

Here’s an idea I’d recommend for kids who like or are interested in knitting.

Make a hole in the center of a plastic bottle cap, thread yarn through it, tie a knot to secure it firmly, and then knit by hooking the yarn around to cover the entire cap.

Once you’ve gone all the way around, slide a thin straw onto a knitting needle, then wrap the yarn around it several times while tying it.

Pull out the straw and draw the needle through to create a petal.

Repeat this several times to complete the petals.

How about trying it with yarn in different colors?

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Memo stand

[Quilling] Swirly Memo Stand Made with a Plastic Bottle Cap / At-Home Time / Quilling /

Memo stand

Why not transform discarded plastic bottle caps into cute memo stands? First, use glue to coil paper cord round and round.

Glue that paper cord to the top of a larger plastic bottle cap to secure it, and continue wrapping.

Next, fold a strip of colored construction paper into a narrow band, snip small cuts into it, then wrap it around a toothpick to form a base.

Insert a looped piece of colored wire there, and decorate with flowers, leaves, and other shapes made from colored paper.

These vividly colored memo stands are fun to look at and are sure to be a hit for practical use, too!

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Goldfish made from bottle caps & scoops made from milk cartons

Easy goldfish scooping!

Goldfish made from bottle caps & scoops made from milk cartons

Goldfish scooping using plastic bottle caps is a simple craft you can make with materials you have at home.

Cut colorful materials like colored plastic bags, wrap them around a cap, and secure with a rubber band to easily create the shape of a goldfish.

Since both the caps and plastic bags are light, they float on water, so you can play even with a kitchen bowl filled with water.

The scoop (poi) is easy to make too—just stretch a drain net over a piece cut from a milk carton.

Why not try making this as a summer recreation activity?

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Hoshino Takashi

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