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Elementary School Students: Simple One-Day Science Project and Craft Ideas

For elementary school summer break projects and crafts, we recommend starting with something your child is already interested in.

When it’s something they like, they can enjoy working on it.

Here, we introduce simple ideas for elementary school students! These are experiments and crafts you can do in a single day.

The materials are things you already have at home or can get quickly, so even if you’re short on time, no worries.

Perfect for those who are “stuck on a theme” or “looking for an easy and fun project”! Find your favorite and give it a try.

[Elementary School] Easy One-Day Science Projects and Crafts (81–90)

Creeper made from a milk carton

[Elementary School Summer Crafts & Independent Research] Make a Creeper from a Milk Carton—with a Head-Popping Mechanism!
Creeper made from a milk carton

Minecraft is a hugely popular game among kids.

Creepers are characters that appear in Minecraft and explode when they get close to the player.

Let’s make a craft that captures that feature using an empty milk carton.

Besides a milk carton, prepare green plastic bottle caps, bamboo skewers, and oil-based clay as well.

Cut the milk carton and wrap it with green vinyl tape to make the Creeper’s body.

Then cut the body section further and attach parts.

Use another milk carton for the head along with vinyl string or rubber bands to create a mechanism that “explodes.” Because kids use fine motor skills to build it, it helps improve their concentration.

Once it’s finished and displayed at school, you can almost hear friends saying, “Wow, that’s awesome!”

Eyeball Tile Coaster

[100-Yen Shop DIY] Summer Vacation Craft Accessory: Simple and Stylish Googly-Eye Tile Coaster
Eyeball Tile Coaster

Here’s an idea where you use cork coasters sold at 100-yen shops as a base and decorate them with stickers and more.

Lately, tile stickers that were popular in the Heisei era have been making a comeback, and you can find a variety of patterns at 100-yen shops as well.

Decorations using remake sheets—those you stick on furniture or walls—are also recommended.

With a bit of creativity, the possibilities are endless, so go ahead and make coasters full of originality!

stone art

Rock art with kids: perfect for summer vacation independent research, free craft projects, and making memories
stone art

Let’s make stone art using materials close at hand, like those from rivers and parks.

Start by collecting stones and twigs.

Choosing stones without sharp edges will help you create cute pieces.

Also, selecting twigs with branches is a key tip for making a lovely work.

Arrange the stones and twigs you found on a frame or cork board, which you can also buy at a 100-yen shop.

As children think, design, and create on their own, it boosts their imagination.

You can paint the pieces, and it’s also nice to add pinecones, leaves, and other items besides stones and twigs.

Accessory box made from an empty box

Summer Vacation Craft Series ♡ Part 4: Making an Accessory Box from Empty Boxes [Koujoucho] DIY
Accessory box made from an empty box

Some children who love fashion may have lots of charms for rings or clothes, right? Since they can easily get lost, it’s handy to have a box that can store them all together.

Here’s an accessory box that’s practical too.

You can make it with an empty box you already have at home.

Add thickness by attaching pieces cut from a quilted surface to the lid and the sides of the box.

The soft, cushioned thickness gives it a luxurious feel, turning it into a proper jewelry box.

If you roll up some felt fabric and place it inside the box, you can store rings neatly.

The finished product won’t look like it was made from an empty box, so give it a try for inspiration!

Let’s make a bamboo lantern

[Anywhere Art] [Summer Vacation Craft] Let's make a bamboo lantern
Let's make a bamboo lantern

Here’s how to make a bamboo lantern that looks beautiful when it glows at night.

Use a saw to cut the bamboo.

Make slits in the cut bamboo, then gently tap from above with a hammer to create openings where the light will shine through.

The key is to tap with the hammer without using too much force.

Drill holes to create several small windows for the light to leak out.

Wrap yarn around the top and bottom of the bamboo tube, using double-sided tape to secure it.

Place an LED light inside, switch it on, and let it shine.

It emits a soft glow that gives off a traditional Japanese ambiance.

How to make a pencil case

You can stand your favorite pens upright! Here’s how to make a cute pen case using a plastic wrap core.

First, cut the wrap core to a length that fits your pens.

It’s tough, so kids should have an adult help.

Next, place the core on thick paper, trace around it with a pencil, cut it out, and glue on a lid and a base for the case.

Once the glue dries, decorate it with your favorite wrapping paper or stickers.

Finally, roll up some thick paper, push it into the case, and trim any excess—and you’re done!

[Elementary School] Simple One-Day Science Projects and Crafts (91–100)

Animal clay

[Elementary School Craft] Animal Clay 🐘
Animal clay

This craft involves dividing paper clay into parts, then assembling them, painting them, and finishing them in the shape of an animal.

First, check what combination of shapes makes up the animal you want to create, and make parts that match the appropriate sizes and shapes.

After that, attach the parts, refine the overall form, and add colors and patterns to complete it.

If you use a paper plate as a base and attach the pieces onto it, it will look like a three-dimensional picture—highly recommended, too.