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

Surprisingly addictive study of shapes

[Math for a summer project!?] Surprisingly addictive! 3 free-research ideas using shapes

Here’s a great recommendation for anyone looking for an independent research project that blends learning with fun! How about studying shapes? Shapes are everywhere in daily life—origami, buildings, even sweets—so they feel familiar, and engaging with them in a playful way can help overcome anxiety about math and build confidence.

In your research, it’s important to narrow down your theme and explore it in depth, and to actually see, touch, and experience things firsthand.

Use the videos as a reference, find a topic that interests you, and give it a try!

Let’s make a flute

One-Day Science Project 6: Let's Make a Whistle

As a one-day science project, here’s a fun idea for making a simple flute.

Since this involves using fire, be sure to work with an adult.

Prepare three thick straws and flatten one end of each.

Use a lighter to gently heat the flattened end, then pinch the melted section with a clip to seal it.

After making all three the same way, blow into them—you’ll hear a flute-like sound.

The pitch changes with the length of the straws, so adjust them to create the scale you like.

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sasashina

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I tried expressing sound with salt

[Sound LAB] Great for independent research! We tried representing sound with salt!

Let’s observe how salt patterns change with sound! Tape a black plastic bag over a bowl, then poke a small hole to keep the air pressure inside the bowl stable.

Wipe the surface with a damp tissue to remove static electricity, and sprinkle salt on top.

Now you’re ready—try making different sounds near the bowl, such as low and high voices.

The salt will respond to the sound and move, creating various patterns.

It will be helpful to note which sounds produced which patterns and to take photos, making it easier to compile your report.

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sasashina

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Let’s make an X-Gyro

[Independent Research] Hand-make an X-Gyro “X-zyLo” for 200 yen (flies 50 meters) [Flies farther than a tube paper airplane] Summer Vacation Craft

The X-gyro is a super cost-effective and easy science project.

All you need are a round cookie cutter and a clear file folder.

You can get both at a 100-yen shop.

Next, cut the clear file so the cookie-cutter tube becomes longer, then glue the clear file into a double layer—once that’s done, your X-gyro is complete! Simple, right? Head to a large park and throw it so it flies as far as possible.

The trick to throwing it far is to give it spin while pushing it straight forward.

It’s simple but fun, and highly recommended!

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Yuuko.S

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Let’s experiment with red cabbage!

[Science Project in 10 Steps] Experiment with Red Cabbage! [At-Home Science Experiment]

Let’s do an experiment using red cabbage, a stylish representative among vegetables! Finely chop the deeply colored red cabbage and simmer it to extract a red cabbage solution.

Then add various liquids to it and observe the color changes.

Try using everyday liquids like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and facial toner.

Pouring the solution into a clear cup makes it easier to observe the colors.

Red cabbage contains anthocyanins, which give it its purple color, but when you add something acidic, it turns red, and when you add something alkaline, it turns green.

Try adding different things and experiment!

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utatane

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An experiment to make characters float on water

The letters are floating!? Daiso toys are amazing...! [Experiment]

This is an experiment using a kit sold at 100-yen stores.

If you draw illustrations or letters with an oil-based marker on the included paper and float it on water, the surrounding paper dissolves, leaving just the writing floating on the surface—quite a curious phenomenon.

You can also observe the differences between water-based and oil-based markers, so try it with your child by drawing various letters and illustrations and enjoy the challenge together.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Cute shaved ice piggy bank

Here’s an idea for a shaved-ice coin bank made from a milk carton.

It’s adorable because a little face pops out when you put a coin in.

Prepare a small milk carton and peel off the outer printed layer so it’s white.

Cut the spout into a mountain shape.

Draw the syrup part with a pen, attach an iridescent (aurora) sheet, and create the slot for inserting coins.

Next, pierce a rotating cardboard piece with a bamboo skewer and fix it inside the milk carton.

Thread the face piece onto the part of the skewer that sticks out of the carton and glue it in place, then decorate the other end with beads.

Attach thick paper around it to hide the skewer, and close the spout to finish.

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sasashina

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