[Indoor Activities] A Collection of Craft Ideas Recommended for Elementary School Students

A Castle of Light Made with Corrugated Plastic and LEDs

Elementary 3rd–4th Grade Art Project Idea: A Craft Using Corrugated Plastic and LED Lights — “Castle of Light”

This craft uses plastic corrugated board (known as “Pladan” in Japanese) to create a fantastical castle of light, featuring enchanting lighting effects.

Use a utility knife to cut window shapes you like into the board—stars, hearts, moons—feel free to get creative.

Once you’ve cut them out, roll the sheet into a cylinder and secure it with tape, then place an LED light inside to finish.

When you switch on the light, it shines through the windows, casting mysterious shadows around the room and creating the atmosphere of a real castle.

One of its charms is how it looks different in daylight and at night.

If you design your own and build a piece with a story, it will open up a world of imagination.

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pull-back car

A toy that runs on rubber power! 'Corrugated Plastic Pull-Back Car' [Easy Craft] #HandmadeToy #Craft #SummerVacationCraft

This craft lets you experience the fun of a car you built yourself zooming forward powered by rubber bands.

Cut corrugated plastic (plastic cardboard) to match the size of the car body.

For the wheels, use bottle caps: make a hole in the center, then pass a bamboo skewer through to create the axle.

If you firmly attach this to the body with hot glue, it will start to look like a real car.

Hook a rubber band onto the rear axle and wind it by turning the axle forward, and you’re ready to go.

When you let go, the car surges ahead under the power of the rubber band.

You can freely design and color the body, so you can get particular about the appearance too.

Using everyday materials and a simple mechanism, it’s a hands-on project that’s both fun to build and a great way to learn, delivering dynamic motion.

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Paper Art Triangle

Paper Art Triangle: A 3D project you can make in a short time

This is a craft project where you can enjoy the fun of freely drawing with paper by playing with the width and shape of the strips.

Use a wide paper band to create a large triangular outer frame.

Make firm creases and then glue it down to complete the base.

Next, use narrow paper bands to create patterns on the inside.

By combining and attaching shapes you like—zigzags, waves, circles, and more—you’ll achieve a three-dimensional finish.

With creative color choices and placement, even the same triangle takes on a completely different look.

The result is a piece that showcases both mathematical elements and design appeal, and it stands out well in displays.

It’s an idea that trains creativity and concentration.

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Matchstick crafting play

Art project idea for 3rd and 4th grade elementary students: “Matchstick Art”

Crafting with matchsticks—creating any shape you like—is a fun hands-on activity that nurtures creativity and fine motor skills.

From arrows and railroad tracks to burst-like patterns reminiscent of fireworks, you can freely assemble designs from flat compositions to three-dimensional forms.

You can arrange matchsticks to draw patterns like a picture, or angle them to build a 3D tower—the key is that each piece emerges from your own unique ideas.

The materials are light and easy to handle, allowing delicate expression even with small combinations of parts.

Displaying the finished pieces side by side reveals a miniature world and sparks the imagination.

With new discoveries each time you make something and the creator’s individuality shining through, matchstick crafts are an idea you can enjoy again and again.

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Matryoshka

[Summer Vacation Craft Showcase 1] Matryoshka-chan (A third-grade student's work)

The craft of painting your own face and those of your family onto a matryoshka doll—where new companions appear one after another inside a small doll—overflows with the joy and warmth of imagination.

Start by applying a base color with acrylic paint to the surface of the wooden nesting dolls.

Once it’s dry, carefully paint expressive characters such as your self-portrait, family, or friends.

After the paint dries, add a coat of varnish to give it a sheen and significantly elevate the finish.

Each time you open it, a new face appears, making it a delight for viewers.

It also makes a perfect gift, and the key is to create it while thinking of someone special.

It’s a lovely art project that lets you feel the connection between craftsmanship and the heart.

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Let’s try making musical instruments from around the world

[Latin America & Education] Try it at Home: Let’s Make Musical Instruments from Around the World! [Rainstick]

Let’s make a rainstick, a musical instrument from around the world that sounds like falling rain.

Prepare toothpicks, an empty plastic wrap tube, rubber bands, beads, fabric scraps, nail clippers, a hole punch or awl, and glue.

Start by making spiral-shaped holes along the tube.

It can be slippery, so be careful while punching the holes.

Insert toothpicks into the holes.

Use the nail clippers to trim any parts of the toothpicks that stick out, then apply glue over them to secure.

Cover one end of the tube with fabric and fasten it with a rubber band.

Pour beads in from the other end, then cover that end with fabric and fasten it with a rubber band in the same way.

Decorate the tube, and you’re done.

It’s a rainstick that produces the sound of rain or waves—give it a try!

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Transformable miniature house

For a summer vacation craft! How to make a miniature house that can be freely transformed

Let me introduce a cute, transformable miniature house.

Using cardboard, choose the coverings for the ceiling, floor, and walls as you build each room.

The key is to keep in mind the kind of room you want to create while you work.

Try stacking rooms or changing the combinations to make a miniature house that’s uniquely yours.

By making the wall coverings with colored paper or using patterned paper for the miniature house, you can add originality and have even more fun.

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