For summer vacation homework! Simple and amazing crafts for elementary school students that you’ll want to make after seeing them

Chopstick grabber

[Craft] Chopstick Grabber (Magic Hand)

Let me introduce a chopstick grabber that’s fun to make and fun to play with.

Prepare eight wooden chopsticks, double-sided tape, plastic bottle caps, and rubber bands.

Stack four chopsticks in a crisscross pattern and secure the center with a rubber band.

Make another set the same way.

Combine the two finished sets and bind them with rubber bands where the chopsticks overlap to hold them together.

Finally, attach two plastic bottle caps to the tip, and it’s done.

Try moving the handle and have fun playing with it!

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mayumi

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Handmade maracas

Handmade maracas! You can easily make an instrument with paper cups and straws♪

This craft is inspired by maracas made with paper cups that produce a cheerful rattling sound when lightly shaken.

The steps are simple: put beads or finely cut pieces of straw into a paper cup, then cover it with another paper cup as a lid.

What you put inside is important—consider how different fillings change the sound as you make it.

Decorating the outside is also a key point; aim for fun decorations that match the light, lively sound of the maracas.

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kappamaki

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Paper slingshot made from origami and chopstick sleeves

Paper Pachinko: An Easy Way to Make One with Origami and Chopsticks — Kids Can Make It Too

A slingshot is a Y-shaped gadget used to launch pebbles or paper far into the distance.

At first glance it might seem like just a toy, but similar hunting tools have existed all over the world since ancient times.

The need to propel objects far is what gave rise to that shape.

Let’s try making such a slingshot using chopsticks.

The key to building a sturdy slingshot is reinforcing the space between the Y-shape with a toothpick.

There aren’t any particularly difficult steps, so even younger elementary school children should be able to make it.

You can switch up what you launch—paper, stones, clay, slime, and more—and turn it into a science project-style exploration.

How to make a paper-cup kendama

[Craft Play 073] How to Make a Paper Cup Kendama

This is a paper-cup kendama made with a paper cup and plastic bottle caps.

First, poke a hole in the center of the bottom of the paper cup and thread a 60 cm piece of yarn through it.

Be careful not to hurt yourself when making the hole.

Tie a knot at the end of the yarn so it won’t slip out, and secure it to the outside bottom with cloth tape.

Tie a knot in the other end of the yarn as well, place it between two plastic bottle caps facing each other, and fasten them together with cloth tape.

That’s all it takes to complete the main body! After that, customize it with stickers or markers in any design you like.

It’s great because even kids who struggle with a real kendama can have fun and play together!

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hiyori

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Making a scarf with paper cups and disposable chopsticks

[Ages 5 and up] Make a scarf with a paper cup and chopsticks

Easy even without knitting needles! Let’s knit a scarf using a paper cup and chopsticks.

First, cut the chopsticks to a suitable length, then cut out the bottom of the paper cup.

Attach five chopsticks evenly around the outside of the cup so that they stick out 2–3 cm above the rim.

Tape the end of the yarn to the inside of the cup, and loop the yarn around the chopsticks alternately front and back to form a star shape.

Once the star is formed, start knitting by passing the yarn that’s already on the chopsticks from bottom to top.

When you reach your desired length, cut the yarn, thread the end under the five loops on the chopsticks, and remove it from the chopsticks to finish!

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sasashina

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Paper cup cracker

[Paper Cup Craft] How to Make a Party Popper

Party poppers are a must-have at celebrations—the loud pop and the confetti bursting into the air really bring the fun.

This project shows how to make a popper that bursts confetti using a paper cup.

First, make a hole in the bottom of the paper cup and insert a rubber band that’s been tied to a toothpick, anchoring it to the bottom and securing it with tape so it catches firmly.

Wrap one end of the rubber band with folded aluminum foil to create a piece that can strike the bottom of the cup—this completes the base.

Next, put confetti or finely cut pieces of straw inside.

When you pull and release the rubber band to deliver an impact, the contents shoot out like a party popper.

As you build it, experiment to see how the confetti scatters and rises.

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kappamaki

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paper cup trumpet

[Instrument Craft] Paper Cup Trumpet (A Trumpet Like a String Telephone) [Easy Craft] Handmade Toy with Chopsticks

This is a craft using a paper cup that can produce a trumpet-like sound when you pull the string sharply.

First, make a hole in the bottom of the paper cup, thread a string through it, and secure it with a short, folded toothpick so the string doesn’t slip out.

Then, when you pull the string vigorously, the impact on the string is transmitted to the paper cup, creating a trumpet-like sound.

You can pull the string with your hand, but using chopsticks is also recommended—try it out and see how the sound changes.

Since just building the mechanism can look simple, it’s also important to add your own decorations to the paper cup.

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kappamaki

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