For summer vacation homework! Simple and amazing crafts for elementary school students that you’ll want to make after seeing them
A fun summer vacation homework project for kids: crafts! But as children move into the upper grades, they can run out of ideas and worry about making something that doesn’t end up being the same as their friends’.
So here, we’re introducing craft ideas recommended for elementary school students from lower to upper grades.
Many use materials you already have at home or can buy at a 100-yen shop, so they’re easy to try.
The ideas are designed to help kids discover their own unique projects and express their creativity.
Use these as a reference and make some wonderful summer vacation memories!
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[For summer vacation homework!] Easy and amazing crafts for elementary school kids that will make you want to create (21–30)
Water You Can Grab
This is a curious craft that lets you grab “transparent water” with your hand.
It uses Chica Balloons, which are normally attached to the end of a straw and inflated to make a balloon.
Prepare a 5-yen or 50-yen coin, then attach the Chica Balloon to the hole in the center.
Hold it away from the faucet as much as possible and run water over it.
After a little while, you’ll have a balloon with a squishy, bouncy feel.
By taking advantage of the properties of a transparent balloon, it creates the fascinating sensation of holding water in your hand—perfect for a summer vacation project.
Aluminum foil art
This is an easy craft that lets you make your own artwork by making your drawings and pictures shine.
All you need are cardboard, aluminum foil, jute twine, and a permanent marker.
Draw a design on the cardboard and glue the jute twine along the lines.
Then tightly cover it with aluminum foil and add color—simple as that.
The steps are very easy, so even small children can do it, which makes it a craft where the key is to be creative with your design.
Perfect for Summer Break Homework! Simple and Awesome Crafts for Elementary Schoolers That Make You Want to Create (31–40)
A wind chime made of thread
Let’s make a wind chime using water balloons and lace thread! It’s perfect for a summer craft, so give it a try.
Inflate a balloon to your preferred size and tie the mouth twice—that’s the key.
Next, wrap thread all around the balloon.
If you don’t have lace thread, embroidery floss works as a substitute.
Then brush wood glue onto the thread so it soaks in, let it dry, and pop the balloon.
Finally, trim off any excess to form the bell shape of the wind chime, thread a string through, and attach a paper strip, and you’re done! It takes a bit of effort, but you’ll end up with a unique wind chime full of originality.
64-shot cardboard chopstick rubber band gun
A must-see for anyone who wants to push the limits of rubber band gun rapid fire! With this cardboard-based gun, you can fire an incredible 64 shots in a row! All you need is cardboard, a plastic bottle, chopsticks, rubber bands, kite string, plus a motor, batteries, and vinyl wire.
It’s a proper build with a built-in motor, so the difficulty is high—but that just makes the satisfaction of completing it even greater! Perfect for a summer vacation project or a stay-at-home activity during a long break—give it a try when you have time to take it slow.
Just be prepared: picking up all the rubber bands after 64 shots might be a bit of a challenge…
Jiggly Soap
Here’s a cute hand soap idea you can make easily with just a few steps.
Dissolve gelatin in hot water, then mix in liquid hand soap, stirring slowly to avoid creating foam.
Add your preferred food coloring, stir again, and pour the mixture into silicone molds.
You can also combine it with a clear solution to create gradient-colored hand soap.
Once the liquid cools and sets, you’ll have a jiggly, fun-to-touch soap.
You can customize it by changing the mold shapes—like animals or sweets—and the food coloring.
It’s a practical item that can be used as hand soap even after you finish making it as a summer vacation project.
Conveyor Piggy Bank
Here’s an idea for a conveyor-belt piggy bank that carries and saves your money.
Since it involves using a craft knife and an awl, it’s a project suited for upper elementary grades.
Materials: a milk carton, wooden chopsticks, bamboo skewers, plastic bottle caps, a toilet paper tube, straws, a mat, thick paperboard, and copier paper.
The main body is made from the milk carton, the belt from A4 paper, and the axles are constructed by combining the other materials.
When you turn the handle, the conveyor moves, and any coins placed on the belt drop into the milk carton—simple as that.
If you want to make a fun piggy bank, give it a try.
Sparkling Kaleidoscope
This is a kaleidoscope that lets you enjoy the shimmering movement of beads.
You can use your favorite beads and origami paper, so kids can have fun trying this craft, too.
Cut a hard card case into rectangles or triangles, cut out the kaleidoscope parts, and secure them with tape.
Put beads into the small triangular section and attach a lid.
After cutting black construction paper and a milk carton to the size of the kaleidoscope, make a hole where you’ll look through and tape it in place.
Decorate the outside of the milk carton with patterned origami or tissue paper, and your original kaleidoscope is complete.