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

Infinite Marble Run

Infinite Marble Run

Here’s a perfect boredom-buster for kids: a marble run that rolls endlessly.

You’ll need two stiff, deep paper plates and two paper cups.

First, cut a hole in the center of each plate to make a donut shape.

Next, make a single slit on each plate, then interlock the two plates so they form a figure eight.

When assembling, a hot glue gun is recommended over glue or paste.

Finally, insert the paper cups into the holes you cut in the plates, and you’re done! The marble will whirl around the figure-eight track so kids can enjoy it for ages.

To make it more challenging, try playing with the paper cups removed.

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SAKI

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Let’s make gemstone soap

Gem Soap 💎 How to Make ✨ DIY ✨ Easy Handmade ✨ How to make a gem soap ✨ Great for independent research/projects too ✨ Sumomomo-dot-com!

Girls are often drawn to things that sparkle like gemstones, aren’t they? Let’s make soap that looks just like jewels.

It’s perfect for a summer vacation craft project, and it would make a delightful gift too.

Put glycerin and colored soap for tinting into a paper cup, melt it in the microwave, let it harden as is, then cut the corners to resemble a gemstone—and you’re done! You can also enjoy various customizations, like mixing several colors, shaping it to look like a raw crystal, or using silicone molds to make lots of identical pieces.

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miyabi

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Automatic Sorting Piggy Bank

[Experiment] I tried making a cardboard piggy bank that automatically sorts money! [Craft]

Piggy banks are also popular for elementary school summer crafts.

There are all kinds of ideas, from eye-catching ones where you make your favorite anime character out of paper clay, to material-focused ones made with toothpicks or plastic bottles.

So why not try making an “automatic sorting piggy bank” that’s sure to draw attention? It’s a clever piggy bank that automatically sorts and saves coins like 10-yen and 500-yen pieces—and the amazing part is that it’s made only from cardboard, which feels a bit mysterious.

The secret is holes cut to the exact size of each coin; as the coins pass through, they get sorted automatically! Be careful when using cutters or knives during the build.

Straw Omikuji

[Craft] Straw Omikuji (Part 1) _ Akibako Factory 27

Lotte’s Koala’s March is delicious, isn’t it? The simple chocolate flavor is great, but the limited seasonal flavors are also intriguing.

If you have an empty Koala’s March box, you can make a “straw omikuji” fortune-drawing game.

All you need are decorative paper and straws.

First, make a hole in the top of the empty Koala’s March box large enough for a straw to fit through.

This will be the opening where the fortunes come out.

After making the hole, tape the box closed.

Next, attach the decorative paper—any color you like is fine.

If you have wood-grain printed paper, it might make it feel even more like a traditional omikuji box.

Cut straws to a suitable length and write characters like “Daikichi” (Great Luck) or “Kyo” (Bad Luck) on the ends, then put them into the Koala’s March box and you’re done.

As long as a parent helps with making the hole, even a third-grader should be able to make it.

It takes about 2–3 hours, so it’s great for people short on time!

gachapon

Making a capsule toy machine with a milk carton

A gashapon machine that dispenses capsules filled with various items when you turn the lever—part of the fun is not only seeing what comes out, but also turning the lever itself.

How about making a gashapon machine packed with that kind of fun? The materials you’ll need are two milk cartons, one toilet paper roll, and some construction paper or similar materials for decoration.

You’ll assemble the main body by combining milk cartons that have been cut and had holes made for the base, and a processed milk carton and toilet paper roll for the mechanism.

It’s a simple craft, but because it involves measuring lengths precisely and using scissors and a utility knife, younger elementary school children will likely need help from a parent.

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kappamaki

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Ping-Pong Basketball

[Craft] Ping-Pong Basketball_Akibako Factory 38

This is a craft project to make a toy that lets you shoot baskets with a ping-pong ball.

The materials you need include a ping-pong ball, a plastic cup, and wire.

You can get everything at a 100-yen shop, so it’s inexpensive to make.

The mechanism is simple, so you can finish it in half a day, and it’s recommended even for lower-elementary school children.

Once it’s done, try enjoying a free-throw showdown with your new toy!

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Saitō Ayumu

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Ocean diorama

[Elementary School Grade 2 Summer Craft] All 100-Yen Shop Materials! Palm-Sized ♪ How to Make an Ocean Diorama

As a summer interior decoration, why not make a soothing ocean diorama featuring cute miniatures? Once you’ve prepared a jar large enough to serve as the base of the diorama, spread paper clay mixed with paint to resemble a sandy beach and sprinkle sand on top.

Here, the key is to shape the clay with a slope so you leave room on the lower side for the sea.

Create the water by pouring clear resin over pastel shavings grated with a tea strainer, and use white paint mixed with clear resin to depict the waves.

Finally, craft a watermelon and a rabbit from colored resin clay, arrange them with moss and stone motifs, and you’re done.

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mutō

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