Fun crafts using straws
We’ve put together a collection of craft ideas using straws that are perfect for elementary school kids.
In crafts, straws often seem to play a supporting role, don’t they?
But in fact, by taking advantage of their round, slender shape, you can make just about anything— from everyday toys to stylish, cute items—depending on your ideas.
For elementary schoolers, straw crafts are sure to shine as summer vacation homework, and they’re also great for everyday parent-child fun!
Take this opportunity to enjoy making crafts with straws!
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Fun crafts using straws (1–10)
spinning top
How about making a spinning top that twirls using two paper plates and a straw? First, decorate one paper plate with pens or stickers.
Using bright colors or adding a spiral pattern will make it look beautiful when it spins.
After decorating, cut a straight slit in the other paper plate from the rim toward the center.
Then bend the plate and shape it into a cone, and secure it with tape.
Next, place the decorated plate on top like a lid and attach it to the cone-shaped plate.
Finally, attach a straw with a slit cut into its center to the middle of the plates, and you’re done.
Hold the straw and give it a strong spin—the top will twirl smoothly.
Once you’ve made it, spin it a lot and have fun!
straw airplane
Here’s how to make a straw airplane using a straw and construction paper.
Many households probably have these on hand, so you can make one right away! It’s very simple: prepare two long, narrow strips of construction paper in different lengths, form each into a ring, and attach them to the front and back of the straw.
Any type of straw is fine, but if you’re using a bendy straw, cut off the flexible section.
Changing the length or thickness of the straw will affect how it flies, so try making several and see which one flies best—or discover ones that fly in interesting ways!
Kaleidoscope of Flowers
Would you like to try making a flower kaleidoscope with beautiful, intricate movements? Despite its complexity, it’s actually very easy to make.
The main materials are thin curling ribbon, bamboo skewers, straws, and round stickers—all available at 100-yen shops.
Stick ribbons cut to equal lengths onto the round stickers, thread them onto a bamboo skewer, secure the tip with a bead or similar, then slide a straw over it—and you’re done.
By moving the straw up and down or side to side, you’ll get a variety of expressions.
Using multicolored ribbons makes it especially pretty when you spin it.
Fun Crafts Using Straws (11–20)
omikuji (a Japanese fortune slip typically drawn at Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples)
Here’s a perfect straw craft for the New Year season! Using a tube-shaped empty box and some straws, let’s make a shake-and-reveal “omikuji” fortune teller.
You can have fun customizing the box design and the fortunes like “Great Blessing” or “Good Luck.” It could also be fun to stuff small slips with the fortune results inside the straws!
bracelet
Here’s a truly surprising idea: the “straw bracelet”! The amazing part is that you use a pencil sharpener to shape the straw.
Shave the straw with a pencil sharpener and it instantly turns into a bracelet-like ring! Give it a try and make some cute, colorful bracelets!
flute
Amazingly, you can even make an instrument whose pitch changes just by cutting a straw! As with wind instruments, it all comes down to the length of the tube—and a straw can serve as that tube.
It’s a craft that lets you learn how sound is produced, and once it’s finished, you’ll have a wonderful toy that lets you enjoy music in a fun way!
straw dragonfly
This is a handmade bamboo-copter (taketombo) made from a milk carton.
Cut the milk carton into strips and draw patterns on them with a pen.
Adding bright colors makes it look beautiful when it spins! Next, make a slit in a straw that will be the handle, and insert a milk carton piece folded in half.
Staple the inserted part securely, then fold the milk carton diagonally and spread the two sides to finish.
To make it spin well, put some tape on the tips of the milk carton to add a little weight—this is the key! Since it’s made from a soft milk carton, it’s safe to play with indoors.
