Recommended for elementary school students! Science fair topics & craft ideas
Speaking of summer vacation, choosing a topic for the independent research project can often be tough.
Science experiments and crafts are both fun! If your child is good at crafts, we recommend crafts because they can enjoy the process as they go.
When they get absorbed in it, they might even finish in just a few days.
Here, we’ll introduce a variety of ideas for independent research and crafts! If you’re struggling to pick a theme, please use these as a reference.
To create fun summer memories, make a one-of-a-kind project of your own!
- For summer vacation homework! Simple and amazing crafts for elementary school students that you’ll want to make after seeing them
- Simple yet amazing crafts: craft ideas that elementary school students will want to make
- Elementary School Students: Simple One-Day Science Project and Craft Ideas
- DIY science projects that elementary school boys will love: ideas you can make with everyday materials
- [For Upper Elementary Students] Simple but Awesome! A Collection of Summer Vacation Craft Ideas
- For upper-grade boys! Simple yet awesome craft project [Don’t call it lazy]
- Fun crafts using straws
- Recommended for lower elementary school students! A collection of plastic bottle craft ideas made with everyday materials.
- Simple and cute summer project crafts! A collection of ideas for girls that will make you want to create
- [Middle School Students] Easy One-Day Science Projects and Crafts Ideas
- Toys you can make from cardboard crafts! Authentic ideas you can build and play with
- Simple but awesome! Craft ideas for upper-grade girls
- Crafts parents and kids can enjoy together. Recommended craft ideas to keep children entertained.
For upper grades (51–60)
cool pen holder
Let me introduce a very handy and stylish pen holder.
Prepare a wooden box, wooden boards, an interior mesh frame, paint, a brush, glue, and sandpaper, and let’s get started.
Cut the wooden boards, paint them, and glue them together.
Glue on the interior mesh frame as well.
Once it’s dry, it’s complete.
This pen holder makes the contents easy to see and offers great ventilation—give it a try! Adding illustrations or decorations to give it a personal touch will make it even more wonderful.
Original handmade watch
When you go to a 100-yen shop or a handmade goods store, you can find just the clock movement for sale.
Let’s use that to make your own original clock! For the base of the clock, use a photo frame or a plastic plate.
Once you decide where to fix the movement, drill a hole.
Tighten the nut to secure the movement, and then decorate it to your liking.
Paint it, attach parts, or add glitter to make it sparkle—depending on your ideas, you’ll end up with a clock full of originality!
Candy Magnet
Let’s make a magnet that looks like a candy with twisted ends.
The materials and steps are very simple, so it’s highly recommended.
First, prepare strong magnets from a 100-yen shop, a plastic bottle cap, and a fabric scrap with a pattern you like.
Start by gluing the magnet to the back of the bottle cap.
Next, cut the fabric scrap to 14 cm by 10 cm, then fold back and glue three sides, leaving just one of the short sides unfolded.
Once the glue is dry, wrap the bottle cap with the fabric and secure it with glue.
Finally, to create the candy shape, gather and stitch the fabric at both ends with thread.
You’re done! Try making lots in different colors and patterns.
gel candle
At 100-yen shops, you can find a product called gel candles, and with them you can easily make homemade candles.
Gel candles are easy to handle, and you can even pour two different colors one on top of the other to create a two-layer candle.
The way the colors blend slightly between the layers also gives it a lovely look.
Plus, by placing items you like—such as colored sand, seashells, or dried flowers—into the glass before pouring in the gel candle, you can create a more stylish and original piece.
Give it a try and make one with your own sense of style.
For upper grades (61–70)
Original T-shirts made with stencil printing
How about making your own T-shirt over summer vacation? We’ll use a technique called stenciling to create an original T-shirt.
You place a cutout of letters or illustrations on the fabric and paint over it with ink or other pigments.
Since you’ll wear the T-shirt, you’ll likely wash it too.
When stenciling on T-shirts or fabric, be sure to use fabric ink that won’t wash out.
While this can be a summer vacation homework project, it can also become a fun summer memory.
You might even make matching T-shirts for the whole family.
There are stencil T-shirt kits available online, so why not give them a try?
Stone painting
During summer vacation, there are times when you go out with your family to rivers or mountains, right? When you do, why not try picking up stones and making art with them? Of course, stones you’ve collected from around your neighborhood are fine, too.
First, paint the stones you’ve prepared with white acrylic paint.
This small extra step will help your work turn out beautifully.
Then, use acrylic paints to create animals, plants, and more by adding color.
If you also use items like pipe cleaners or empty cans, you can make pieces that look very realistic.
Please use this as a reference and give it a try!
Let’s make a cardboard pochette
Here’s an introduction to making a pochette using cardboard.
Do you have cardboard boxes at home from parcel deliveries or from purchases at the supermarket? If you have some on hand, you can make a pochette simply by cutting it into shape, folding it, and assembling it.
Cardboard has lines where the inside is hollow.
The key is to keep those lines in mind when you cut.
If you want to create curves in your cardboard parts, cut across those lines.
Doing so will expand your creative possibilities.
Designing the pochette itself is sure to be an enjoyable time, too.