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!
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- [For Upper Elementary Students] Simple but Awesome! A Collection of Summer Vacation Craft Ideas
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- 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 (181–190)
The World of Masks
Why not make a free-form mask and transform into a different persona? It would be so much fun to express your emotions—fear, joy, and more—by turning them into a mask.
First, punch holes where the eyes go in a sheet of colored construction paper in your favorite color.
It’s also fine to have no holes at all, and to use any shapes you like.
Then freely cut out facial features, fangs, horns, and more from origami paper, and attach them with cellophane tape.
Finally, draw patterns with a felt-tip pen to finish.
It sounds really fun to express your transformed self with a mask, doesn’t it?
Handmade toy from an empty snack box
Make it with an empty snack box! Here’s how to create a pom‑pom shooting game! First, prepare an empty box that once held something like Choco Pie.
Reinforce the back by attaching a wooden stick so the lid can stay open.
Next, glue wooden sticks to the top and bottom of a wooden clip and wrap a rubber band around it.
Attach a plastic bottle cap to one end, and fix the other end to the back of the box.
Finally, stick a few small paper cups inside the box wherever you like, and you’re done.
Set a cotton ball in the bottle cap and launch it with a pop—have fun playing!
Original watch
Why not try making a one-of-a-kind original clock using a DIY clock kit? First, draw diagonal lines on a canvas board and drill a hole where the lines intersect to attach the movement.
Sketch a few ideas, then paint your design with acrylic gouache based on those sketches.
To make the numbers stand out, you can create them with paper clay.
If you prepare a template that divides a circle into 12 equal parts, it will be easier to decide the placement of the numbers.
Once you finish painting, attach the movement through the hole you prepared in advance.
Craft paper hat
Let’s try making a hat using materials like kraft paper.
First, crumple the kraft paper into a ball to soften it.
Then wrap it around your head and secure it with tape at just the right size.
Once it’s taped, feel free to adjust the length and shape as you like.
You can tear it by hand or twist it, too.
After you’ve settled on a shape, try decorating it with tissue paper or origami.
When your one-of-a-kind hat is finished, having a fashion show can be lots of fun!
scratch art
Scratch art is an art form where you scrape a black scratch surface with a pointed pen or similar tool to reveal colorful patterns and designs underneath.
One of its charms is how easy it is to enjoy.
Let’s try making scratch art by hand.
First, color a clear plastic file folder with bright colors using permanent markers.
Next, paint over it entirely with black paint.
Once the paint is completely dry, it’s ready.
Use a bamboo skewer to scratch the dried paint and draw any pictures you like!
Let’s make a super ball
Did you know you can make a super ball yourself? You’ll need PVA laundry glue, salt, and food coloring or paint.
First, dissolve 40 g of salt in water and add color, then pour the saltwater into the glue and stir with a chopstick.
You’ll see a gooey mass start to form around the chopstick.
Gather it up and blot the moisture with a paper towel, and you’ll have an easy homemade super ball.
Depending on the batch, some bounce very well and others less so, but try adding your favorite colors and make all kinds of super balls!
Piano de Independent Research
You can usually find at least one piano in schools, whether in the music room or the gym.
Many people also take piano lessons as an extracurricular activity, or have taken them in the past.
Since the piano is a familiar instrument even for high school students, why not use your summer vacation to put together a project about it? Try listing the questions you have about pianos—such as how many keys they have and how they were introduced to Japan.
As you work on your piano research project, you might be surprised by some unexpected facts.
It could be fun to get creative, too, like summarizing your findings on paper shaped like a piano.
