Recommended for elementary school students! Science fair topics & craft ideas

Milk carton washi (Japanese handmade paper recycled from milk cartons)

[Basic Edition] Let’s Make It with a Milk Carton: Handmade Papermaking Postcards

The word “ecology” has really blended into our everyday lives, hasn’t it? So, let’s try making postcards out of recycled paper using milk cartons.

First, we’ll make the recycled paper.

Three milk cartons will yield about 7–8 postcards.

Soak the scored milk cartons in water for about three days, then boil them well and peel off the plastic film.

Tear the cartons into small pieces and blend them in a mixer.

That completes the pulp for the recycled paper.

Next, pour it into a postcard-sized screen mold and couch the paper.

There are organizations that lend papermaking frames and screen molds, so try searching online.

Since you’ll be using a mixer and working with heat, don’t make this alone—be sure to do it together with an older sibling or an adult.

homemade motor

Homemade motor: I tried making a homopolar motor. Making of Homopolar Motor

How about trying to make a homopolar motor yourself? Its strange motion will entertain anyone watching.

All you need are an AA battery, a neodymium magnet, and some copper wire.

Place the battery on top of the magnet, then position a piece of conductive wire so that it loops around.

Strangely enough, the copper wire will start spinning.

Using two wires or bending them into complex shapes makes it even more fun.

With a bit of creativity—like setting up many of them side by side—you can turn it into a unique art piece.

By the way, the copper wire can get hot, so be careful when touching it.

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yamamoto

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Let’s try playing Chopin

Let's try playing No. 421: 'Waltz of the Little Dog' — Chopin Minute Waltz

Dive into the world of classical music—a realm we don’t often encounter in everyday life—during the free time of summer vacation.

That challenge will surely make your break meaningful.

Simply taking on the challenge of entering a new world has value in itself, so why not throw yourself into it without worrying about the outcome?

Prefectural and municipal emblems

I did a prefectural emblem quiz.

Each prefecture and municipality has its own unique emblem, often called a prefectural symbol or similar.

These symbols blend surprisingly well into everyday scenery, so you might not notice them unless you make a point of looking.

It could be interesting to look up the emblems of nearby areas as well.

Let’s look up the prices of vegetables.

Vegetable prices soar due to bad weather and lack of sunlight—some nearly double.

It’s a bit of work, but let’s go to the local supermarket every day and check the prices of vegetables.

In fact, the prices aren’t the same every day.

Mothers out there make meals while battling prices that change daily.

And why do vegetable prices change? Let’s keep clippings of the weather maps from the newspaper and compare them.

Disposable Chopstick Ferris Wheel

[Disposable Chopstick Craft] How to Make a Spinning Ferris Wheel [Summer Vacation Craft] [Elementary School Craft] [Winter Vacation Craft]

A Ferris wheel that truly stands out, even in an amusement park.

How about making a working Ferris wheel that actually spins using wooden chopsticks? It’s a perfect idea for winter or summer break crafts and independent projects! First, start by making the central axle of the Ferris wheel, then move on to the wheel-shaped frame and the gondolas.

Chopsticks can be easily cut with scissors, so you can freely adjust their length—that’s a key point.

Feel free to change the length of each part as you like! If you have time, adding color could make it an even more beautiful piece.

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miyabi

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Experiment on the action of flowing water

Kimie Gangi, 5th Grade Science: “The Work of Flowing Water and Its Relationship to Water Volume” — Experiment Methods and Results #EducationalContent

In fifth grade, I think you also learn in class about the work of flowing water, such as erosion, transportation, and deposition.

Let’s actually observe these processes through an experiment.

For the method, build a slope out of collected soil, make a channel for water, and run water through it.

Try observing how erosion, transportation, and deposition actually appear, whether these processes change depending on the amount of water, and whether the way they appear differs between a straight channel and a curved one.

Test various conditions and summarize your findings in a report.

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Hane Keisuke

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