For upper-grade boys! Simple yet awesome craft project [Don’t call it lazy]
I want to make something for my summer break craft project that makes people say “Wow!” but I’d like to avoid anything too difficult.
Great news for upper-elementary school boys! In this article, we introduce intriguing craft projects with clever mechanisms you can build using everyday materials.
Even creations that look complex—like a fountain where water seems to flow upward or a spinning top that floats in midair—are actually surprisingly easy to make.
Once you finish, you can submit your project with an explanation of how it works and use it as a science project, too.
Go ahead and try these fun crafts that apply principles of physics!
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Easy-to-make moving toy crafts (11–20)
smart ball
Smart Ball is a playful craft that lets you build your very own game while getting excited about the motion of a rolling marble.
Cut lumber to fit a perforated board to create a frame.
Add an incline beneath the board so the marble rolls more easily.
For the launcher, use nails and rubber bands to make a pull-and-release mechanism that shoots the marble.
Attach a plastic sheet on top of the board to enhance the sound and feel as the marble rolls.
Place small pegs called dowels to add unpredictability to the marble’s path.
With creative targets and decorations, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind original Smart Ball game.
It’s a fun way to nurture creativity and observation skills as you play.
Cardboard garbage collection truck
Let me introduce cardboard garbage collection trucks.
There are different types of garbage trucks, and their movements and installed parts vary.
All of the trucks being introduced are made using cardboard.
By paying attention to details—such as changing the shape of the emergency stop switch section, recreating the tail lamps with plastic sheets, and writing the manufacturer’s name—you can complete a garbage truck that looks just like the real thing.
Understanding the movements and features of each type of garbage truck also makes it easier to imagine the materials you’ll need to prepare.
Be sure to try making a garbage truck in your own style.
Running Robot
An exciting craft! Let me share an idea for a running robot.
Some of you might want to do a craft project but can’t think of a good idea, right? This time, let’s make a running robot that uses a windshield wiper mechanism.
You’ll need a rectangular plastic bottle, bamboo skewers, straws, thick paper, cardboard, plastic bottle caps, rubber bands, and so on.
It’s a great idea that lets you learn how a wiper mechanism works through crafting! Give it a try!
yo-yo
Let’s try making a handmade yo-yo using plastic bottle caps you have at home.
You’ll need four caps, a screw about 2 cm long, some modeling clay, and a braided cord.
First, make a hole in the center of two caps.
Place the flat sides facing each other and connect them with the screw.
Leave a small gap between the flat sides and wind the string around the screw in that gap.
Next, pack modeling clay into the hollow side of the cap where the screw sticks out, then cover the clay with the remaining caps and secure them with tape.
Your mini-sized yo-yo is complete!
handheld vacuum cleaner
Let’s try making a DIY handheld vacuum cleaner that uses a plastic bottle! The materials include a plastic bottle, a motor, corrugated plastic board, thick paper/cardboard, an insert cup holder, soundproofing tape, and more.
Place the motor, corrugated plastic, and fan-shaped cutouts of thick paper inside the cup holder to create the suction mechanism, then combine it with a plastic bottle with the bottom cut off.
Finally, connect the motor wires to a battery box, insert the batteries, and you’re done.
Try testing its suction power by picking up things like eraser shavings and paper scraps!
Handmade handheld fan
Let’s handcraft a handy fan whose propeller spins vigorously when you pull a string! The materials are toilet paper rolls and thick paper, kite string, a straw, ice cream sticks, a bamboo skewer, and beads.
Combine two ice cream sticks with a bamboo skewer to create the base of the propeller, then attach it—together with a circular piece cut from thick paper—to a pillar made by joining two toilet paper rolls.
Next, tie the kite string to the bamboo skewer and add the straw and beads, then attach cellophane cut into a fan shape to the ice cream stick section to finish.
Practical craft ideas made with everyday materials (1–10)
drink bar
Wouldn’t you want to show off to your friends if you had one of those drink bars you often see at family restaurants right at home? Let’s make a simple yet stylish and cool drink bar! It’s also highly recommended as a summer vacation craft project, so give it a try with your child and have fun together.
By drilling a hole in a plastic bottle cap with a screwdriver and attaching a valve, you can twist the valve to dispense the drink just like a real drink bar.
The main body is made of cardboard, so kids can easily assemble it too! It would be great to customize the design to your liking, wouldn’t it?
