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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Crafts to learn how things work (11–20)
PET bottle filtration device
These days there are many materials and teaching resources for elementary school students about natural disasters like heavy rain, earthquakes, and volcanoes, as well as fires.
In Japan, disasters are so common that they draw a lot of attention, and you may actually experience one.
So let’s make a plastic-bottle water filter that can serve as useful knowledge in an emergency.
Besides a plastic bottle, you’ll need activated charcoal, small stones, and cloth or gauze.
Poke several holes in the bottle cap and cut off the bottom of the bottle.
With the cap tightened and the mouth facing down, layer the materials in this order: gauze, small stones, activated charcoal, small stones, gauze.
When drinking, filter the cloudy water several times and be sure to boil it afterward.
Three-dimensional artwork made with aluminum foil
Here’s an idea for creating your own three-dimensional artwork using shiny aluminum foil.
Cut the foil to your preferred lengths, then crumple and compress it firmly into shape.
If you’re making a dragon, it helps to form separate parts—such as the body, tail, and horns—and refine each piece as you go.
Once all the parts are ready, check the balance and assemble them, securing everything firmly with glue or tape.
Finally, paint it in your favorite colors to complete a realistic, dynamic dragon.
The finished piece reflects light and has a strong presence, making it an eye-catching decorative item.
It’s a craft that lets you enjoy changing shapes freely and imagining a story as you create.
Let’s make it in 3D! The human body
Why not try making a three-dimensional human figure? Some people may not have given much thought to the body’s balance and structure.
For this 3D human figure, first make sketches: draw the human body from various angles in a sketchbook.
Based on those drawings, create an armature with wire.
Once it’s done, fix the armature to a base and build up the form with paper clay.
Next, paint it with acrylics.
It’s best to hold the base and paint from various angles.
Be sure to separate and paint the finer details carefully.
Three-dimensional sculpture made with wire and aluminum foil
Let’s make the most of pliers! Here are some ideas for creating three-dimensional artworks using wire and aluminum foil.
By the upper grades, you can use a variety of materials and tools properly and safely, right? This time, let’s try a 3D sculpture by arranging wire and aluminum foil with pliers.
It’s recommended to decide on a theme before you start, but it can also be fun to expand your ideas by comparing accidental shapes with the images in your mind.
If you insert the pieces into styrofoam, they’ll be easier to display!
Camera craft
Let’s try making a camera using a milk carton.
A camera is handy for taking photos and preserving memories.
It’s a simple version, but you can make it yourself.
You’ll use a milk carton, a plastic bag, a magnifying glass to act as a lens, and black construction paper.
First, cut off the top and bottom of the milk carton.
On one end, fold the edges inward about 1 cm on all four sides, then cover it with a cut piece of plastic bag and secure it.
Next, make a tube out of black construction paper that’s just a little larger than the milk carton, and fold in the edges on one end in the same way.
Fix the magnifying glass there, and then insert the milk carton you prepared earlier into the inside of the tube to finish.
Take it outside and experiment to see how it looks!
water gun
In summer, some families set up a vinyl pool at home for water play.
Here’s a recommended water gun that’s perfect for that.
You can make it easily with materials like empty plastic bottles and items from a 100-yen shop or a home improvement store.
Make holes in the bottle or cap to pass a tube through, and attach a small air pump.
With the pump attached, you’ll have a water gun that uses air pressure.
You can enjoy games where you aim at people, but target games are great too.
Cut toilet paper to a suitable length, attach some candy, and hang it up—then use the water gun to knock it down.
The key is to use toilet paper that dissolves easily in water.
Crafts to learn how things work (21–30)
A turtle that runs on rubber power!
Moving toys are appealing no matter how old you are, and they’re especially popular with lower-grade elementary school kids.
This is a paper cup turtle craft that zooms forward using rubber-band power hidden in its shell.
First, cut slits halfway down a paper cup and fold them in to make the legs.
The remaining part becomes the body.
For the face, stick round stickers on as eyes to make it cute.
Take a used AA battery, wrap a rubber band around it, attach kite string with cellophane tape, and set the mechanism inside the turtle’s shell.
Even though it’s a turtle, it moves surprisingly fast and with big motions—so much fun!
