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[For Upper Elementary Students] Simple but Awesome! A Collection of Summer Vacation Craft Ideas
Summer vacation crafts—especially for older elementary students—can feel like a dilemma: “Simple projects aren’t satisfying,” but “overly difficult ones are a problem,” too, right? The truth is, by getting creative with materials and tools, you can make projects that look and function like the real deal.
Here, we’re sharing craft ideas—like coin banks, motor-based projects, and food replicas—that will make your friends say, “Wow!” They’re simple to build, yet fun to use even after they’re finished.
Use these as inspiration and add your own twists to create an original masterpiece!
[For Upper Elementary Students] Simple but Awesome! Summer Vacation Craft Ideas (1–10)
gachapon
Turn the handle and wait excitedly to see what comes out—gachagacha (capsule toys).
Gachagacha are something people of all ages can enjoy, aren’t they? Let’s try making a realistic gachagacha machine out of cardboard.
Cutting the cardboard with a craft knife and figuring out how to assemble it will likely get kids totally absorbed in the project.
The gachagacha they work so hard to create is sure to become a memorable moment of their summer vacation.
Your friends might even be surprised when they see your work.
Even after making it, you can keep enjoying the gachagacha—have a wonderful time!
Well-spinning paper cup top
This is a spinning top made with a paper cup that spins well and is fun to watch because of its colorful look.
All you need are a paper cup and two plastic bottle caps.
First, cut slits into the paper cup and spread them out like propeller blades, then attach an axle made by combining the two caps.
That’s enough to complete the basic shape, but it’s recommended to decorate the “propellers” with an eye toward how it will look while spinning.
The impression changes depending on whether you spread the propellers before decorating or decorate first and then cut the slits, so try out various patterns.
Paper cup Tyrannosaurus
This activity involves combining paper cups to create a three-dimensional, dynamic Tyrannosaurus.
The key is how you connect the cups: by trimming the edges and adding slits, you can set firm angles.
Build it by linking the cups from the head to the tail, then attach separately made legs and arms at the end to finish.
Try different variations, such as using cups of the same color for a cohesive look or mixing different colors for a colorful effect.
Squeeze
Squeezes that you can easily make at home add a little comfort to everyday life.
With store-bought sponges, acrylic paint, and some glue, anyone can easily create their own original squishies.
Without much effort, you’ll end up with an adorably cute squishy that brings a smile the moment you hold it, helping nurture creativity through crafting.
With easily accessible materials and simple steps, why not try making one and experience the joy of having a small, pleasantly tactile item in your hands?
A flying octopus? Tako-copter
It’s a toy that combines paper cups and a round chopstick to spin like a bamboo-copter and soar into the sky.
By spreading “wings” that catch the wind and coloring it mainly red, it takes on a curious form—a flying octopus.
You’ll use two paper cups and a round chopstick: attach the chopstick and the octopus’s facial parts to a paper cup with only the bottom left to create a launcher.
Then cut slits into the other paper cup, spread it out to form propeller-like blades, and attach it to the launcher to finish.
Fine-tune the propeller angles to make your octopus fly even higher.
food sample
Many adults enjoy making food replicas as a hobby! If you make them at home with family or friends during summer vacation, you’re sure to get hooked by how fun it is.
Food replicas can seem tricky because of handling wax or inks, but you can use gel candles from a 100-yen shop: remove the candle from its container, melt it, pour it back into the container with parts that look like ice, and chill it—before you know it, you’ve got a drink-themed food replica.
Float “ice cream” made from silicone adhesive on top to make a cream soda, too! Give it a try.
Simple salt sand art
https://www.tiktok.com/@watako.hoiku/video/7518559229125364999This is about layering different colors of salt in a glass to create a picture-like, beautiful look.
Start by making colors that match what you want to create: mix paint into the salt to prepare it.
Once your colored salt is ready, simply layer it into the glass.
It’s best to pay attention to the boundaries between colors and avoid overmixing.
After filling the glass, press the layers to compact them—you can aim for more complex shapes this way.
Try various patterns to see what you can achieve.
snow globe
A classic craft idea! Let’s make a snow globe.
This is a super easy idea that older elementary kids can make on their own! You’ll need a jar with a lid, a sponge, small items to put inside the snow globe, glitter, liquid laundry starch (or laundry glue), and water.
Cut the sponge into a circle and attach it to the inside of the lid, then glue the small items onto the sponge.
Put glitter in the jar, then add the laundry starch and water at a 1:1 ratio and mix.
Finally, screw on the lid and you’re done! You can also tie a ribbon around it to make it extra cute.
Making a marble run with an ice box
https://www.tiktok.com/@silk_haru3mama/video/7396983174892375297Summer is the season that makes you crave ice cream, and as you eat it, you might find the boxes piling up.
This idea uses those leftover ice cream boxes to make a marble run.
Use a large box, like a milk carton, as the base, and attach slopes made by cutting the ice cream boxes around it.
Adjust the angles and heights carefully, keeping in mind the strength needed so it won’t break when the marbles hit.
Using ice cream sticks to reinforce it is also recommended—they’ll make the whole thing sturdier and give it a cohesive look.
cardboard safe
Introducing a cardboard safe that won’t open unless you insert a card! The materials are wooden boards, thick paper, bamboo skewers, and so on.
If you don’t have thick paper, cardboard will work as a substitute.
You’ll also need scissors or a utility knife to cut the thick paper, wood glue to attach the wooden boards and thick paper, and a saw to shape the wooden boards as needed.
The safe itself is just a regular box, but the key part is the card-insertion mechanism on top.
It uses a lever principle for the trick.
Since it requires precise planning, it’s recommended for upper elementary school students.
It’s hard to finish in a single day, but the sense of accomplishment when you complete it is guaranteed! Give it a try!