[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-grade boys! Simple yet awesome craft project [Don’t call it lazy]
- Simple but awesome! Craft ideas for upper-grade girls
- Simple yet amazing crafts: craft ideas that elementary school students will want to make
- For summer vacation homework! Simple and amazing crafts for elementary school students that you’ll want to make after seeing them
- Craft ideas using plastic bottle caps [for boys]
- Recommended for elementary school students! Science fair topics & craft ideas
- [Middle School Students] Easy One-Day Science Projects and Crafts Ideas
- DIY science projects that elementary school boys will love: ideas you can make with everyday materials
- Elementary School Students: Simple One-Day Science Project and Craft Ideas
- Toys you can make from cardboard crafts! Authentic ideas you can build and play with
- Simple and cute summer project crafts! A collection of ideas for girls that will make you want to create
- [For Kids] Today’s Handmade Craft Ideas
- [For Middle Grades] Simple Magic Tricks for Elementary School Students: Fun Magic Everyone Will Love!
For Upper Elementary Students: Simple Yet Amazing! Summer Vacation Craft Ideas (141–150)
Homemade Pakkuncho
@chibi_miran How to Make a DIY “Pakkuncho” for First Graders ~Part 1~ The Drafting Edition Was Insanely Good lolGenius at crafts
♬ Jamboree Mickey! – Tokyo Disneyland
How about making your own version of your favorite snack package? First, buy the real product and carefully study its packaging.
Trace the shape onto construction paper or similar, and then recreate everything—the design and the text—just like the original.
After coloring it with pens or other materials, cut it out, assemble it, and you’re done.
It’s a task that requires patience, but the steps are very simple.
Find a package you love and give it a try!
Metal craft
@utatan_simple_crafts ← Fun original craft recipe Good evening, this is Utatan 🐰 We’re halfway through summer vacation… so this time I’m sharing a satisfying craft that even elementary schoolers will enjoy ✨ It’s an arrangement of a copper wire craft I tried at a neighborhood summer festival when I was in second grade, updated with transparent origami paper ✂️ That was the first time in my life I worked with metal, and it was a valuable experience where I learned: “Metal is a fascinating material—hard and durable, yet flexible enough to deform when bent or hammered with force.” Trying, touching, and using all kinds of materials really expands your world, doesn’t it? ♪ My daughter used a hammer and needle-nose pliers for the first time, and it became a special experience for her! (Tip: If you want to make fine curves or angles, use needle-nose pliers 👍) Metal isn’t often used in kids’ crafts, but this summer vacation, I’d love for you to try this project that lets you fully feel the properties of metal ☺️ Materials: • 2 mm aluminum craft wire (purchased at Daiso) • Transparent origami, aurora sheet • (Optional) Faux leather cord Tools: • Wire cutters, needle-nose pliers • Hammer • Work gloves • A brick or flat stone • Multi-purpose glue • Toothpicks • Scissors • Pen Caution: Please take great care to avoid injuries from wire ends and the hammer. Important: Because this is an original recipe, we prohibit the following: ▪ Unauthorized reposting of images/videos ▪ Commercial use of the work/recipe ▪ Publishing the instructions as videos/images ▪ Unauthorized use in paid craft/art classes or production workshops When posting reference works, please mention @utatan_simple_crafts ✨ We’re also looking forward to your “made it!” posts ☺️ ****************************************** Creating daily with my 5-year-old ♪ Original craft recipes for parents and kids to enjoy (We also sell craft kits and digital files 🌸) Utatan’s Simple Crafts → @utatan_simple_crafts ONLINE STORE →https://utatan-crafts.stores.jpThank you in advance 🐰✨work#I love craftsStained glassWire CraftSummer Vacation Craft#Summer vacation homework#HandmadeToysHow to Spend Summer VacationLife with childrenLife with children#HandmadeToys#diy#AtHomePlay#StayHomeTime
♪ Original Song – Utatan’s Simple Crafts | Exciting DIY for Kids and Adults – Utatan’s Simple Crafts | Exciting DIY for Kids and Adults
Let’s try a metal craft project using soft wire you can find at 100-yen shops and similar stores.
First, come up with a few patterns that can be drawn in a single stroke.
After cutting the wire to an appropriate length, shape it to match the pattern.
If bending it by hand is difficult, it’s a good idea to use tools like pliers.
Once the shape is made, hammer it to flatten the joints.
Then cut transparent origami paper to fit the pattern, and attach it from the back with glue to finish.
Cute paper cup finger puppets

Here’s an idea for making finger puppets using paper cups.
The example shown here is a dog finger puppet, but with a little creativity you can make all kinds of animals.
Once you have a paper cup, cut four vertical slits along the side and remove the excess parts while shaping the dog’s ears and the rings that go around your fingers.
The bottom of the cup will be the face, so draw any expression you like with a pen.
Paper cups come in various colors, so using different colors might expand your range of expression.
[For upper elementary grades] Simple but amazing! A collection of summer vacation craft ideas (151–160)
Cute glasses with moles

Let’s make cute glasses using pipe cleaners and straws.
First, think about the shape of the glasses you want to make—try sketching it out.
Round, square, star-shaped—anything you like is fine.
Once you’ve decided on the shape, form it with the pipe cleaners.
A single pipe cleaner isn’t very sturdy, so twist two together into one before shaping.
After the frame is done, thread straws onto the parts that go over your ears, and you’re finished.
If you use the accordion section of the straw over your ears, the glasses are less likely to slip off.
Remaking a 100-yen shop clock
@nantomokuzai Remake a 100-yen shop clock! Clip clock 👍✨Summer Vacation Craft#Summer Vacation Workshop#100-yen shop DIY#100-yen shop arrangement
♪ Original song – Nanmo-kun – Nanmo-kun
The part you can see from the back of a table clock or wall clock—the section with the battery compartment and the knob for setting the time—is called the movement.
You could say it’s the heart of the clock.
In fact, clock movements are sold on their own at 100-yen shops and home improvement stores, and you can use them to make your own original clock! If you’re good at woodworking, try starting from scratch by buying a wooden board and cutting a groove to fit the movement.
If that’s not your strong suit, there are also assembly kits with pre-cut grooves available, so you can use those instead.
Cake-shaped accessory case
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoikushisatomi/video/7497881404731182357Here’s an idea for a cake-themed trinket holder made with paper cups.
First, take one paper cup and cut straight from the rim down to the base, then cut out the base as well.
Use this as the template base, and decorate it by attaching felt or construction paper to make it look like a cake.
Once you’ve finished decorating the base, attach it to another paper cup, and you’re done.
It’s easy and cute, and you can customize the decoration however you like—highly recommended! With a bit more effort, you can even add a lid to the trinket holder, so give that a try if you have the time.
Refreshing! Square Bag
@n.annlee321 A cool-looking square bag design 💕 Perfect for a summer vacation craft project, too 🥰🫶✨#100-yen-shop#100-yen shop DIY#Summer VacationSummer Vacation CraftDaiso
♬ Good luck to me tomorrow – NANAOAKARI
Here’s an idea for making a bag using bag hardware from a 100-yen shop, plant pot mesh, and yarn in your favorite color and material.
First, cut the plant pot mesh to match the size of the bag hardware, then crochet or stitch the yarn onto the mesh.
Once you’ve finished attaching the yarn, sew the mesh and the bag hardware together.
Finally, add the handles and your favorite decorations to complete the bag.
With this method as a reference, it seems like you could create all kinds of items depending on your ideas!



