[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!
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[For Upper Elementary Students] Simple but Awesome! Summer Vacation Craft Ideas (181–190)
3 simple coasters
How about making coasters as a summer vacation craft? Here, we’ll introduce three methods.
The first is a coaster made by arranging tiles on top of paper clay.
The second is a coaster made by lining up beads and melting them in the microwave.
The third is a summery coaster that expresses a seasonal scene by placing shells, sequins, and stickers in resin.
They’re all easy to make, so give them a try.
You can buy most of the materials at 100-yen shops.
Simple kaleidoscope
Let’s make a kaleidoscope that shows rainbow colors.
Prepare three mirrors for a kaleidoscope and glue them together into a triangular prism with the mirror sides facing inward.
Place this inside a toilet paper tube, and seal one end with black construction paper that you’ve pierced with numerous holes using a pin.
Seal the other end with black construction paper that has a diffraction (rainbow) film attached at the center.
Finally, decorate the outside of the toilet paper tube with masking tape or similar, and you’re done! It’s very easy, so please give it a try.
It’s not a kaleidoscope with changing patterns, but the rainbow colors are truly beautiful.
Flower fidget spinner
@n.annlee321 A festive plum blossom hand spinner ☺️✨#2022#tiktok classroomLife with children#VideoYouCan'tHelpButWatch
♬ Relaxing cute everyday BGM – Hiraoka
How about making your own hand spinner that twirls between your fingers or on a desk, finished in a cute flower shape? Use two circles cut from cardboard for the finger pads, connect them with a toothpick to form the axle, and attach the spinning flower piece between them, leaving a slight gap as you assemble the axle.
The way it spins will change depending on the gap between your fingers and the rotating part, as well as the size of the hole the toothpick passes through, so try building it while experimenting with ways to make it spin longer.
Flower Hand-cranked Spinning Top
@n.annlee321 A hand-spun top that you spin with your palm ☺️✨Summer Vacation Craft#tiktok classroomLife with children#HandmadeToys
♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
Let’s make a hand-spun top that you spin vigorously with your hand, designed with a cute, flower-inspired look.
We’ll use a disposable chopstick as the top’s axle, and wrap long, folded strips of paper around it to form the shape of the top.
Everyone should clearly imagine their favorite flower and think about which colors of paper will best match that flower.
Wrapping the paper tightly is the key to making the whole piece sturdy and ensuring it spins well.
Cute shaved ice piggy bank
@n.annlee321 Adorably peeking shaved-ice piggy bank 💓☺️✨#HandmadeToysSummer Vacation Craftpiggy bank
♬ EMA – go!go!vanillas
Here’s an idea for a shaved-ice coin bank made from a milk carton.
It’s adorable because a little face pops out when you put a coin in.
Prepare a small milk carton and peel off the outer printed layer so it’s white.
Cut the spout into a mountain shape.
Draw the syrup part with a pen, attach an iridescent (aurora) sheet, and create the slot for inserting coins.
Next, pierce a rotating cardboard piece with a bamboo skewer and fix it inside the milk carton.
Thread the face piece onto the part of the skewer that sticks out of the carton and glue it in place, then decorate the other end with beads.
Attach thick paper around it to hide the skewer, and close the spout to finish.
Cream soda trinket case
@n.annlee321 100-yen store DIY/arrangement ☺️✨Summer Vacation Craft#HandmadeToysParenting#100-yen shop DIY
♬ Utopia – imase
When it comes to summery drinks, cream soda is a classic! So let’s make a cream soda-themed trinket holder.
This idea uses a flower vase sold at 100-yen shops.
It’s shaped like a rectangle topped with a half-circle, and it already looks like cream soda, doesn’t it? Apply green iridescent origami paper to the rectangular part and white masking tape to the half-circle to represent the drink and the ice cream.
Glue a cherry made from a pom-pom and a craft pipe cleaner to the outside, then insert a straw.
Add iridescent round stickers to mimic bubbles for an even cuter finish.
Bead and pipe cleaner ideas
@n.annlee321 ▼For details on materials, click here▼ 📕My book has been reprinted—thank you so much! 😭🙏🥺❤️ The link is in my profile 🥰 🔎 “New Handmade Toys” (Available on Amazon, Rakuten, and in bookstores!) Learn through play! Simple, fun ideas 💡 ☆*:.｡.┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈.｡.:*☆ I share fun activities you can enjoy with kids☺️ I’m An 🌸 Bracelets made with beads and pipe cleaners ✨ Make them short and they work as cable ties too♪ (I use them all the time) You can decorate jars, use them as headbands for stuffed animals… so many ways to use them!!! Pipe cleaners keep beads from slipping, so they’re easy for kids to handle! Threading beads onto the wire helps kids focus and improves fine motor skills 😊 I tried different ways to finish the ends, and the method in the video is the simplest and cleanest! The tightly coiled pipe cleaner looks like a pom‑pom—so cute, right? 😆💕 You can enjoy arranging bead patterns and adjusting the length ✨ I used 30 cm pipe cleaners. Beads around 8 mm to 1 cm are easy for kids to handle! Pipe cleaners also fit through 6 mm beads, so choose what you like 🙌 Pipe cleaners will basically fit through anything except ultra‑tiny beads! ☆*:.｡.┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈.｡.:*☆ Thanks so much for watching 😆 I’m a mom of a 4‑ and 7‑year‑old who love making and playing (Toy Consultant & Picture Book Instructor). I share crafts, play ideas, and handmade picture books—fun things to enjoy with kids ♡ I’d be happy if we can be friends!#HandmadeToyswork#I love craftsChildcare#LifeWithKidsLife with children#AtHomePlay#EducationalPlayEducationalFinger Dexterity Education#tiktok classroom
♬ Talking Box (Dirty Pop Remix) – WurtS
Thread beads onto pipe cleaners to make all kinds of little accessories.
First curl one end of the pipe cleaner, then thread on a bead.
Insert the curled tip into the bead’s hole, pull the other side to lock it in place, and after that just add your favorite beads and form a loop.
Make it larger for a bracelet, or use flower-shaped beads to create a flower crown for a doll.
You can also use them for cable ties, tiny bottle decorations, and many other situations.
Because you’re using pipe cleaners, the beads don’t slip off easily after threading, making this an easy activity for toddlers and lower-grade elementary school children.