Handmade crafts for school: easy and original ideas for elementary school crafts competitions

With the arrival of the new school year, children begin to make different homemade exhibits for exhibitions, competitions, decorate school halls and classrooms with them. Handcrafts created by children contribute to the development of their creative abilities, making the process of making an exciting activity.

Especially popular are crafts for themed holidays: Mother's Day, New Year, Teacher's Day, March 8. Our article contains ideas for schoolchildren's crafts made from different materials.

Materials and tools for crafts for school

School crafts can be made from a variety of materials. Suitable for this: felt, colored paper, cardboard, plasticine, beads and fabric.

Of natural materials for crafts use: cones, leaves, chestnuts, acorns, fruits and vegetables. Also for crafts use plastic bottles and disposable dishes, remnants of fabric and threads.

The main auxiliary tools will be:

• scissors;
• glue;
• duct tape;
• needle;
• threads;
• glue gun.

For decoration, you can use beads, sequins, glitter, buttons, seeds and more. Most of the materials can be harvested on their own, which will save unnecessary costs.

Easy handmade crafts for elementary school

Elementary school children have a special interest in the creative process of creating crafts. Adults only need to suggest the idea and help the child to stock up on the necessary materials.

For children of this age are suitable for simple applications of paper and clay, crafts figures of animals from different natural materials. You can also make light crafts in the technique of quilling and origami.

During the crafts child to praise and encourage, then he will enjoy the work and be sure to bring a good grade. It is possible that the child will need the help of an adult, so be sure to allocate time and participate in the creative process.

Snowflakes in different techniques

The most popular children's craft for the New Year is the snowflake. They decorate halls, winter windows and the holiday tree.

Snowflakes can be made from different materials using different techniques. They can be flat or volumetric, created from paper or fabric.

Flat snowflake made of sequins will be a great decoration for the school Christmas tree. To make it you will need:

• paper blanks;
• file;
• PVA glue or acrylic paint;
• glitter;
• thread.

After preparing the necessary materials, you can begin to create:

1. Draw a snowflake on a sheet of paper or print out ready-made templates.
2. Place the sheet in a file, dab a small layer of glue on the outline.
3. Without waiting for the glue to dry, pour a thick layer of glitter or glitter on it. Leave to dry.
4. When the snowflake dries, separate it from the file and shake off the excess glitter.

New Year's Eve crafts are ready. Instead of glue you can use acrylic paint. Snowflake can decorate a window in the school hallway. And if you hang it on a thread, it makes a great toy for the Christmas tree.

A flat snowflake can also be simply cut out of paper. This process is quite easy, so elementary school students very often resort to it.

Before making this homemade device, stock up:

• scissors;
• A sheet of white or colored paper;
• pencil.

A sheet of paper is rolled in half 4 times. The resulting square is rolled diagonally. On the workpiece pencil draw patterns and cut them along the lines. Then unroll the sheet, and get a beautiful openwork snowflake.

For New Year decoration of the hall is perfect for volumetric snowflakes. Make it also is not difficult, the main thing to follow a certain sequence.

For this handicraft take:

• a sheet of thick paper;
• scissors;
• duct tape;
• stapler;
• glue;
• thread.

Step by step performance:

1. From sheets of paper cut out 6 squares of equal size.
2. Prepared a square roll diagonally. On both sides make three cuts, choosing the direction of the middle of the sheet. The distance between the cuts - more than 5 mm.
3. Unfold the workpiece so that the cut edges are in a horizontal position. Opposite corners of the cut strips are rolled up into a tube, secured with glue or tape.
4. Turn the sheet. Connect in the same way the remaining strips on all the squares.
5. Staple three parts prepared, turning them in one direction and the other three - in the opposite direction. Combine all the elements in the finished snowflake.

To such a handmade snowflake holds shape well, you can additionally connect the workpiece at the edges. Volumetric snowflake tied to a thread. The creative process is complete!

Applique made of clay

Clay is a great material for creating crafts for school. It can be used to make different figures or a beautiful applique for an autumn exhibition.

We offer you a master class on creating an applique "Autumn Tree". To begin, gather all the necessary tools and materials:

• colorful plasticine;
• knife and sticks;
• board for plasticine;
• a white cardboard sheet of A4;
• decor.

You don't need a template for this picture. The process is carried out step by step:

• Step 1. Place a white cardboard sheet vertically.
• Step 2. Roll long "sausages" of red, orange, green and yellow plasticine.
• Step 3. twist each strip into a "snail" shape.
• Step 4: Make "sausages" of brown clay 10 cm long. Use them to make a tree trunk.
• Step 5: Place multi-coloured "snails" instead of leaves, making a crown of a tree.
• Step 6. decorate the finished composition with beads or beads.

Plasticine will give the application volume. Such a picture will be lively and expressive.

Animal crafts from natural material

Using the gifts of nature, schoolchildren can make a beautiful original handicraft for the lesson or a holiday exhibition. Suitable for this are natural materials: pebbles, leaves, cones, vegetables and fruits.

The most common material donated by nature, which is used for school crafts - cones. They can be harvested in large quantities. And if you add plasticine to them, you get an unusual composition.

For the "Fox from a cone and plasticine" craft, you need to prepare: a pine cone, leaves, plasticine and stack.

The creative process is performed in stages:

1. From plasticine orange color mold the face and ears of the fox.
2. For the nose and eyes, take a piece of black plasticine, roll it into small balls and attach all elements to the cone.
3. Leaf stalks are used to make eyelashes.
4. Orange plasticine is used for the tail and paws. Attach them to the pine blank.
5. Lay out the leaves and plant a chanterelle.

Such beauty can be molded by a schoolboy of any age. Just need a little imagination and patience.

From fruits and auxiliary materials can also make unusual animals. For a colorful homemade "hedgehog of fruit" you need to prepare:

• pear;
• black and green grapes;
• raisins;
• strawberries;
• toothpicks;
• knife.

Step-by-step execution:

1. Take a pear, and starting from the middle make an incision.
2. Peel the skin off half of the fruit.
3. Place green grapes on toothpicks. Insert them on the unpeeled part of the pear. This will be the back with the needles.
4. Make a nose out of a black grape, attaching it to the tail of the pear.
5. Use raisins for the eyes, having previously made hollows with a knife.

You will get a pretty cute hedgehog. You can add weight to his back by attaching a couple of strawberries.

Flowers from paper

Most often, for creativity in elementary school use paper. It comes in different colors, corrugated, velvet, design. From it create both flat and volumetric compositions, using a variety of techniques.

A beautiful spring bouquet of hyacinths, created with your own hands, will be a wonderful gift for your teacher on March 8.

To assemble it, you need to prepare:

• double-sided paper of different colors;
• PVA glue;
• brush;
• scissors;
• paints;
• Wooden sticks or wire (for the stem).

Step by step instructions:

1. From a colorful sheet of paper cut strips all the way through. Their width is 4 centimeters.
2. Bend the folds (3 mm) along these strips.
3. Cut a fringe to the crease line.
4. Each cut strip roll up into a spiral to make a curly rim.
5. Make a stem from sticks or wire. Paint it with green paint and dry it.
6. When the stem is dry, glue the curly rim to it, applying glue from the back of the spirals. This will make a hyacinth inflorescence.
7. From green paper cut four elongated leaves. Glue them to the stem in a circle, so they are directed in different directions.

Hyacinth ready. Similarly, do the remaining blanks. For the bouquet will be enough 5 or 7 flowers of different colors.

Crafts from felt

Felt is an excellent material for creating fascinating crafts. Its palette of colors is bright and varied. To the touch, it is soft and pleasant, perfectly holds its shape. Children's hand sewn flowers, animal figurines, handbags will be the best products at the school fair.

We suggest making an easy handicraft "Christmas tree" from this beautiful material. For it will need:

• green felt;
• scissors;
• marker or pencil;
• thread;
• asterisk;
• beads.

Step-by-step creation:

1. First, draw five squares of different sizes.
2. Cut out of felt five squares of each size (25 pieces in total).
3. From the brown felt prepare 5 small circles.
4. Take strong thread and tie a knot at the end.
5. On the thread thread thread circles - this will be the trunk of the Christmas tree.
6. In ascending order, thread the squares, from large to small.
7. Top of the tree decorate the star.
8. Decorate the branches with beads.

Beautiful Christmas tree made of felt is ready. Its size will depend on the size of the cut squares.

Ideas for school crafts for the contest

School work is characterized by complexity.

While the homemade products of younger students in most cases have simple shapes and ideas, older students, who have more skills and abilities, need to come up with compositions of higher complexity. Especially when it comes to competitions.

Handmade crafts, selected in this section, will help schoolchildren to decide on the ideas of competitive works. A detailed description will contribute to the creative process with ease.

Papier-mache

Papier-mache means "torn paper" in French. This technique consists in gluing several layers of small pieces of paper of any shape. Such creativity requires accuracy, assiduity and patience.

"Snowman", made in the technique of papier-mâché, will become an original handicraft at any school exhibition or competition.

For work you need to take:

• newspaper;
• several sheets of white paper;
• three balloons;
• PVA glue;
• cardboard;
• wire;
• decor elements.

When materials and tools are prepared, start making a snowman:

1. The first thing to do is to inflate balloons of different sizes - for the bottom, the torso and the head.
2. Tear into pieces of newspaper and paper. Glued them to the balloons, leaving one side of the small holes to pull the balls later. The bottom layer of glue with water, and further - the glue. A total of eight layers, alternating paper and newspaper. The final layer is made of white pieces.
3. Postponed blank for three days, so they completely dry.
4. Masters nose of a piece of cardboard, turning it into a tube, and paste it torn pieces. After drying, it is attached to a smaller ball.
5. When all the elements are dry, proceed to assemble the snowman. Glue three balls. Wait until dry.
6. From the wire make hands, wrapping it with white paper. Make a hole in the body and stick the prepared wire in it.
7. They paint the nose, eyes, mouth and buttons.

To make the snowman more durable, it is covered with water-based paint. For decor, you can make a hat and scarf.

Figurine of thread and glue

Who would have imagined that from simple thread and a bottle of glue you can make unusual and interesting products. They will not only decorate the house, but will certainly take a prize at a school contest.

For example, make a Christmas ball, using thread and glue. To create a festive handicraft, in addition to these materials will also be needed:

• plastic bottle;
• balloon;
• a thick needle;
• scissors;
• decorative toys, Christmas souvenirs;
• sprigs of fir trees;
• angels;
• house.

Step by step:

1. Cut off the top of a plastic bottle. Punch two opposite holes at the bottom.
2. Pass the thread through the hole, pour glue. It should soak in well.
3. Inflate the balloon, and begin to slowly wrap it with glued thread. For the product to be strong, do not spare the thread, and it is better to make many layers.
4. The product will dry for about a day. After that, we pierce the ball and take it out without damaging the frame.
5. Use scissors to cut a hole almost halfway through the finished product. Put a New Year's composition of decorative elements inside.

The handicraft for the exhibition is ready!

A chest of drawers made of cardboard

From a normal box from the cereal or corrugated cardboard you can make a small chest of drawers. It will be suitable for dolls' furniture, and for storing small trinkets or decorations.

To work you will need:

• thick corrugated cardboard;
• glue-pencil;
• several sheets of white paper;
• scissors;
• ruler and a pencil;
• utility knife;
• Moment glue;
• beads.

Stages of making:

1. To begin, make templates of dresser parts, using a ruler, a pencil and a blank sheet of white paper. Requires the following blanks: 2 parts back of 12x15 cm, 4 side elements 15x6 cm, the top two parts 13.5 x 6 cm, two bottom parts 12x6 cm, 6 parts for the shelves 12x5, 2 cm.
2. Details glued together in pairs to make them thicker. The total should be obtained: two side parts, three shelves, one back wall, one upper and one lower part.
3. Using a pencil glue and white paper, paste all the blanks.
4. Next, connect all elements of the dresser with Moment glue.
5. For the drawers are prepared 4 blanks 10,7 x 4 cm (for the rear wall), 8 parts 4x5 cm (sides), 4 blanks 12x4 cm (front).
6. At the front blanks draw a frame, indented from the edge at 7 mm. Frames cut with a box cutter, glue them with white paper.
7. At the frame make a knife cut, indenting from the edge at 1 cm. At the end of the cut line make a triangle.
8. Glued drawers with glue. Assemble a chest of drawers.
9. Sew white beads - handles drawers.

Small cardboard chest of drawers ready!

Plastic Bottle Machine

Any schoolboy can make a simple car from a plastic bottle for a couple of minutes of free time. Such a product does not require a large expenditure. Skilful children's hands will turn an unnecessary thing into a real masterpiece.

Materials that will be needed:

• A plastic bottle with a volume of 1 liter;
• large buttons;
• balloon;
• plastic tube with a size of 15 cm;
• scissors;
• threads;
• knife.

Algorithm of manufacturing:

• To begin with, holes are made in the liter bottle for the wheels. There will be four of them. They should be cut in such a way that the axes are positioned parallel.
• Insert the buttons (wheels) and check their rotation.
• Next, holes are made for the plastic tube on top and at the bottom of the bottle. On top of the plastic tube is pulled a well-tied balloon.
• The car is ready! It can be decorated with bright colors.

To test the undercarriage of the product, blow air into the balloon, place the car on a level surface, and let it go. The air flow will push the car and it will be able to drive.

Cup with a saucer of matches

Making crafts out of matches is a useful activity for adults and children. This creativity helps to develop imagination and attention, forms perseverance.

To create a cup with a saucer out of matches you will need:

• cardboard;
• glue;
• scissors;
• ruler and a pencil;
• compass;
• a couple of boxes of matches.

The tea set can be made by following these steps:

• Step 1: On cardboard, draw two different circles with a compass. Cut out the blanks for the cup and saucer.
• Step 2 Cut out cardboard strips for the side elements of the piece. From them roll up two cone-shaped blanks: one flat for a saucer, the second tall for a cup.
• Step 3: Cut corners from the bottom of the cones and fold them inward, dabbing them with glue. Glue the bottoms of the future saucer and cups to them.
• Step 4. Attach a strip (handle) to the cup.
• Step 5: Coat the sides of the saucer with glue. Place a dense layer of matches in a circular pattern.
• Step 6. Similarly glue the sides of the cup on both sides. We can use matches of different sizes, to make the pattern.
• Step 7: The handle of the cup is covered with pieces of matches, placing them horizontally.

The original cup is ready! It can be used to store jewelry or office supplies.

Handmade crafts - the best way to educate the creative nature. They develop imagination and bring a lot of joy, because from completely ordinary improvised materials, a child can create a beautiful original composition for school.

All they need to do is use their imagination and show their skills. And, of course, such craftsmanship will not go unnoticed.

Photo ideas for elementary school crafts