100 Easy Summer Crafts and Activities for Kids

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Find 100 easy summer crafts and activities for kids, organized by age and theme for home, classrooms, homeschool and summer camp.

Most of these summer activities use paper, paint, craft sticks, recycled materials or supplies you may already have. Choose a quick indoor project for a hot afternoon, take the art supplies outside when the weather is pleasant, or combine several ideas into a themed week.

Summer Crafts and Activities: Contents

• How to choose a summer activity
• Simple supplies and safety notes
• Beach and ocean crafts
• Ice cream crafts and pretend play
• Summer art projects
• Bug and nature crafts
• Sun and rainbow crafts
• Outdoor summer activities
• Fruit and tropical crafts
• Camping crafts and activities
• Summer STEM experiments
• Summer printables and quiet-time activities
• Planning tips for parents and teachers
• Frequently asked questions

How to Choose the Right Summer Craft

Start with your child’s age, attention span and comfort with scissors or glue. A ten-minute collage may be perfect for a preschooler, while an older child may enjoy a multi-step weaving, construction or science project.

Age or setting	Good choices	Helpful preparation
Ages 3–5	Painting, tearing, sticking, playdough and simple printables	Pre-cut difficult shapes and avoid small loose parts
Ages 5–8	Paper crafts, bookmarks, puppets, nature crafts and beginner STEM	Set out supplies in trays and demonstrate one step at a time
Ages 8–12	Origami, weaving, recycled construction, experiments and detailed art	Let children plan colors, test designs and solve small problems
Classroom or camp	Low-cost projects with few materials and flexible results	Prepare one sample, label supply stations and allow drying space

Simple Summer Craft Supplies

Keep colored paper, cardstock, paper plates, washable paint, child-safe scissors, glue sticks, markers, yarn, craft sticks and recycled cardboard nearby. A tray or shallow box for each activity makes setup and cleanup much easier.

Safety note: Supervise children around scissors, small beads, balloons, hot glue, sharp tools and food ingredients. Adults should handle cutting thick cardboard, piercing holes and any step involving heat. Choose non-toxic, age-appropriate materials and check for allergies before sensory or food-based activities.

1–10. Beach and Ocean Summer Crafts for Kids

Bring the seaside home with shells, crabs, turtles and sandy textures. Find even more ideas in our complete collection of beach crafts for kids.

1. Paper Plate Crab and Turtle Craft

   Turn a paper plate into a cheerful beach scene with a crab, turtle, palm trees and sunshine. This cut-and-paste project is especially useful for practicing scissor control and arranging shapes.

   Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 35 minutes · Supplies: Paper plate, colored paper, markers and glue

2. At-the-Beach Drawing Prompt

   Give children a partly completed beach scene and invite them to add swimmers, shells, boats or imaginary sea creatures. Use the finished picture as a storytelling or descriptive-writing prompt.

   Best for: Ages 5–10 · Time: 20–30 minutes · Supplies: Printable, pencils and coloring tools

3. Paper Plate Seashell Craft

   Cut, paint, punch and lace a paper plate to make a bright seashell. The lacing step adds a valuable fine-motor challenge for preschool and kindergarten children.

   Best for: Ages 4–7 · Time: 30 minutes plus drying · Supplies: Paper plate, paint, hole punch and yarn

4. Beach and Summer Playdough Mats

   Laminate the mats and let children roll, press and shape playdough to finish each summer picture. They work well in a quiet-time basket or reusable fine-motor center.

   Best for: Ages 3–6 · Time: 15–25 minutes · Supplies: Printed mats and playdough

5. Summer 3D Coloring Pages

   Color the summer scenes, cut the extra elements and layer them to create a dimensional picture. Teachers can display the results together as a bright summer bulletin board.

   Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 25–40 minutes · Supplies: Printable pages, colors, scissors and glue

6. Easy Origami Crab

   Fold a square of red paper into a little crab and add eyes and a smile. Make several crabs for an ocean collage, puppet show or counting activity.

   Best for: Ages 6–10 · Time: 15 minutes · Supplies: Square paper and markers

7. Textured Sandcastle Collage

   Draw a sandcastle on cardstock, brush glue over one section at a time and sprinkle clean craft sand on top. Add paper flags, shell shapes and a blue painted sky after the sandy layer dries.

   Best for: Ages 4–9 · Time: 30 minutes plus drying · Supplies: Cardstock, craft sand, glue and colored paper

8. Paper Plate Beach Ball

   Divide a paper plate into curved sections and paint each one a different bright color. Younger children can use dot markers or torn paper instead of paint for a lower-mess version.

   Best for: Ages 3–7 · Time: 15–25 minutes · Supplies: Paper plate, washable paint or paper scraps

9. Toy Surfboard Craft

   Cut surfboard shapes from sturdy recycled cardboard and let children design stripes, flowers or geometric patterns. These mini boards are fun props for small-world beach play.

   Best for: Ages 5–10 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Cardboard, paint pens and child-safe scissors

10. Sand Clay Handprint Keepsake

    Mix a moldable sand clay and press in a child’s handprint, shells or pebbles. An adult should manage the heating or drying stage, making this a lovely family keepsake rather than an independent activity.

    Best for: Ages 3–10 with an adult · Time: 30 minutes plus drying · Supplies: Sand-clay ingredients and beach treasures

11–20. Ice Cream Crafts and Pretend-Play Ideas

Frozen-treat crafts are colorful, familiar and easy to adapt for different ages. Browse our larger roundup of ice cream crafts for kids for more inspiration.

11. Ice Cream Corner Bookmarks

    Fold paper into a corner bookmark and decorate it as a favorite ice cream flavor. This quick craft pairs beautifully with a summer reading challenge.

    Best for: Ages 6–10 · Time: 15 minutes · Supplies: Colored paper, glue and markers

12. Catch the Ice Cream Game

    Make a simple cone-and-scoop catching toy for active indoor or outdoor play. Children can decorate the pieces first and then take turns practicing hand-eye coordination.

    Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Paper, yarn and basic craft materials

13. Handprint Ice Cream Craft

    Trace a child’s hand to create a playful scoop with five drippy sections, then add a paper cone and colorful toppings. It makes a sweet summer keepsake for families or classroom displays.

    Best for: Ages 3–7 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Colored paper, pencil, scissors and glue

14. Cupcake Liner Ice Cream Cone

    Stack patterned cupcake liners over a paper triangle and add paper sprinkles or pom-poms. Children can create one cone or combine several on a summer garland.

    Best for: Ages 3–7 · Time: 15 minutes · Supplies: Cupcake liners, cardstock and glue

15. Puffy Paint Ice Cream

    Use homemade or ready-made puffy paint for a textured scoop that looks almost real. Place the artwork on a washable mat and remind younger children that the pretend ice cream is not edible.

    Best for: Ages 4–9 · Time: 25 minutes plus drying · Supplies: Cardstock, puffy paint and decorations

16. Paper-Mâché Ice Cream Sundae

    Create a dimensional sundae from paper and paste, then paint it in imaginative flavors. This is a satisfying multi-session project for an art camp or older elementary group.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 · Time: Two sessions · Supplies: Paper, paste, paint and a recycled base

17. Giant Paper Ice Pops

    Cut large ice-pop shapes from poster board and cover them with bold painted patterns. Display a group together as summer party décor or a collaborative classroom mural.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Poster board, paint and craft sticks

18. Pretend-Play Ice Cream Cones

    Build reusable cones and scoops for a make-believe ice cream counter. Add handwritten menus and play money to extend the activity into literacy, counting and social play.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 30–45 minutes · Supplies: Paper, pom-poms and recycled containers

19. Giant Ice Cream Cone

    Layer painted paper-plate scoops above an oversized cardstock cone. Children can plan flavor colors, count scoops and finish the display with pom-pom sprinkles.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 · Time: 35 minutes · Supplies: Paper plates, cardstock, paint and pom-poms

20. Classroom Ice Cream Shop

    Ask children to draw and cut out cones, scoops and toppings, then sort them into a pretend shop. Add price cards and order slips so older children can practice addition and written communication.

    Best for: Ages 4–9 · Time: 40 minutes plus play · Supplies: Paper, markers, scissors and small boxes

21–30. Colorful Summer Art Projects

These projects emphasize experimentation rather than identical results. Explore more open-ended ideas in our collection of summer theme art projects.

21. Pointillism Sun Art

    Draw a large sun and fill it with closely placed dots using cotton buds or marker tips. Introduce Georges Seurat and let children observe how separate colors blend when viewed from a distance.

    Best for: Ages 6–11 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Paper, paint and cotton buds

22. Watermelon Puffy-Paint Art

    Paint a cardboard semicircle green and pink, then add black seeds and a puffy white rind. The project combines shape recognition with a fun texture study.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Cardboard, paint and puffy paint

23. Painted Paper Plate Seashells

    Cut paper plates into different shell silhouettes and experiment with dabbing, blending and metallic accents. Display several together as a beach-themed art wall.

    Best for: Ages 4–9 · Time: 25 minutes plus drying · Supplies: Paper plates, paint and brushes

24. Potato-Stamped Ice Cream Art

    Use a halved potato to print rounded scoops above a drawn cone. Once dry, add cherries, sprinkles and faces with markers.

    Best for: Ages 3–7 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Potato stamp, washable paint and paper

25. Shimmering Seashell Painting

    Paint clean shells or sturdy paper shell cutouts using pearly colors. Use only legally collected shells and avoid taking live shells or disturbing wildlife.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Shells or paper shapes and non-toxic paint

26. Pineapple Fingerprint Art

    Print rows of yellow thumbprints in an oval shape and add green paper leaves. Challenge older children to create repeating patterns within the fruit.

    Best for: Ages 3–8 · Time: 15 minutes · Supplies: Washable paint, paper and markers

27. Ice-Pop Resist Painting

    Draw ice-pop shapes with a white crayon, add patterns inside and brush watercolor over the page to reveal the hidden marks. Try salt or tissue dabbing for extra texture.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: White crayon, watercolor and thick paper

28. Wayne Thiebaud-Inspired Ice Cream Art

    Study the artist’s bright dessert paintings, then draw a row of cones with exaggerated colors and shadows. Encourage children to invent unusual flavors and names.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 · Time: 40 minutes · Supplies: Drawing paper, oil pastels or paint

29. Black-Glue Watercolor Shells

    Outline large shell shapes with black glue and let them dry before adding watercolor. The raised outlines help contain colors and create a stained-glass effect.

    Best for: Ages 6–11 · Time: Two short sessions · Supplies: Black glue, watercolor and cardstock

30. Chalk-Pastel Sunset

    Blend warm pastel colors across dark paper and add silhouettes of palms, birds or mountains. Spray fixative only outdoors and only when handled by an adult, or protect the picture under a transparent sleeve.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Dark paper and chalk pastels

31–40. Bug and Nature Summer Crafts

Pair these projects with a garden walk, insect unit or nature journal. Our insect crafts collection includes even more butterflies, bees, ants and ladybugs.

31. Papercraft Insect Puppets

    Assemble bright paper insects and use them as puppets or bookmarks. Invite children to act out a garden story or explain each insect’s habitat.

    Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Colored paper, scissors and glue

32. Paper Butterfly Craft

    Use the template to cut and layer a butterfly with wings children can decorate freely. Fold the wings slightly upward for an easy three-dimensional effect.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Template, colored paper and glue

33. Storybook Spider and Caterpillar Crafts

    Make two recognizable garden characters after reading an insect-themed picture book. Use the finished pieces for retelling, sequencing and imaginative play.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Paper, paint and recycled materials

34. Stick and Leaf Butterfly

    Collect fallen leaves and twigs, arrange them like butterfly wings and glue them to sturdy paper. Compare symmetry, color and leaf shapes before assembling the picture.

    Best for: Ages 4–9 · Time: 25 minutes plus a nature walk · Supplies: Fallen leaves, twigs and glue

35. Bug Pom-Pom Matching Mats

    Place matching pom-poms on the insect mats to practice colors, visual matching and hand strength. Use child-safe tweezers for an extra fine-motor challenge.

    Best for: Ages 3–6 · Time: 10–20 minutes · Supplies: Printed mats and large pom-poms

36. Ladybug Corner Bookmark

    Fold a red corner bookmark and add spots, eyes and wings. It is a quick companion craft for a summer reading basket.

    Best for: Ages 6–10 · Time: 15 minutes · Supplies: Red and black paper, glue and markers

37. Bee and Flower Tic-Tac-Toe

    Model bees and flowers from air-dry clay and use them as pieces in a reusable tic-tac-toe game. This project combines art, planning and social play.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 · Time: Two sessions · Supplies: Air-dry clay, paint and a game board

38. Craft Stick Dragonfly

    Paint a craft stick body and add large pipe-cleaner wings. Children can experiment with color patterns and use the finished dragonflies in a garden display.

    Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Craft sticks, pipe cleaners, paint and eyes

39. Felt Ladybug Pencil Topper

    Cut and layer simple felt shapes to create a ladybug that sits on a pencil. Pre-cut the smallest pieces for younger children or turn this into a beginner sewing activity for tweens.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Felt, glue and a pencil

40. Rainbow Caterpillar Button Craft

    Arrange colorful buttons into a curved caterpillar and draw a simple outdoor background. For children under three, replace small buttons with large paper circles.

    Best for: Ages 4–9 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Buttons or paper circles, cardstock and glue

41–50. Sun and Rainbow Crafts for Kids

Sunny-day crafts fit weather units, summer solstice lessons and cheerful classroom displays. Continue exploring with these sun crafts for kids.

41. Fringed Paper Sun

    Cut a yellow circle and surround it with folded or fringed paper rays. Add a face, weather words or facts about the sun to match your learning goal.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Yellow paper, scissors and glue

42. Painted Plate Sun

    Transform a lightweight plate into a smiling sun with warm colors and radiating paper shapes. Use a paper plate instead of foam if your school avoids Styrofoam.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Plate, paint, paper and glue

43. Torn-Paper Sun for Preschoolers

    Let children tear yellow and orange paper into small pieces and glue them inside a large sun outline. Tearing paper strengthens fingers without requiring precise cutting.

    Best for: Ages 3–5 · Time: 15–20 minutes · Supplies: Paper scraps, glue and cardstock

44. Sunshine Greeting Card

    Fold cardstock, add a sun with accordion-folded rays and write a cheerful message inside. This makes an easy thank-you card for grandparents, teachers or friends.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Cardstock, colored paper and markers

45. Paper Plate and Pipe-Cleaner Sun

    Paint a paper plate yellow, punch holes around the rim and thread pipe cleaners through as rays. Adults should help with the hole punch while children choose and arrange the colors.

    Best for: Ages 4–7 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Paper plate, paint, hole punch and pipe cleaners

46. Painted Sunset Pillow Cover

    Blend sunset colors across a plain fabric cover and add a simple silhouette after the background dries. This is a rewarding longer project for tweens who want useful room décor.

    Best for: Ages 9–13 with an adult · Time: Two sessions · Supplies: Fabric cover, fabric paint and brushes

47. Tissue-Paper Sun Suncatcher

    Arrange translucent yellow and orange paper on clear contact paper and frame it with a paper sun shape. Hang it in a window to explore how light changes the colors.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Contact paper, tissue paper and cardstock

48. Paper Plate Sun Sewing Craft

    Punch evenly spaced holes around a paper-plate sun and lace yarn from the center toward the edge. This is an excellent concentration and hand-strength activity.

    Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Paper plate, yarn and hole punch

49. Printable Sun Paper Crown

    Print, color and assemble a sunny crown for weather-themed dramatic play. Prepare strips in advance when working with a large preschool group.

    Best for: Ages 3–7 · Time: 15 minutes · Supplies: Printable, colors, scissors and tape

50. Rainbow Sun Collage

    Make a yellow center and add rays in rainbow order using paper strips, yarn or painted craft sticks. Ask older children to label the color sequence or write a positive word on each ray.

    Best for: Ages 4–10 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Paper, yarn or craft sticks and glue

51–60. Outdoor Summer Crafts and Activities

Outdoor art gives children space to move, experiment and make a manageable mess. See more process-based ideas in our outdoor art activities collection.

51. Sidewalk Chalk Mosaic

    Use painter’s tape to divide a pavement square into geometric sections, color each section with chalk and peel away the tape. Photograph the temporary mural before rain washes it away.

    Best for: Ages 4–12 · Time: 30–60 minutes · Supplies: Sidewalk chalk and painter’s tape

52. Balloon Bopper Game

    Attach a paper plate to a craft-stick handle and use it to keep a balloon in the air. Children can count consecutive hits or cooperate to move the balloon between targets.

    Best for: Ages 4–9 with supervision · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Paper plates, craft sticks and balloons

53. Shadow Drawing

    Place toys, leaves or building blocks in the sun and trace their shadows on a long sheet of paper. Repeat later in the day to compare how the shadow’s position and length change.

    Best for: Ages 4–10 · Time: 20–40 minutes · Supplies: Paper, pencil and small objects

54. Recycled Bottle Bubble Art

    Use a clean bottle end or homemade bubble tool to stamp bubbly patterns with washable paint. Keep bubble mixtures away from mouths and supervise throughout the activity.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Recycled bottle, washable paint and large paper

55. Paper Pinwheels

    Decorate a paper square, cut toward the center and assemble the corners into a spinning pinwheel. An adult should handle pins or sharp fasteners and check that the point is fully covered.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 with an adult · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Paper, scissors and safe fastening materials

56. Flower-Pounding Nature Prints

    Place petals and leaves between paper or fabric and gently tap them to transfer natural pigment. Protect the table or pavement and remind children never to pick unknown or protected plants.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 with supervision · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Collected petals, paper or fabric and a child-safe mallet

57. Bubble Snake Creatures

    Make long chains of bubbles outdoors using a simple recycled-bottle tool. Adults should prepare the bottle and supervise closely so children blow out rather than inhale.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 with an adult · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Recycled bottle, fabric and bubble solution

58. Mini Paper Kites

    Decorate lightweight paper, add short tails and test the mini kites in a gentle breeze. Compare shapes and tail lengths to see which design stays most stable.

    Best for: Ages 6–11 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Light paper, string, tape and ribbon

59. Recycled Wind Chime

    Thread large beads, bells or safe recycled pieces onto cords and suspend them from a sturdy ring. Use large components for younger children and check all knots before hanging.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 with an adult · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Cord, large beads and recycled pieces

60. Tin Can Flower Bird Feeder

    Adults can prepare a clean can with safely covered edges before children paint it like a flower. Hang the feeder securely and research which bird food is suitable for local species.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 with an adult · Time: Two sessions · Supplies: Prepared can, outdoor paint, cord and birdseed

61–70. Fruit and Tropical Summer Crafts

Fruit crafts combine bright colors with pretend play, early math and healthy-food conversations. Discover additional projects in our fruit crafts for kids roundup.

61. Printable Fruit Shape Match

    Match fruit-themed pieces by shape and color, then name and count the fruits. Laminate the pages for a reusable preschool center or travel activity.

    Best for: Ages 3–6 · Time: 15 minutes · Supplies: Printable, laminator and hook-and-loop dots

62. Fruit Playdough Mats

    Roll and press playdough to complete smiling fruit pictures. Encourage children to describe colors, shapes and textures as they work.

    Best for: Ages 3–6 · Time: 15–25 minutes · Supplies: Printed mats and playdough

63. Origami Apple Craft

    Fold a square of paper into a chunky apple and finish it with a stem and leaf. It is a friendly introduction to following a visual sequence.

    Best for: Ages 7–11 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Origami paper, scissors and glue

64. Pineapple Planter Art

    Paint a small planter like a pineapple and add a leafy plant for the crown. Adults should help choose non-toxic paint suitable for the planter’s material.

    Best for: Ages 8–12 with an adult · Time: Two sessions · Supplies: Planter, paint and a small plant

65. Frosted Lemonade Paper Craft

    Layer paper lemons, strawberries, ice cubes and a straw to create a refreshing pretend drink. Add the finished cup to a make-believe café or summer display.

    Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Colored paper, scissors and glue

66. Apple Craft-Stick Bookmark

    Turn a craft stick into a bright apple bookmark for summer reading or back-to-school preparation. Make a class set and let each child add a name or short reading goal.

    Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 15 minutes · Supplies: Craft stick, paper, paint and glue

67. Fruit and Summer Coloring Pages

    Keep these pages ready for quiet time, early finishers or travel. Offer crayons, pencils and markers so children can compare how different tools affect the finished image.

    Best for: Ages 3–8 · Time: 10–25 minutes · Supplies: Printable pages and coloring tools

68. Paper Plate Fruit Slices

    Paint paper plates as watermelon, orange, lemon or kiwi slices. Use the finished pieces for sorting colors, counting seeds or decorating a pretend market.

    Best for: Ages 3–8 · Time: 25 minutes plus drying · Supplies: Paper plates, paint and markers

69. Hanging Citrus Paper Craft

    Fold and layer paper circles to create dimensional oranges, lemons and limes. String them into a garland after an adult checks that every knot is secure.

    Best for: Ages 6–11 · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Colored paper, glue and string

70. 3D Paper Fruit Templates

    Print, cut, score and fold dimensional fruit for a play kitchen or pretend grocery shop. Scoring and final assembly make this best for older elementary children or adult-assisted groups.

    Best for: Ages 8–12 · Time: 30–45 minutes · Supplies: Printed templates, cardstock, scissors and glue

71–80. Summer Camp Crafts and Activities

You do not need a campsite to enjoy these projects. Combine them with our guide to planning a summer camp at home and browse more camp crafts for kids.

71. Craft Stick Camping Tent

    Build a triangular tent from three craft sticks and fill the center with patterned paper. Add a paper campfire, stars or a small photograph to turn it into a keepsake.

    Best for: Ages 5–9 · Time: 25 minutes · Supplies: Craft sticks, paper, paint and glue

72. Glowing Pretend Campfire

    Create paper or tissue flames around a child-safe battery light. Use the finished campfire for songs, storytelling and indoor camping—never place paper near a real flame.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 with an adult · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Paper, recycled tubes and a battery light

73. Cardboard S’mores Craft

    Layer corrugated-cardboard crackers, paper chocolate and fluffy cotton marshmallows. Children can practice patterning by building pretend s’mores in different sequences.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Cardboard, brown paper, cotton and glue

74. Craft Stick Harmonica

    Assemble a simple sound-making toy and experiment with how vibration changes the sound. Adults should supervise the small bands and check the finished instrument before play.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 with an adult · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Craft sticks, paper, toothpicks and rubber bands

75. DIY Mini Camping Play Set

    Build a tiny tent, campfire and outdoor scene for small dolls or figures. Children can invent characters and stories after the construction is complete.

    Best for: Ages 6–11 · Time: 40 minutes · Supplies: Paper, craft sticks, glue and natural materials

76. Recycled Bug Observation Jar

    Decorate a clear container and add air holes prepared safely by an adult. Use it only for brief observation, keep it out of direct sun and release every insect where it was found.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 with an adult · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Clear container, mesh, paper and markers

77. Cardboard Tube Binoculars

    Join and decorate two cardboard tubes, then take them on a nature walk or pretend safari. Avoid long cords around young children; use a short handle or carry the binoculars by hand.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Cardboard tubes, paper, glue and markers

78. Nature-Weaving Walking Stick

    Wrap a fallen stick with yarn and weave in leaves, feathers or paper shapes collected responsibly. Smooth rough areas first and teach children never to swing the finished stick near others.

    Best for: Ages 6–11 with an adult · Time: 30 minutes · Supplies: Fallen stick, yarn and found materials

79. Painted Rock Tic-Tac-Toe

    Paint two sets of smooth stones with simple camping or nature symbols and draw a grid on a small fabric bag. The bag stores the pieces and doubles as a portable game board.

    Best for: Ages 6–12 · Time: Two sessions · Supplies: Stones, paint and a drawstring bag

80. Handprint Campfire Keepsake

    Trace a hand on red, orange or yellow paper to form the flames, then place it above paper logs. Add the child’s name and date for a simple summer-camp memory.

    Best for: Ages 3–8 · Time: 20 minutes · Supplies: Colored paper, pencil, scissors and glue

81–90. Summer STEM Experiments for Kids

These activities encourage children to predict, observe and explain. Adults should review every experiment first and adjust materials to the child’s age.

81. Constellation Flashlight

    Create a removable constellation cover for a flashlight and project star patterns onto a wall. Compare the patterns with a simple night-sky guide before trying real stargazing.

    Best for: Ages 6–11 with an adult · Time: 25 minutes · Concept: Constellations and light

82. Coffee Filter Parachute

    Build a lightweight parachute and drop it from the same height several times. Change one variable—canopy size, string length or payload—and record what happens.

    Best for: Ages 6–11 · Time: 25 minutes · Concept: Air resistance and fair testing

83. Simple Paper Plate Sundial

    Place a pencil upright in a marked paper plate and observe its shadow at regular intervals. Keep the plate in one position so children can compare how the shadow moves.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 with an adult · Time: Short observations across a day · Concept: Earth’s rotation and time

84. Solar Oven S’mores Investigation

    Line a box with foil and dark paper, cover the opening with clear film and test how sunlight warms the interior. Adults must control food safety, heat exposure and the final tasting step.

    Best for: Ages 8–12 with an adult · Time: 45–90 minutes · Concept: Solar energy and insulation

85. Solar-Powered Windmill Craft

    Assemble a small windmill powered by sunlight and test it at different times or angles. Use the project to discuss renewable energy and how light becomes motion.

    Best for: Ages 8–12 with an adult · Time: 45 minutes · Concept: Solar energy and engineering

86. Salt and Ice Investigation

    Sprinkle salt over a block of ice and observe the channels and textures that form. Add liquid watercolor for visibility and use a tray to contain melting water.

    Best for: Ages 4–10 with an adult · Time: 20 minutes · Concept: Freezing-point change

87. Basic Kaleidoscope

    Build a viewing tube that reflects colorful pieces into repeated patterns. Adults should prepare reflective materials safely and avoid sharp glass.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 with an adult · Time: 40 minutes · Concept: Reflection, symmetry and light

88. Summer Density Tower

    Layer liquids of different densities in a clear container and predict where each one will settle. Pour slowly and use child-safe household liquids selected by an adult.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 with an adult · Time: 25 minutes · Concept: Density

89. Aqua Sand Experiment

    Prepare coated sand outdoors in a well-ventilated area, then observe how it behaves underwater. The coating stage is for adults; children can make predictions and observe the finished material.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 with an adult · Time: Preparation plus 20-minute investigation · Concept: Water repellency

90. Color-Changing Flowers

    Place pale flowers in colored water and observe the petals over several hours. Ask children to draw before-and-after pictures and explain how water travels through the stem.

    Best for: Ages 5–11 · Time: Setup plus observations · Concept: Capillary action

91–100. Summer Printables and Quiet-Time Activities

Printables are useful on very hot days, during travel, for early finishers and at calm-down stations. Find more choices in our updated collection of summer printables for kids.

91. Summer Learning Pack for Preschool and Kindergarten

    Practice early literacy, number recognition, patterns and scissor skills with a coordinated set of summer pages. Select only the pages that match each child’s current skill level.

    Best for: Pre-K and kindergarten · Prep: Print and staple or place in sleeves

92. Summer Scenery Drawing Prompts

    Choose a beach, campsite or under-the-sea starter scene and complete it with original details. Extend the activity by asking children to dictate or write a story about the picture.

    Best for: Ages 5–10 · Prep: Print and provide drawing supplies

93. Printable Sun Crown

    Color, cut and assemble a wearable sun crown for a weather unit or summer celebration. Adults can pre-cut crown bands to speed up a classroom session.

    Best for: Ages 3–7 · Prep: Print on sturdy paper

94. Summer-Themed Coloring Pages

    Offer a choice of seasonal pictures for a low-prep calming activity. Place completed pages in writing folders so children can later add captions or short stories.

    Best for: Ages 3–9 · Prep: Print and set out colors

95. Summer Playdough Mats

    Use playdough to complete summer pictures while strengthening fingers for handwriting. Laminated mats can be cleaned and reused across several activity rotations.

    Best for: Ages 3–6 · Prep: Print and laminate

96. Summer 3D Coloring Activity

    Color, cut and layer the pieces to create raised summer scenes. This works well when children want something more involved than a standard coloring sheet.

    Best for: Ages 5–9 · Prep: Print on cardstock

97. Crab and Turtle Summer Craft Template

    Use the printable pieces to assemble a friendly crab-and-turtle beach scene. Teachers can pre-sort the pieces into envelopes for a tidy small-group activity.

    Best for: Ages 4–8 · Prep: Print, and pre-cut for younger children

98. Printable Comic Book Template

    Invite children to create a summer adventure with characters, speech bubbles and a clear beginning, middle and end. It combines drawing with meaningful writing practice.

    Best for: Ages 7–12 · Prep: Print several pages per child

99. Summer Reading Bingo

    Turn daily reading into a friendly challenge with varied prompts. Keep rewards simple—choosing the next family story or getting extra library time works well.

    Best for: Ages 6–12 · Prep: Print and choose reading goals

100. Printable Family Bingo

     Finish the collection with a game the whole family or class can enjoy. Print enough boards for the group, cut the calling cards and store everything in a labeled envelope.

     Best for: Ages 5 and up · Prep: Print, cut and organize

How to Plan a Week of Summer Activities

Choose one theme for each day instead of preparing random projects. For example, try Beach Monday, Bug Tuesday, Outdoor Art Wednesday, STEM Thursday and Printable Friday. This reduces supply changes and gives children time to build knowledge around each theme.

For a classroom or camp, prepare one completed sample without insisting that children copy it exactly. Put shared supplies in labeled trays, create a drying area and offer an easier variation for younger children. Our toddler and preschool activity collection can help when a group includes younger siblings.

For more seasonal inspiration, visit the ArtsyCraftsyMom summer archive, explore craft ideas for kids, or keep a few low-prep activities ready from the printable shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest summer crafts for kids?

Paper plate fruit, torn-paper suns, ice cream bookmarks, fingerprint pineapples and sidewalk chalk pictures are among the easiest choices. They use familiar supplies, require little preparation and can be simplified for preschoolers.

Which summer crafts are suitable for preschoolers?

Choose large shapes and activities based on painting, tearing, sticking or pressing playdough. Avoid small beads and sharp tools, and pre-cut complicated pieces when necessary.

What are good summer activities for very hot days?

Use printable games, playdough mats, coloring pages, paper crafts and indoor pretend play. Schedule outdoor projects for the cooler morning or evening hours and follow local heat guidance.

How can teachers use these ideas at summer camp?

Organize the crafts by weekly themes, prepare supply trays and select projects with flexible results. Add a short book, science question or writing prompt to turn each craft into a broader learning experience.

What skills do summer crafts help children practice?

Cutting, folding, lacing, coloring and modeling strengthen fine-motor control. Open-ended projects also support planning, creative thinking, vocabulary, observation, persistence and problem-solving.

How can I reduce the mess?

Use washable materials, cover the table, portion paint into small cups and give each child a shallow work tray. Keep wipes nearby and choose glue sticks or paper collage activities when time is limited.

Whether you need a five-minute printable, a colorful classroom display or a full week of summer camp activities, there is something here to keep young hands busy and curious. Save this list, gather a few basic supplies and enjoy a creative summer together! ☀️