4th of July Crafts for Elementary Children

Kids love making crafts. Seasonal crafts are great because adults can use them for hosting decorations or to give away as party favors.
One 4th of July craft that is easy for children to make is a Patriotic Pinwheel.

You will need 2 pieces of thick construction paper, scissors, a hole punch, a pushpin, a pencil with eraser, and markers or crayons.

The first step is to make two square pieces of paper. Simply fold a corner to the opposite side and cut the paper to make even squares. This may be done by an adult ahead of time.

Next, fold each paper diagnally both ways, so that there is an invisible x running through the paper. Unfold the papers and decorate one side of each sheet of paper. Stickers, markers, colored pencils, stencils and stamps work great. Gold star stickers are fairly inexpensive and can be bought in bulk. Ribbon can also be glued on to the paper.

Next, put the undecorated sides of each paper back to back. Make four cuts along the fold lines, about halfway to the center.

Then, punch four holes in the pinwheel, at each corner.

Then, gently gather each of the four points with a hole to the center. Be careful not to crease the paper. Then, simply push a push-pin through the four punched holes and attach the pinwheel to the side of a pencil's eraser.

This is a craft that will certainly require an adult's help, however, older children may be able to grasp the craft quickly and assist little ones.

Another great craft for kids to make on the 4th of July is a paper star that can stand by itself on a table. these make great table decorations and can also be hung by strings from the celing or lamp post as outdoor decorations.

In order to make the Stand-Alone Star Craft you will need stiff paper or styrofoam meat trays, scissors, crayons or markers and possible stickers to decorate.

Two identical paper stars are needed to make the one star. You may either print out a template found from enchantedlearning.com, or draw one star and trace the other one carefully so that they are identical sizes. It is a good idea to cut out a few pattern stars in advance if you are planning on having several children make the star craft.

Decorate both stars before cutting them out. Children may use markers, colored pencils, stickers, glitter glue and any other materials they can find.
Once the two stars are cut out, make one slit in each star. One one star, the slit will go from an inner corner to the center point of the star. On the other star the slit will go from an outer corner or point on the star to the center point.

Next, slip the two stars together through the slits you just cut. There may be a little bit of tape required in order to ensure stability of the star. Also, by taking a hole punch and attaching some string, the stars can easily be suspended and hung from a plant hook or a beam on a porch or deck. Stars may also be connected to make star mobiles to be hung outside.

Another 4th of July Craft is a Fireworks craft. Children love to watch fireworks and they will enjoy creating their own firework projects. Parents should not be concerned, there is no need for any sparks in this project.

Children will need black or very dark construction paper, glitter, white glue, old newspapers and a straw. The glue needs to be the kind that is dispensed from a fine tip. Elmer's will typically work just fine.

Simply apply a firework design using the glue to the dark construction paper. children may choose to do one colorful firework or several on the same piece of paper. Adults should be sure to lay out plenty of old newspapers in advance.

Children may then coat their glue with various colors of loose glitter. Excess glitter may be shaken off the paper and onto the old newspapers. Excess glitter should also be carefully captured so that it may be reused. Children may also drop some glue on the paper and use a straw to blow the glue into a firework design. The glue will spread outword in streaks and children may then coat the glue in a similar way.

Children may also cut the paper ahead of time into star shapes or circles to make the fireworks of different shapes and sizes. Once the glue and glitter is dry, children may display their fireworks by attaching them to doors and windows or refrigerators.