10 Back to School Crafts Upper Elementary Kids Actually Want to Make 🎒✂️

Back to school crafts upper elementary students actually enjoy can be incredibly hard to find. I put this list together because most back-to-school projects online are geared toward kindergarteners, leaving older kids bored and uninterested.

If you are a teacher or parent trying to engage 9 to 11-year-olds, these ideas hit the sweet spot. You will find practical, age-appropriate projects that let them express their growing independence while getting excited for the new school year.

1. Custom Canvas Pencil Pouches 🖌️

Getting new supplies is fun, but personalizing them gives older kids a sense of ownership. A plain canvas bag acts as a blank slate for their unique personality and current interests. They can use fabric markers or paint to create something they will actually use every day.

Materials Needed

1. Plain canvas pencil pouches with zippers.
2. Fabric markers or acrylic paint.
3. Painter’s tape for clean lines.

Designing the Pouches

1. Tape off geometric shapes or borders on the canvas pouch.
2. Let the kids fill in the shapes with their favorite colors.
3. Remove the tape carefully and let the fabric dry completely before filling it with pens.

2. Upcycled Cereal Box Magazine Holders 📚

Messy desks are a constant battle when homework starts piling up. Turning empty cereal boxes into sturdy organizers solves the clutter problem without spending money on expensive desk accessories. This project teaches resourcefulness while keeping their workspace tidy.

Supplies Required

1. Empty, clean cereal boxes.
2. Heavy-duty wrapping paper or contact paper.
3. Scissors and double-sided tape.

Assembly Steps

1. Cut the top flaps off the cereal box, then cut a diagonal line from the top corner down to the middle of the opposite side.
2. Wrap the entire box in the contact paper, smoothing out air bubbles as you go.
3. Line them up on a desk to hold notebooks, folders, and loose papers.

3. DIY Washi Tape Notebooks 📓

Plain composition books lack personality, and buying the trendy ones adds up fast. Washi tape offers a simple, mess-free way for tweens to upgrade their standard school supplies. If they make a mistake, they can just peel it off and start over.

What You Need

1. Standard black-and-white composition notebooks.
2. Several rolls of patterned washi tape.
3. A craft knife or sharp scissors.

Decorating Process

1. Apply strips of washi tape horizontally, vertically, or diagonally across the notebook cover.
2. Fold the excess tape over the edges to the inside cover for a clean finish.
3. Mix and match patterns to create a striped, plaid, or color-blocked look.

4. Locker Magnetic Clothespin Clips 🧲

For kids transitioning into middle school, locker decor becomes a huge deal. These magnetic clips are cheap to make and perfect for holding schedules, photos of friends, or lunch menus. They add a pop of color to a boring metal locker door.

Craft Supplies

1. Wooden clothespins.
2. Acrylic paint and small brushes.
3. Strong magnetic strips with adhesive backing.

Creating the Clips

1. Paint the front and sides of the wooden clothespins with bright colors or fun patterns.
2. Allow the paint to dry completely.
3. Cut a piece of the magnetic strip and press it firmly onto the back of the clothespin.

5. Inspirational Quote Bookmarks 🔖

Keeping track of reading assignments feels less like a chore with a bookmark they designed themselves. Upper elementary students are at an age where they start appreciating motivational quotes. This craft blends creativity with a little daily encouragement.

Required Items

1. Heavy cardstock paper.
2. Watercolor paints and brushes.
3. Fine-tip permanent black markers.
4. A hole punch and some ribbon.

Crafting Steps

1. Cut the cardstock into long, rectangular bookmark shapes.
2. Paint a light watercolor wash over the background and let it dry.
3. Write a favorite motivational quote over the watercolor using the black marker.
4. Punch a hole at the top and tie a colorful ribbon through it.

6. Personalized Backpack Zipper Pulls 🎒

Spotting their bag in a crowded hallway is much easier with a custom tag attached. Making zipper pulls out of beads lets older kids show off their style or spell out their names. It is a quick project that instantly upgrades a plain backpack.

Crafting Materials

1. Strong nylon cord or leather string.
2. Alphabet beads and colorful pony beads.
3. Metal keychain rings.

How to Build Them

1. Tie the nylon cord securely to the metal keychain ring.
2. Thread the alphabet beads to spell out a name or a favorite word.
3. Add colorful beads on either end, then tie a tight double knot to secure everything in place.

7. Homework Caddy Organizers 🖍️

A dedicated homework station keeps everyone focused and prevents last-minute panics over missing erasers. Repurposing an old shower caddy or wooden tool carrier creates a portable station they can carry to the kitchen table. It gives them responsibility over their own materials.

Supply List

1. A plastic or wooden caddy with a handle.
2. Spray paint (optional, for plastic caddies).
3. Mason jars or plastic cups to separate items inside the caddy.

Setup Process

1. Clean the caddy and spray paint it a solid, modern color if desired.
2. Place jars or cups inside the compartments to hold smaller items upright.
3. Fill the sections with pencils, markers, scissors, and a calculator.

8. Geometric Painted Clipboards 📋

Carrying around loose papers often leads to crumpled assignments at the bottom of a backpack. A sturdy clipboard fixes this, and painting it turns a boring office supply into a cool accessory. The geometric design is foolproof and looks highly professional.

Materials List

1. Standard wooden clipboards.
2. Painter’s tape.
3. Acrylic craft paint and foam brushes.

Painting Steps

1. Apply painter’s tape in a random, crisscross pattern across the wooden clipboard.
2. Paint the exposed triangles and shapes with different, coordinating paint colors.
3. Peel off the tape while the paint is still slightly wet to reveal sharp, clean wooden lines.

9. Pom-Pom Topped Pens 🖊️

Writing essays and taking notes feels a little less tedious when the tools are fun. Fluffy pens are very popular with tweens, but making them at home is much cheaper than buying them at a boutique. It is a tactile, silly craft that brings joy to study time.

What to Gather

1. Standard ballpoint pens with removable caps.
2. Large, colorful craft pom-poms.
3. Hot glue gun and glue sticks.
4. Green floral tape (optional).

Making the Pens

1. Remove the cap and wrap the pen barrel tightly in green floral tape for a finished look.
2. Apply a generous dot of hot glue to the flat top of the pen.
3. Press a large pom-pom firmly onto the glue and hold it until it sets securely.

10. Vision Board Folders 📂

Setting goals for the new year helps older students stay motivated during challenging grading periods. Turning a plain pocket folder into a portable vision board keeps their goals right in front of them. It is a great way to start conversations about what they want to achieve this year.

Supplies Needed

1. Sturdy paper pocket folders.
2. Old magazines, printed quotes, and family photos.
3. Glue sticks and clear packing tape.

Assembly Instructions

1. Have the student cut out words, pictures, and goals that inspire them.
2. Arrange and glue the collaged pieces completely covering the front of the folder.
3. Cover the entire front cover with clear packing tape to laminate and protect the design from wear and tear.

It is absolutely possible to get older kids off their screens and excited about the new academic year with the right projects. When you choose activities that yield useful, personalized results, they are much more likely to participate.

If you loved these ideas, make sure to pin this post to your favorite Pinterest board so you can easily find it when August rolls around! 📌