Father’s Day Crafts for Kids 3rd Grade can be tricky to plan because eight and nine-year-olds are past toddler scribbles but still need projects that don’t require heavy adult supervision. I put this list together because most craft ideas online are either too babyish or way too complicated for elementary students.
If you are a parent looking for easy projects, these ideas focus on setups that actually look great and keep kids engaged independently.
1. Elementary Comic Strip About Dad 🦸♂️
If your child loves graphic novels, a custom comic is a great way to let their imagination run wild. They can easily draw a short story featuring their dad saving the day or doing something funny around the house. It gives them a chance to practice their writing skills while creating a really personal gift.
Supplies Needed
- Blank comic book templates or white cardstock
- Fine-tip black markers for outlining
- Colored pencils or crayons
Project Guide
- Ask your child to brainstorm a funny memory or a made-up superpower for their dad.
- Sketch out the story in pencil first so they can erase mistakes easily.
- Outline the panels in black ink and color in the scenes.
2. DIY Wooden Trophy Painting Craft 🏆
When you want a keepsake that actually lasts, skipping the paper crafts for wood is a smart move. These little blank trophies are easy to find at most craft stores and give kids a solid surface to decorate. Painting it gives the project a much more polished feel than standard construction paper art.
Supplies Needed
- Unfinished wooden trophy shapes (from craft store)
- Acrylic paint in dad’s favorite colors
- Small paintbrushes and a water cup
Project Guide
- Lay down some newspaper to protect your table before starting.
- Let the child paint the base color and wait about twenty minutes for it to dry.
- Add details like stripes, polka dots, or the year using a smaller brush.
3. “Dad Facts” Flip Book Project 📓
It is always hilarious to see what an eight-year-old actually knows about their dad’s daily habits. A flip book lets them answer silly prompts like “My dad’s favorite food is…” or “My dad is really good at…” on individual pages. The answers are usually completely unexpected and make for a great laugh on Sunday morning.
Supplies Needed
- Index cards or thick cut paper
- A hole punch and a metal binder ring
- Markers and stickers for decorating
Project Guide
- Write a different question or prompt at the top of each blank card.
- Have the child fill in their honest answers and draw a small picture below.
- Punch a hole in the top left corner of all the cards and bind them together.
4. Father’s Day Snack Stadium Craft 🥨
For dads who live for game day, building something edible is usually a bigger hit than traditional art. Kids can construct a miniature stadium out of cardboard boxes and fill the “stands” with different snacks. It acts as both a craft project and the afternoon appetizer.
Supplies Needed
- Clean, empty cardboard boxes of varying sizes
- Aluminum foil to line the boxes
- Assorted dry snacks (pretzels, popcorn, chips, mixed nuts)
Project Guide
- Cut the boxes so they sit at an angle like stadium seating.
- Line the entire inside with aluminum foil so the food stays safe and clean.
- Fill each section with a different snack and use guacamole or dip as the “field” in the center.
5. Elementary Tie-Dye Bookmark Craft 🔖
Finding a practical gift that a third grader can make without destroying the kitchen is always a win. Using coffee filters and markers, kids can create a tie-dye effect that looks amazing once it dries. You can cut these down and laminate them so dad has a cool placeholder for his current book.
Supplies Needed
- White paper coffee filters
- Washable markers (various colors)
- A spray bottle filled with water
- Clear packing tape or a laminator
Project Guide
- Let the child color random blocks and patterns all over the coffee filter.
- Lightly spray the filter with water so the colors bleed and blend together.
- Once fully dry, cut it into a rectangle and seal it with clear tape to make it sturdy.
6. “Best Dad Ever” License Plate Craft 🚗
Sometimes the best projects are the ones that only require a few basic supplies you already have lying around. Third graders can design a custom state license plate that features inside jokes or dad’s favorite numbers. It is a fun piece of art he can pin up in his garage or workshop.
Supplies Needed
- Heavy duty paper plates or thick cardboard
- Silver metallic paint or markers
- Black sharpies and colored pencils
Project Guide
- Cut the cardboard into a standard rectangle shape for the license plate.
- Paint the background silver and let it dry completely.
- Use a sharpie to draw the border, write “BEST DAD” in the center, and add colorful state decals.
7. Father’s Day Adventure Jar 🏕️
Instead of buying another gadget, giving the gift of planned time together means a lot more to most parents. This involves decorating a glass jar and filling it with popsicle sticks that each have a different weekend activity written on them. Dad gets to pull one out whenever he wants to cash in a free family adventure.
Supplies Needed
- A clean, empty pasta or mason jar
- Wide wooden popsicle sticks
- Ribbon and fine-point markers
Project Guide
- Tie a piece of ribbon around the top of the jar to make it look nice.
- Brainstorm a list of free or cheap activities, like “Movie Night” or “Bike Ride”.
- Write one activity on each stick and place them all upright inside the jar.
8. Elementary LEGO Name Art Craft 🧱
Kids who are obsessed with building blocks will jump at the chance to use them for a special project. They can spell out dad’s name or a short message on a baseplate using colorful bricks. It requires zero messy glue and can sit right on his desk at work.
Supplies Needed
- One medium-sized flat building baseplate
- An assortment of colorful brick blocks
- A small picture frame stand (optional)
Project Guide
- Sort through your block bins to find contrasting colors so the letters stand out.
- Map out the word “DAD” on the baseplate by pressing the bricks into place.
- Build a small border around the edge of the plate to frame the artwork nicely.
9. Baseball Scoreboard Canvas Project ⚾
Capturing a favorite shared hobby on canvas turns a simple painting afternoon into a meaningful bedroom decoration. If they watch sports together, painting a vintage-looking scoreboard with their family name is a great idea. Third graders have the fine motor skills to make the numbers look surprisingly neat.
Supplies Needed
- A blank stretched canvas
- Green, white, and yellow acrylic paint
- A ruler for drawing straight lines
Project Guide
- Paint the entire canvas a dark, grassy green color.
- Use a ruler and white paint to map out a grid for the innings and scores.
- Add the family’s last name at the top in bright yellow paint.
10. DIY Dad Desk Organizer Craft 📎
Upcycling old containers into something useful gives kids a great lesson in reusing materials while making a solid gift. Tin cans or small cardboard boxes can be wrapped in paper and decorated to hold pens, paperclips, and rubber bands. It keeps his workspace tidy and adds a bit of color.
Supplies Needed
- Empty, clean tin cans (make sure edges are not sharp)
- Construction paper or patterned scrapbooking paper
- Double-sided tape and markers
Project Guide
- Measure and cut the paper to fit the height and width of the tin can.
- Let the child draw patterns or write a message on the paper while it is flat.
- Wrap the paper tightly around the can and secure it firmly with double-sided tape.
11. “My Dad Can Fix Anything” Toolbox Craft 🧰
If your family has a designated handy person, this paper engineering activity is a fun nod to their skills. Kids can fold a small box out of heavy cardstock to look like a tool caddy. They then cut out paper tools and write reasons why they love their dad on the handles.
Supplies Needed
- Red and grey heavy cardstock paper
- Scissors and a glue stick
- A black marker
Project Guide
- Fold the red cardstock into a simple open box shape with a handle in the middle.
- Cut out shapes of hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers from the grey paper.
- Write a nice message on each tool and tuck them neatly inside the red box.
12. Elementary Origami Shirt and Tie Card 👔
Folding paper takes a bit of patience, making it an ideal quiet-time activity for older elementary students. With a few simple creases, a standard sheet of paper transforms into a collared shirt with a contrasting tie. It looks incredibly impressive but is actually quite simple to pull off.
Supplies Needed
- Two different colors of square origami paper
- A glue stick to secure the pieces
- A blank greeting card
Project Guide
- Follow a basic origami tutorial to fold the main shirt shape.
- Fold the contrasting paper into a small tie and glue it just under the shirt collar.
- Glue the entire finished folded piece to the front of your blank greeting card.
13. Father’s Day Campfire Lantern Craft 🔥
Bringing the camping vibe indoors is a cool way to celebrate dads who love spending weekends in the woods. By layering tissue paper on a glass jar and dropping in a fake candle, kids can make a glowing “campfire”. It makes a great nightlight or table centerpiece for a family dinner.
Supplies Needed
- A clean glass jar
- Orange, yellow, and red tissue paper squares
- Liquid school glue mixed with a little water
- A battery-operated tealight candle
Project Guide
- Use a paintbrush to spread the watered-down glue all over the outside of the jar.
- Stick the warm-colored tissue paper squares onto the wet glue, overlapping them.
- Let it dry completely, then drop the battery-operated candle inside.
14. “Top Chef Dad” Recipe Book Craft 🍳
Getting kids to write down their favorite weekend meals usually results in some incredibly funny instructions and measurements. A handmade recipe book lets them document how they think dad makes his famous pancakes or burgers. The bizarre ingredient lists are guaranteed to make everyone smile.
Supplies Needed
- Blank paper folded in half to make a booklet
- Staples or string to bind the spine
- Markers and colored pencils
Project Guide
- Create a cover that says “Dad’s Secret Recipes” with a drawing of a chef hat.
- Ask the child to explain step-by-step how to cook their favorite dinner.
- Write down exactly what they say, even if the instructions call for “a million degrees.”
15. Elementary Mini Golf Course Project ⛳
Turning the living room into an interactive game is guaranteed to keep everyone entertained long after breakfast. Kids can design small ramps and tunnels out of cardboard to build a custom mini-golf hole. It is a fantastic engineering challenge that gives them an activity to play together.
Supplies Needed
- Several small cardboard boxes and paper towel tubes
- Scissors and strong packing tape
- A putter and a golf ball (or a tennis ball)
Project Guide
- Cut arches into the boxes so the ball can roll completely through them.
- Tape the paper towel tubes to the floor to act as bumpers or narrow pathways.
- Set up the obstacles in a challenging line and take turns trying to get a hole-in-one.
16. Father’s Day Photo Booth Props Craft 📸
Putting together silly hats and mustaches on sticks sets the family up for a really fun afternoon photo session. Third graders can easily trace and cut out their own designs to make the pictures unique. Having these ready when dad wakes up turns a regular morning into a party.
Supplies Needed
- Stiff felt or heavy cardstock in various colors
- Wooden skewers or craft sticks
- Hot glue (with adult help) or strong tape
Project Guide
- Draw large mustaches, glasses, and bowties on the cardstock and cut them out.
- Tape the wooden sticks securely to the back of each shape.
- Set up a blank wall as a backdrop and take goofy family photos together.
17. DIY Fishing Pole Candy Holder 🎣
Tying a favorite treat into a clever presentation makes handing over a simple candy bar feel like a big event. By attaching string to a stick and tying the candy at the end, it looks exactly like a fresh catch. It works perfectly for dads who love to spend time at the lake.
Supplies Needed
- A clean, sturdy stick from the yard or a wooden dowel
- Thick string or twine
- A large candy bar or dad’s favorite treat
Project Guide
- Tie one end of the string tightly around the top of the wooden stick.
- Tie the other end of the string securely around the candy bar wrapper.
- Add a little homemade paper tag to the string that says “You’re a Catch!”
18. Elementary Rocket Launch Craft 🚀
Adding a little science experiment to the holiday makes the whole morning feel more active and exciting for everyone. Kids can build a simple paper rocket that slides over a straw, allowing them to blow into the straw to launch it. Seeing who can shoot theirs the furthest across the living room is a blast.
Supplies Needed
- Standard printer paper and tape
- Wide plastic or reusable drinking straws
- Markers to decorate the rocket
Project Guide
- Cut a small rectangle of paper, roll it tightly around a pencil, and tape the edge.
- Fold down and tape the top tip of the paper tube so no air can escape.
- Slide the paper tube over a straw, take a deep breath, and blow hard to launch it.
19. “Dad and Me” Memory Timeline Poster 🗺️
Sitting down to map out favorite family trips helps kids practice sequencing while looking back on good times. Using a long strip of paper, they can draw a timeline of their life with their dad, highlighting the best moments. It sparks great conversations about memories they might have forgotten.
Supplies Needed
- A large piece of poster board or paper banner
- A ruler for drawing the main timeline
- Markers and printed family photos
Project Guide
- Draw a thick line straight across the middle of the poster board.
- Have the child mark specific years or dates along the line.
- Glue down photos or draw pictures of big events above and below the line.
20. Father’s Day Puzzle Piece Frame Craft 🧩
Putting those leftover pieces from mismatched board games to good use gives a standard photo frame a really nice texture. Kids can glue random puzzle pieces around the border of a cheap wooden frame. It is a smart way to upcycle while framing a favorite recent picture of the two of them.
Supplies Needed
- A plain, flat wooden picture frame
- Old, mismatched puzzle pieces
- Craft glue
- A favorite printed photo
Project Guide
- Place a drop of glue on the back of each puzzle piece and press it onto the wooden frame.
- Let the child layer the pieces slightly over each other for a cool, messy look.
- Let it dry overnight, then insert the favorite photo into the center.
This list should give you plenty of options that hit the sweet spot between being too simple and too frustrating. Pick one that matches the supplies you already have in the house, and let your third grader handle the heavy lifting. They will feel really proud handing over something they built on their own, and dad will definitely appreciate the effort.
Be sure to pin this post to your favorite Pinterest crafts board so you can easily find these ideas again next year!
