Summer is the perfect time for students to explore their creativity through maker projects and design challenges! These activities give students the freedom to create, experiment, and engage in self-directed learning, using materials found at home or provided in kits sent from school. Whether short and simple or long-term and immersive, maker projects encourage problem-solving, innovation, and hands-on discovery.
Creative Summer Crafts, Projects & Digital Making
Maker activities can take many forms, from hands-on crafts to digital designs. Summer craft and “DIY” (Do It Yourself) projects offer a fun, easy and low cost entry into making. Craft projects allow students to use their creativity and have a tangible beginning and ending point. Quick science maker projects like homemade ice cream can add yummy summer fun into the mix! Offering a variety of shorter STEAM projects gives students voice and choice in what they create and allows them to follow their own path in their summer learning. Simple materials can spark imaginative builds like cardboard structures or recycled art creations.
For students interested in digital creation projects, platforms like Tinkercad (reviewed here) or MakeCode (reviewed here) provide exciting opportunities. Designing a 3D-printed object or coding an interactive game can keep creativity flowing even on rainy summer days. These digital tools allow students to tinker, prototype, and problem-solve, connecting technology with innovation in engaging ways.
Expanding Creativity: Longer Challenges, Camps & Literacy Connections
Implementing longer term maker projects or design challenges over the summer can deepen the learning and engagement. For those looking for structured maker experiences, programs like Maker Camp from Make Magazine offer step-by-step projects across different themes, providing guided exploration with an optional badging system. ScienceBuddies provides ten weeks of exciting summer projects that can be explored at home, in a summer program, or a more formal environment, making learning both dynamic and fun. Projects fall under a wide variety of themes and can be offered as a whole program or in one week themes.
Maker projects can also enhance summer reading by incorporating design and storytelling. Students can build a diorama inspired by a favorite book, invent gadgets inspired by literary characters, or even create a stop-motion animation to bring a story to life. These activities blend literacy with creativity, making reading a more engaging experience—adding fun to what some students may see as a chore.
Make This Summer One of Creativity!
Encourage students to take charge of their learning this summer through hands-on activities, digital projects, and creativity-driven literacy connections. Bring out your students’ creativity in learning this summer with maker fun! Visit TeachersFirst’s Design Thinking Collection or explore maker-related blog posts for more inspiration. Have additional maker ideas or favorite resources? Share them in the comments below!