Craft Corner July 4th

June 18, 2025

During my years teaching at a day care/preschool and teaching elementary Sunday school classes, I found that boys liked to create craft projects just as much as the girls. In the summer, many parts of the country have many nights that they are not able to go outside for activities due to heat advisories. Below are several craft ideas for your Ranger Kids and Discovery Rangers groups for July 4^th. There are a couple of crafts that are just too good, so I decided to keep them from last time.

RANGER KIDS & DISCOVERY RANGERS

I tried to select craft projects that any of the boys could complete with little individual supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the younger boys in the class. If you are having a fun night, then you can set several of these up as different craft stations.

Glitter Fireworks

Don’t let the word glitter deter you from this craft. This is a very simple but exciting craft. You only need black cardstock or construction paper, pencils, and glitter glue (various colors). It may be easier for the boys to draw the fireworks on their papers before they trace them with the glitter glue. This is craft #3 at the link below.

https://abcdeelearning.com/july-4th-crafts/

Paper Bag Eagles

These don’t require many supplies. You’ll need brown paper lunch bags, cardstock (brown, yellow, and white), googly eyes, scissors, and glue sticks. For the larger wings of the eagle, you will want to trace your hand on paper and photocopy it on the brown cardstock. Each boy will need to large handprints and two small handprints. If you need to save time in class, cut out the beaks, feet, and face/neck pieces before class. The website has great step-by-step instructions.

https://www.ourkidthings.com/paper-bag-handprint-eagle-craft/

Cupcake Line Fireworks

The supplies of cupcake liners in different sizes and colors (mainly red, white, and blue), scissors, white glue or glue sticks, and cardstock are simple, but they make a spectacular July 4^th craft that looks like the sky filled with bursting fireworks. Although this craft is typically more suited to Ranger Kids, your Discovery Rangers may enjoy it as well.

https://thekindergartenconnection.com/cupcake-liner-fireworks-craft/

Paper Mosaic Flag

Using red, white, and blue construction paper, white paint, Q-tips, glue sticks, and pencils, your boys can create their own unique mosaic. Before class, mark the blue field and the thirteen stripe with the pencil. For Ranger Kids, you may want them to tear the red stripes as one strip of paper and tear large blue pieces for the field of blue. For Discovery Rangers, they may enjoy tearing the smaller pieces for the red stripes and field of blue.

http://craftcornerdiy.com/holiday-crafts/4th-of-july/4th-of-july-craft-paper-mosaic-flag

FlagMosaic2

Star Wreath

I modified this craft from the link below to make is a little easier for the boys. You’ll need paper plates, cardstock (red, white, and blue), scissors, and glue sticks. I always need a good template, so I have provided one below. You’ll want the boys to cut the middle out of the plate so that they have an outer ring only. They will need to pinch the plate in half to start cutting out the middle. The stars can be precut for quick, easy assembly, or the boys can out their own stars. I recommend turning the plate over so that the curved side is facing up like a circular dome. This will be easier for the boys to glue the stars onto the wreath. This is craft #1 at the link below.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/4th-of-july-crafts-for-kids/

Template: https://patternuniverse.com/download/3-inch-star-pattern/

Star Wreath

Fireworks Painting

The supplies are basic: paper plates, paint (red, white, blue, yellow, green, etc.), scissors, toilet paper or paper towel rolls, and construction paper or cardstock. You or the boys will need to cut fringe along one end of the toilet paper rolls. The fringe will spread out when the boys press them into the paint and then onto the construction paper. For a little extra sparkle, you could stir in glitter to the paint on the plates before the boys start making the fireworks. Don’t forget the paint shirts.

https://www.happinessishomemade.net/4th-of-july-kids-craft-painting-fireworks/

JulyFireworksPainting

SNACKS

These are great snack ideas for Ranger Kids and Discovery Rangers. These would work well for a party or a regular outpost meeting.

Patriotic Popcorn

This is probably the easiest snack you will see in the Craft Corner articles. Make popcorn. This can be made in the microwave, using an air popper, or on the stovetop. Add dried blueberries and dried cranberries to the popcorn to make this red, white, and blue snack.

https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/3-easy-red-white-blue-july-4th-appetizers/

July4 Popcorn

Strawberries and Cheese

You’ll need strawberries, mozzarella balls, blueberries, and mini flag skewers. This is a simple snack the boys will enjoy making themselves. Depending on the size of your class, you may want to cut the strawberries and mozzarella balls in half before class. The assembly is quick and easy. Be sure to know about any potential allergies to berries or dairy.

https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/3-easy-red-white-blue-july-4th-appetizers/

July4 Strawberry and Cheese

Edible Flag

This fruity flag will be a fun snack idea for any week leading up to July 4^th. You can made one large edible flag or have each boy make his own. Be sure to find out about any allergies and make substitutions. For example, you could substitute raspberries for strawberries. You could use Twizzlers instead of strawberries.

https://inspired-motherhood.com/kids-celebrate-4th-of-july/?ref=pcrorganicgglunkwn&prid=pcseogglunkwn

EdibleFlag

July 4^th Skewers

I don’t think you will need a website for these. The picture is instruction enough. You’ll need long skewers, small marshmallow, strawberries or raspberries, and blueberries. Let the boys build their own skewer snack. Be sure to find out about any allergies. You could use Twizzlers bites instead of strawberries or raspberries.

JulyFruitSkewer JulyFruitSkewer2

GAMES

Capture the Flag

This is an old game with a July 4^th twist. After you have created the game area with cones, place five to ten small American flags along the far side of each team’s boundaries. The goal is for each team to capture as many of their opponent’s flags as possible in a specific amount of time. If a boy gets tagged in the opponent’s territory, then he is frozen until a teammate unfreezes him. If he happens to have a flag, then the flag goes back to where he captured it from. You can use whatever other rules your outpost uses for Capture the Flag.

Word Finds & Mazes

Here is a fund word find and maze for July 4^th I found for you.

https://www.ourkidthings.com/july-4th-games-printable-set/

https://ourkidthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Independence-Day-Game-Set-Printable.pdf

July4 Word Find Maze

Patriotic Bingo

I thought it might be nice to keep this little game idea from last year. There are two different websites with different looks to the game boards. You just print and cut the piece out and let the boys play. It would work as a great transitional activity because the boys could play it on their own while you are watching other boys demonstrate a part of their current skill merit. It is easy to get out while the boys are arriving if you have limited space for the boys to run around.

https://crazylittleprojects.com/patriotic-4th-of-july-bingo-game/

https://crazylittleprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PatrioticBingoBoards.pdf

https://www.thehousewifemodern.com/blog/free-printable-4th-july-patriotic-bingo/

PatrioticBingo1 PatrioticBingo2