100+ Design Thinking Project Ideas for Kids to Do This Summer

I love a good summer maker project! At the beginning of the design thinking process, sometimes kids need a little scaffolding. This blog post offers you and your kids 25 design thinking project ideas for the anytime of the year, but they are especially fun in the summer! 

Keep kids engaged and practicing awesome life skills all summer long!

My kids and I have been working on design thinking projects for years. My 2nd grader initiated this summer long maker experience a few years ago during the height of the covid pandemic.

We were on a walk and we came across what looked like a a table that once held a grill. It was in rough shape and was out on the curb to be thrown out.

My son had been wanting a station for all of his science gear, so he thought we could turn this piece of trash on the curb into a science lab. So we did, and thus a new interest was born: turning trash to treasure!

One of my favorite things about design thinking projects is that they do not have to be expensive. They don't have to cost a dime, in fact. I have done maker projects with my high school students forever, and we usually use materials that are just sitting around.

With my own children, we have been using only what we have on hand, including items on curbs that are destined for the landfill.

Making, particularly when done on the cheap, is an awesome way to gain content knowledge AND build important skills such as problem solving.

The design thinking project ideas listed below, and the ones that I did with my own children, can be modified to fit all ages and skill levels.

Have an amazing summer making! 

Stay Organized!

You can scroll down for a list of awesome maker project ideas for summer. Bookmark this page, and when your kids say "I'm bored", pull the prompts out and have the choose one!

The photos below illustrate a couple of the projects my own children and I have done so far this summer. 

The first one, as I've already described, was science station using an old grill table. This one was awesome. The only material we needed to purchase was spray paint.

We also created a yard swing out of palettes. There are palettes all over our city just waiting to be turned into some kind of maker gem! 

All you need to make a palette swing is one palette, paint, cushions, and rope. I purchased additional straps to hang our swing because the branch is uneven.

The palette was on the side of the road, the rope and paint we had sitting around, and the cushions came from our patio set that hadn't been used in years.

If you feel more comfortable having specific instructions, check out palette swings on Pinterest. There are many options!​

Over 100 Design Thinking Project Ideas for Kids

Make something that...

• Is upcycled
• Serves multiple purposes
• Solves an in-home problem
• Is a travel solution
• Solves a fitness problem
• Beautifies a landscape in a functional way
• Solves a camping problem
• Organizes something
• Saves you time
• You can play with
• Is inspired by an animal trait (biomimicry)
• Makes one thing appear to be something else
• You can cook with
• Will help you relax
• A pet/captive animal can play with
• Demonstrates/simulates something
• Reduces work
• That entertains a crowd
• Makes something boring more fun
• Represents something else
• You can use in your room
• Is a gift for someone else
• You can wear
• Moves by itself
• Enhances an experience​ 
• Prevents an accident
• Replaces something broken​
• Transforms an ordinary space into a peaceful sanctuary
• Brings a tradition to life
• Turns waste materials into functional art
• Reinvents a classic design with a futuristic twist
• Tells a story through interactive elements
• Translates emotions into tactile experiences
• Helps people keep their plants watered while on vacation
• Organizes your workspace in a fun and functional way
• Reduces food waste in the kitchen
• Encourages recycling in public spaces
• Makes commuting more enjoyable
• That solves an invasive species problem
• Keeps pets entertained while their owners are away
• Makes learning a new language fun and interactive
• Helps reduce single-use plastic consumption
• Organizes digital photos in an engaging way
• Assists people with remembering important dates
• Makes grocery shopping more efficient
• Encourages people to spend more time outdoors
• Helps manage stress and anxiety creatively
• Makes healthy eating more accessible
• Turns an everyday object into a musical instrument
• Assists in organizing a community event
• Improves water quality naturally
• Helps kids learn about different cultures
• Makes donating to charity more engaging
• Assists people in finding new hobbies
• Turns old clothing into something new and useful
• Helps people keep track of their travel plans
• Makes public transportation more user-friendly
• Assists in reducing energy consumption at home
• Makes cleaning more enjoyable and efficient
• Helps people stay connected with distant friends and family
• Encourages physical activity in a fun way
• Helps people with time management
• Makes personal finance more understandable
• Encourages mindfulness and meditation
• Helps organize and store craft supplies
• Makes waiting in lines more entertaining
• Encourages sustainable gardening practices
• Helps people find volunteer opportunities
• Makes staying hydrated more appealing
• Helps people track and reduce their carbon footprint
• Makes bedtime routines easier for kids
• Assists in learning and practicing new recipes
• Makes home repairs more manageable
• Helps people set and achieve personal goals
• Encourages creative writing and storytelling
• Raises awareness about bullying
• Makes home workouts more engaging
• Helps people keep track of their creative projects
• Makes outdoor adventures more accessible
• Assists in organizing family schedules
• Makes home decor more personal and unique
• That intersects social justice and art
• Helps people practice and improve their public speaking skills
• Makes learning math more interactive
• Assists in finding and organizing local events
• Makes sustainable living easier to understand and implement
• Helps people plan and execute DIY projects
• Makes historical events come to life
• Assists in creating and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule
• Makes grocery shopping more sustainable
• Helps people discover and support local businesses
• Makes meal planning easier and more fun
• Assists in keeping track of health and wellness goals
• Makes recycling and composting easier
• Makes learning science more interactive and fun
• That mitigates a relevant and trending community issue
• Makes budgeting and saving money more engaging
• Helps people stay informed about current events
• Makes staying organized at school easier
• Helps people stay on top of household chores
• Makes traveling more eco-friendly
• Helps people track fitness goals creatively
• Assists in learning about different careers
• Makes fashion more sustainable
• Helps people reduce their digital footprint
• Assists in teaching environmental conservation
• Helps people find new ways to relax and unwind
• Makes public spaces more enjoyable
• Makes pet care more manageable
• Breaks boundaries
• Helps people stay productive while working from home
• Makes exploring new places more exciting
• Assists in promoting diversity and inclusion
• Reduces the stigma of mental health conditions
• Helps people stay organized with their hobbies
• Makes eco-friendly transportation more appealing
• Assists in planning and executing community projects
• Assists in creating a more balanced lifestyle
• Helps people connect with their neighbors
• Challenges you
• Makes learning history more engaging
• Teaches a skill
• Assists in creating and maintaining healthy habits
• Brings comfort
• Stands the test of time
• Makes home cooking more accessible
• Challenges norms
• Assists in organizing and planning social gatherings
• Brings warmth​
• That you can play with on a road trip
  

Related Blog Posts:

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