How to Do a Diorama of a Prehistoric Dinosaur Scene

Children can make dioramas as part of a group project and learn to value teamwork and cooperation.

Dioramas are a common component of school projects. Hands-on projects, such as creating dioramas, can help engage a child in learning the topic being presented. Many items around the house and outside can be used for creating your diorama, such as an old shoebox, rocks and grass. Any kind of modeling clay works well for making the dinosaurs. If you would like to be able to save your diorama, use a type of clay that can be baked and hardened.

Things You'll Need

• Brown, green and black modeling clay
• Green construction paper
• Leaf
• Craft glue
• Scissors
• Rocks
• Blue, white and green paint
• Paintbrush
• Shoebox

Instructions

1. Remove the top from the shoebox and discard it. Lay the shoebox horizontally, on its side.

2. Paint the inside back of the shoebox sky-blue. Paint the inner sides and "ceiling" of the shoebox blue as well. Add white clouds to the backdrop. Paint the bottom, or "ground," of your diorama green.

3. Place a leaf from a tree outside on top of some green construction paper. Use this as a template for foliage. Cut out several leaves from green construction paper. If you like, you can even add some real leaves and greenery from trees and shrubs outside. Use craft glue to paste these elements to the inside of the shoebox. Add as much foliage as you like.

4. Sculpt a long-neck dinosaur from green modeling clay. Begin by molding a large oval for the main section of the body. Attach a long, slender tube to one end. This is the neck. Attach a long winding tail, pointed at the end, to the other end of the body. Attach four legs to your long-neck dinosaur. Roll two small black clay dots for the eyes to complete your dinosaur.

5. Roll a second, smaller oval from brown modeling clay. This will be the main body section of your second dinosaur, the stegosaurus. Attach a tail, about half the length of the long neck's, but a similar shape. Make four short, stumpy, squarish legs to attach to the body of your stegosaurus. Roll a second, smaller oval for the head and attach it to the body. Make five triangles, each about one-quarter inch thick, and attach them vertically down the stegosaurus's back. These plates are a characteristic feature of this dinosaur. Roll two small white clay balls and attach them for the eyes.

6. Add rocks to the "ground" of your diorama. You may glue the rocks down if you like or leave them loose. Position your two dinosaurs inside your diorama to complete your prehistoric dinosaur scene.