How to Make a Diorama of a Fairy Tale

Creating a diorama was, at one time, a common assignment given to grade school children. Making a diorama may seem a little old-fashioned with so much modern technology all around us. However, kids generally enjoy the process, especially when the diorama being created is one based on an imaginative theme. A variety of skills can be reinforced in the process of making these delightful shoe box miniatures. Here's how you can make a diorama of a fairy tale that is sure to delight people of all ages.

Instructions

1. Read children several fairy tales. Let them look at the illustrations, and discuss what the pictures are showing.

2. Put the books away. Provide children with crayons and paper. Ask each child to each draw his or her favorite scene. Post all of the pictures. Discuss the scenes, drawings and fairy tales.

3. Instruct each child to turn one of the scenes into a diorama. Show them how the box, when set on its side, is like a little stage. Tell them that they may use any scene they choose for their dioramas, even if it is not the one they drew. (Stick to these choices, however, so that the assignment will not be so wide open that they become confused by all of the possibilities.)

4. Guide the children in thinking about the details of the scene. Ask what needs to be shown in each part of the diorama. Ask whether the scene will be inside or outside. It's important that they decide these details so a sky or ceiling can be made as well.

5. List on the board all the things each scene should show. Explain that the very faraway things should be painted on the background, and explain that the figures and objects farthest away should be smaller than those in the foreground.

6. Give children sheets of newsprint on which they can plan out the diorama. Encourage them to plan what will be shown on the sides of the scene, the back and the roof..

7. Throw out some ideas but allow children to use their imagination.

8. Supply children, if possible, with an assortment of small objects which they can sort through for inspiration. For example, the lid from a bottle of liquid detergent might make a barrel, and fabric scraps can serve as rugs. Smaller boxes can be turned into furniture.

9. Encourage children to move around objects in their scenes until they are satisfied with their placement before they do any gluing.

10. Assist with the gluing, pasting and setting of each scene. Make sure the characters are bold. You want the placement of characters within the scene to be authentic to the real fairy tale version. Pay attention to detail as you supervise the scenes.

11. The dioramas will now be complete. Enjoy the display of such a creative group of scenes.

Tips & Warnings

• Encourage creativity, even if it becomes an unusual interpretation of a classic scene.

• Don't be overly critical on a first attempt.