How to Make a UFO Diorama

Create your own UFO diorama

We may not be alone in the universe.
Worldwide, there have been reported sightings of space crafts zooming across the sky.
Junior space explorers can create their own diorama based on the unidentified flying objects (UFO) that have been reported.
Using a shoebox, this diorama is made by first creating a background for the UFO, then building the UFO itself.
Once complete, the UFO is attached to the inside of the shoebox for a depiction of a hovering extraterrestrial spacecraft.

Things You'll Need

• Large Shoebox
• Construction paper, assorted colors
• Scissors
• White glue
• White paint marker
• Soup can
• Skewer
• 2 paper plates
• 2 paper clips
• String

Instructions

Shoebox

1. Line the inside of a shoebox with black construction paper. Secure the construction paper in place using white glue. Fill the entire inner area so that no cardboard from the box is showing.

2. Apply small white dots to the black construction paper by using a white paint marker. These dots represent the stars in the sky. Draw a line extending from a larger dot to create a comet for the sky.

3. Trace a circle onto a piece of blue construction paper using a soup can. Cut out the circle. Cut smaller shapes from green construction paper and paste them onto the blue circle t create a representation of the Earth. Paste the Earth into your cardboard box.

UFO

1. Paint two small, paper plates silver using acrylic paint. Allow the paint to fully dry. Draw black or yellow circles along the curved, underside of the plates to represent the lights of the UFO.

2. Punch a small hole into the center of one of your plates. Use a a skewer or the tip of a knife to create the hole.

3. Tie one end of a 3 inch piece of string to a paper clip. Thread the string through the hole in the paper plate so the paper clip presses against the inside of the plate.

4. Glue the two paper plates together so the top edge of one plate is against the top edge of the other. The disc-like object it creates is your UFO. Allow the glue to dry.

Assembly

1. Punch a hole into the top of your shoebox. Thread the string from the top of your UFO through the underside of the shoebox so it emerges from the top.

2. Tie the free end of the string onto a paper clip. This will keep your UFO suspended inside the shoebox.

3. Cover the outside of the shoebox with black construction paper, being sure to cover the protruding paperclip.

Tips & Warnings

• Create additional planets for your diorama with colored construction paper such as red paper for Mars or blue paper for Neptune.

• Add additional UFO's into your diorama with different sized paper plates. Attach each one to a different part of your shoebox.

References

• DLTK's Crafts for Kids: Orbiting Object Paper Plate Craft
• Lesson Planet: 83 Shoebox Dioramas Lesson Plans

Resources

• Roadside America: International UFO Museum and Research Center