How to Make a Diorama of a Plain
Learning different ecosystems in the world is an interesting activity for kids. Making a diorama is an effective project to assign when teaching about ecosystems. There are different plains that can be reproduced in a diorama. Each plain is very distinctive as to what animals live there, what plant life is there, and what the weather is like. Paying attention to these details will make the diorama more realistic and a good learning tool for kids.
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Things You'll Need
- shoebox
- paint
- printer
- computer
- glue
- tape
- styrofoam
- moss
- fabric
- old carpet or rug
- scissors
- cotton ball
Instructions
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Create an illusion of space with a nice blue sky with white clouds. Paint the outside and inside of the shoebox. Paint clouds and sky on the back of the inner box. You can also choose to use cotton balls for the clouds instead of painting them. Another option is to use a picture from a magazine magazine or a computer printout of the sky.
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Pieces of carpet can be used if your plain has a wheat color overall. Glue in plant elements and rocks depending on what kind of plain you are creating. Research what the grass and overall color of the ground looks like in your specific plain.
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A coastal plain will be completely different than an African plain. Look up what kind of animals, trees and other elements are specific to your plain. Print out or draw these elements. Tape small styrofoam squares to the back bottom of each element. Glue the bottom of the styrofoam pieces where you'd like them to go in your diorama. If you are creating an African plain, Acacia and Baobab trees, giraffes and elephants are good choices. If you are creating a North American, Midwestern plain, prairie dogs make sense.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have plastic figurines of animals or trees, they will help bring your diorama to life.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images Ryan McVay/Digital Vision/Getty Images
