How to Make Lights for a Diorama

Light up your diorama and show off your work.

Dioramas tend to be rather dark inside, as five of the six sides block light. By adding a flashlight, foil and a few basic materials, you can build a light diffuser. Small details such as adding lighting can elevate your diorama to a new level. Your little student will grab everyone's attention with a diorama that has its own lighting.

Things You'll Need

• Diorama
• Marker
• Scissors or cutting blade
• Colored cellophane
• Duct or gaffe tape
• Small LED flashlight
• Small 5-sided box big enough to hold LED flashlight
• Aluminum or tinfoil

Instructions

1. Mark the top-center of the diorama and cut a 1-by-1-inch square hole.

2. Lay colored cellophane if you wish to have a color hue, or clear cellophane over the hole. The cellophane should be a 2-by-2-inch square. Place tape over each edge of the cellophane.

3. Lay the small box on its back and cut a piece of aluminum foil to the approximate size of the inside-top of the small box. This small box will reflect the light through the 1-inch hole, into the diorama.

4. Smooth out shiniest side of foil as much as possible and tape it to the top of the inside of the box.

5. Turn on flashlight, laying it near the 1-by-1 inch hole. Cover both the flashlight and hole with the smaller box. The foil should diffuse the light, softly illuminating the inside of the diorama.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Ocean Diorama