Animal Habitat Dioramas

1. Mrs. Delahunty Presents: Animal Habitat Dioramas

2. Materials • Shoe box or similar type of box • Poster paints (various colors) • Paint brushes • Magazines (animal themed) • Construction paper (various colors) • Colored pencils • Glue • Modeling clays

3. Choose one of the following animal habitats: • Rainforest • Desert • Ocean • Jungle • Polar ice • Forest

4. Find a Box • Dioramas can be made from any size box. • Sturdy boxes work best. • Larger boxes will give you more space to add extra details.

5. Paint the outside of your box with poster paint. • Choose colors that resemble the habitat you have chosen. • Lighter colors may need two coats of paint.

6. Make a color plan for the inside of your diorama habitat. • Color the inside of your box with construction paper or poster paints.

7. Create animals and setting • Draw, color and cut animals using construction paper. • Cut animals from magazines. • Create animals from clay. • Use various art materials to create the scenery;such as snow, trees or grass.

8. Plan the layout for your diorama • Paint on some background details and/or glue on various materials for added texture. • Decide where your animals will be positioned in your habitat. • Create your diorama from the back to the front. • Place larger objects, such as trees, in the back. • Place smaller objects closer to the front.

9. Helpful Hints • Gluing paper animals to cardstock will help them stand up better. • Using L-shaped paper tabs will help animals stand up inside the diorama . • Glue one side of the “L” to the back of the animal/scenery. • Glue the other side of the “L” to the top, bottom or side of the box.

10. Display your diorama in the classroom! HAVE FUN!!!