Making a Shoebox Diorama
For a School Project or Just for Fun
The classic shoebox diorama is a childhood rite of passage. Although it can be used for schoolwork, your children may enjoy making them just for fun. Make one with your child today using this step-by-step tutorial.
All you need is a box of some type, some paper, scissors, glue, and basic art supplies such as markers or crayons.
Step One: Create a Base
The base can be anything— the traditional shoebox is only one option. We tend to use tissue boxes because we always have those on hand.
Look around your house and especially the kitchen for any kind of reusable container— cardboard, plastic, or tin. Think creatively! Odd things such as a cookie tin, a juice can, or a plastic ice cream bucket could make for an original diorama. Look at this one using a paper plate! Almost anything can be used.
Step Two: Create the Background
The simplest background could be colored paper— green for grass, blue for sky, brown for earth, blue for water, etc. Or get creative with patterned papers or draw your own.
If you need a little help, try these image files at Brownielocks. Each is a watercolor painting that might be just what you need for a background— a river with grass, an autumn tree, a winter scene, or a fence and wildflowers.
Step Three: Make and Place Your Figures
Use coloring pages printed from the Internet to make figures for your diorama. Search for "[your topic] coloring pages" in your favorite search engine.
Here are two really nice sites: Edupics and Kids Coloring Pages.
Color your images and consider how you want to mount them to the diorama. Below is an example of a coloring page I printed for free from Coloring Castle. I drew in tabs based on where I wanted my figures to be located.
If you want to mount a figure to the bottom (which is where I want the flower to be), then leave a one inch tab at the bottom of the picture when you cut it out. Fold back the tab, and glue it to the bottom of the diorama.
If you want it to hang from the top, add a one inch tab to the top.
Another variation is to use string, yarn, or ribbon to suspend objects from the top of the box. In this way, they will swing and give more of a dynamic effect.
And of course, if you want a figure to come out from the side, leave a tab on the side of the image.
You can also use three dimensional paper models in your dioramas. Here are some wonderful free resources for those:
Or look in your toy chest for 
Plan your placement of the figures. Once you're sure of the placement, glue them on. I like to use rubber cement so that if something is not quite right, it can be repositioned.
If all of your figures are inside the box, you may want to cover the opening with plastic wrap. For underwater scenes, this makes a more realistic finish.
The Word "Diorama"
comes from Greek roots di (through) + orama (that which is seen, a sight).
Its use, meaning "a small-scale replica of a scene," dates back to 1902.
Uses and Applications for Dioramas
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a tool for story telling
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a book report
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a snapshot of history
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a 3D science model
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a fun playtime activity
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a creative alternative to a birthday, anniversary, or get well card
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a 3D scrapbooking project to memorialize a trip or other important event
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a gift
Visit These Links for Free Printables!
- Habitat Dioramas
Print and color these wetland, desert, and rainforest freebies. - Prairie Mobile
There's even a full color image that could serve as a background. - Crayola
These are painfully simple, but they may serve as a good foundation for your own ideas. - Enchanted Learning
This site has printables for ocean, forest, and dinosaur habitat scenes. I like the directions for 3D trees! - Figures of Jesus and the Children
This PDF has directions and full color images. - Pandas
This PDF from the National Zoo gives directions for making a panda diorama with authentic Chinese habitat. The last page has images of foliage and animals to cut out! - More Dinosaurs
This full color PDF has both figures and backgrounds. - Outer Space
A full color PDF with astronauts, a space background, space shuttle, and lunar lander. Just cut out and glue into your box. - Stand Up Symphony
This free printable is from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. It is complete with a conductor and musicians to color and cut out. There is also a guide to show you how to arrange them correctly. - Back Yard Above and Below
This is a sample from Scholastic.
Directions for Making Various Types of Dioramas
- Under the Sea Theater Box
One Busy Mama presents a delightful tutorial for making a theater style diorama. The figures can be moved with pipe cleaners that stick out on the top of the box. Very, very fun! - Dinosaur Diorama in Seven Steps
A great idea for reusing a cardboard box. I love how this was made completely by children. The backgrounds were drawn by hand and the dinosaurs were molded from rainbow clay! - Making Sea Fans and Coral Reefs
Another ocean scene, but this post from Homeschool Creations is quite original— plastic canvas sea fans plus Playdough coral. - Art Attack 3D Picture Box
Directions for making a general scene with clear photographs at each step. - Box Living Room
I love this craft because it uses boxes from household packages. Thrifty fun! - Habitat Diorama
General how-tos. - Rainforest
This three tiered scene is a wonderful explanation of the layers of the rainforest. - Ocean
This ambitious project makes a big impression! Glean some ideas from the photos and directions.
Dover Cut and Assemble Dioramas - Paper Models to Cut Out and Assemble
Dover's cut-and-assemble models are make dioramas easy. Just cut out the full color shapes which are printed on cardstock. Follow the assembly directions to create your 3D models.
When You Don't Have a Box
These variations don't require a box at all. Large sheets of paper, folded into 3D shapes, are all that's required.
- Pyramid Tutorial
The pyramid diorama is also called a triarama. This how-to walks you through the steps with photographs. - Crayola's Triarama
This shows a possible triarama comparing two seasons in one habitat. Another example features a train ride across Canada. - Pop-up Doll House Scene
A very clever idea! Use a file folder (or other sturdy cardstock) to make a pop-up scene that can be folded flat for storage. - How to Make a Pop-Up Photograph
This wikiHow article of 9 steps (with pictures) shows how to put yourself into a pop-up scene using photographs! Very, very neat! - How to Make a Tunnel Book
Tunnel books are made so that when you look through them, it gives the effect of looking at a 3D landscape! These directions are geared toward a more advanced papercrafter, so simplify it for a child. - Panoramas
This site is really fun for a more advanced student. You need a panoramic digital photo for your background and cardstock to form the base. This tutorial even includes some templates to use. - Miniature Parade Floats
What a neat idea for a homeschool co-op or class project! Make rolling, small scale floats for a parade! These examples feature a 50 states theme, but you could use the parade float idea for any topic.
Reproducible Books with Diorama Patterns
The images are photos of projects here were taken from 
Guestbook
these are awesome. I'm always on the lookout for ways to make learning fun
Even though I haven't thought about these since grade school I still love them. And then, after having made one, it's really cool to go see a professionally made one in a museum, such as the natural history museum near where I live. 5*
Very cool idea -- can't remember if we did this in school when I was young -- what is the origin of the 'diorama' ? I love this craft idea!
I had forgotten about these! I think 5 and 6 y/o grands would have fun with this! Thank you!
These are adorable!!! What a great resource you have here. I will be sure to be back! 5*
Great ideas on here:)
This is very fun,I remember this as a kid.
Great lens, I love the whole idea. I bet that a lot of people will find this lens incredibly helpful for their kids. Keep up the good work at lenses!
Li Li
I made so many of these as a kid and so did my children. Some things never change. Although mine weren't nearly as nice as the ones you have pictured. Great lens!
Great lens! I remember doing these many moons ago :)
I've helped my kids make many over the years. What a creative idea for a lens. 5 stars.
Great lens
Jimmi, this is great! I just tweeted this lens through my new TWTTRSTRM: 'What Do You Reuse?' Would you consider to add this lens to 'Reuse it all!' group? :) It features all lenses that has to do with reusing different items! So I think this qualifies!
This is terrific! I'll just have to be careful and not use too many of my wife's shoe boxes.dogbee
Welcome to Reuse it all! group! Love your lens and it's featured as tutorial on groups' page! If you make something similar in future, remember to stop by!
Nice work on this tutorial! I never had to make one of these as a kid, but my nieces have. If they have another project like this, I'll be sure to direct them to this. Very useful.
Jimmie,
You always make such great tutorials... you remind us all to have fun while we teach our kids.
Thanks for all the love and effort you put into all of your projects!
Connie
: )
These are wonderful! Makes me want to go find the Elmer's glue and get busy!
Very very nice lens Jimmie, 5*****. These are great, wonderful for the children to make and to fire up their imagination. The scope is endless.
Oh, I'm just going to have to do this with my 4 year old granddaughter. She would just love making one or more! :)
Jimmie,
I remember doing these as a kid, but I haven't tried it with my kids. I think you've given me the confidence to give it a try.
This is a unique way of teaching our kids to think INSIDE the box!
ooooh, this brings back so many memories, thank you. I never knew they actually had a name for it. Great work.. 5*'s
this is amazing
Excellent. Must admit I have never heard the word diorama previously but, sure enough, it's in my dictionary and I'm a lot better informed now. To think I brought up children without this knowledge!
Mike.
I spent hours making these types of toys and displays as a child, and even as a young mom. You've made it easy and enjoyable for anyone to create a diorama. This is a terrific tutorial - lensrolling to my paper toys and family/parenting topical lenses. 5*
why is my school has to make a diorama on a shoe box but you need to make a place about californa and i made a nices shoe box im going to tell you how to make it.get a bow and put stuff on them so byebye and im a 2nd grader.
This will help me spending some good&funny time with my children. Thanks a lot for your contribution. 5 stars favorites and you have a new fan! Best, Mike.
these are wonderful!=)
add more on plz=)
I use to love making these in school. Great lens. If your a teacher you could inspire a child's career at a museum. Today shoebox diorama's, tomorrow The Natural History Museum.
Great use of a lens for a learning tool.
Cute thing to do for kids.
I used to make these a LOT when I was a kid. I wonder where they all went. Hmm. Thanks for the memories. Nicely done. Love the photos.
I used to do these with my older kids, but totally forgot about them for the last few years. I'll have to have my little guy do some this year!
I remember how much fun it was to make dioramas when I was a child. Thank you so much for all the useful links.
This is a wonderful 5* DYI -- Simple fun projects that make use of all things paper. Well done.
I've never done this, but it sounds like great fun! I know my daughter will love it :-)
Very nice lens :) My son made a diorama with a lot of little fishes years ago. It looked very nice :) We still have it.
Congratulations on your purple star!!!! I recognized the lens right off on the list and had to come right over. Yay!!!
Great lens!
Oh me! I am over 60 yrs of age but this lens made me want to make a diorama. I haven't made one in many years and this would be a fun project for my grandson and I. Wonderful instructions, photos and links. Blessed by an Honorary Squid Angel.
ur ideas r fabulous... thanks a lot
Oh, what memories you bring back of my son...he used to LOVE making stuff with boxes when he was a kid. Large or small box, he could make something with it. I just cleaned out my closet and found 2 empty shoe boxes I was about to throw away...I'll now save them for my grandson to make something with! Thanks for your ideas. I'll also be adding a link to this lens to Teaching Tips on my Teacher's Corner web site. These would make great craft ideas for school.
Fabulous lens! I've always wanted to learn how to do this. Thank you!
wow! I love these ideas!!
thnx once again I LOVE THESE IDEAS it makes me want t make dioramas too! :D
Wonderful lens & Great information
Great lens! The children and I are going to have a go at making a dinosaur diorama as part of our Dinosaur Discovery.
Ah, this brings back memories. I loved maked dioramas when I was little. Well done.
Awesome lens! I wish this was around when I was in school!
Oh, these look like fun! Blessed and featured on Angels Unaware!
Great lens, great idea for a lens. Thanks.
This is a lovely lens - I have sent it to my daughter who is training to be a teacher, and I am sure she will use it.
Regards,
Diana
What a great inexpensive thing to do! Luv it.
I loved your lens- well done 5*. What a great idea for a creative children's project. Thanks for sharing
This is a great lens and brings back a lot of memories of making these with my children.
Nice job, thanks for sharing!
Robin :)
I used to love diaramas. Creative ideas.
They look really cool, I can remember making something similar in school.
Simple and fun, great lens
Great instructions. Wish I had this when my girls were in school and had to make these things.
kids will love this! thanks for sharing!
This is really cool and I imagine my daughters would love to do this.
We just did one with our third grader for Halloween. We had to create a scary room in the house but we made a haunted backyard. We used Crayolas soft air-dry clay for pumpkins, spiders, moon, etc....and it came out beautiful. Nice lens ! 5 stars !
I haven't seen or heard about dioramas since I was a kid. We made them and really enjoyed them. A great project to keep the kids entertained during rainy days!
I can see this would keep kids entertained on a rainy day! Nice Lens
What a fun lens! I remember shoebox dioramas from elementary school, but I don't think my kids ever made one. so sad... lol
I still remember my son made a showbox aquarium when we was in the second grade. He is now in the middle school.
Wow these are neat! I wonder if I can make a Shoe Box Vision Board?
Amazing lens! You have provided the reader with so many resources for making a shoebox diorama. My daughter and I had already made a few of these for her school assignments, and I really wish I had your page as a reference then. I have a son in 4th grade, so if he is ever required to make a diorama, I know where to look for help!
I wish I had found this sooner. thanks for all the brilliant ideas
amazing lens! l wonder it is nice idea to make things with shoebox.i also used to make different things when i was small. great ideas enjoy might.
Hi! We used your lens to make a diorama for my daughters Wright Brothers project. The idea to do a diorama was a result of your lens, thanks! My daughter thanks you too (she scored a 100!).
cute!
you can do really good diorama
@Joan4: why cant there be older kids doing it too that's not fair what you said
i never knew what it was till today. very very nice.
Reminds of the incredible amout of fun we used to have at school
Love to be a part of the school once again in life
Creative and artistic - how can you ignore it
I used to love diorama projects in grade school! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this wonderful resource. I can probably put this to good use with my younger students! 5 *'S and a favourite.
really interesting and nice
i CAN TELL YOU ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS! Great Job!!!
How Fun!!!
How nifty.
Wonderful lens. Really fantastic and artistic project.Thanks for sharing a useful lens.
Really creative ideas!
Great ideas for homeschooling parents, thanks
really neat stuff! 5*
cool ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great diorama example.
Good ideas, thanks
thank you a lot
can you help me make a romeo and juliet diorama
Very nicely done...thanks!
beautiful diorama, like it
Very cute - now I know what I can do on a rainy day!
great step by step instructions.
Wow Jimmie You are the best. Can you be my MOMMY? JK Your children are truly blessed.
LOL shoebox dioramas! I used to make these things all the time :-P But you do this very, very well, I'm very impressed. Mine were never even close to this good. The hummingbird and flower design is so cool, and I love your lil figurines. Kudos on your work, and this great lens!
clearance furniture
Oh my gosh, Jimmie... Who DOESN'T remember those shoebox dioramas? (Uh...or is that "diorami?") LOL
These are absolutely wonderful. Creative. I confess that although I always PICTURED making an award-winning display, alas... it wasn't to be. Maybe if someone like you had been there to encourage me!
Again, beautiful stuff - and a really terrific resource for any parent (or teacher!).
Thanks for a great lens!
:) Kath
I made a space diorama when I was young. It had stars, planets, rockets, galaxies... the lot in it. It took me ages and everyone was so impressed when it was finished. The next day my brother 'accidentally' sat on it! Thanks for this lens Jimmie, it brings back some great memories.
great lens
I remember making dioramas as a child. Mine didn't look this good!
my son had to make one for his class last year about a book he read, he had a great time creating it. his was a scene from a harry potter book
Great ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Very good Jimmie! My daughter has a school project. I am emailing this lens for her to use.
Beautiful lens on a great topic. *-*Blessed*-* and featured on Sprinkled with Stardust and also on Early Childhood Abilities Encouraged
Fantastic Lens! Very Cool Stuff For Kids!
Very creative ideas to use for a home-made diorama.
Super. My kids went through so many shoe boxes...
I loved making shoe box (and just about any type of box) dioramas in school. Some of my best were for "A Wrinkle in Time". Some very creative ideas and helpful hints on this lens. Great job!
cool lens!
thanks 4 sharing :)
sam
These are amazing! I am definitely going to try making some with the kiddos for homeschool this year. Thanks Jimmie for all the wonderful homeschool lense you have produced. Your lapbook lens was what first brought me to Squidoo! Thumbs up!
Thank you for sharing. Gives some great ideas for a dioram!!
I used to love making these as a kid. Mine always seemed to have a volcano and plastic army men in it. Regardless, it was fun :)
I think I'll use some of these ideas to make little displays for some of my model railroad equipment. I don't have room for a layout yet but I do have room for a diorama or two...
fun lens, thanks. Gave you a thumbs up
Awesome!.... i can start to to now.... so interesting...
This looks like something i can do with my kids! We usually face paint together. Its how we bond. But this could work!
Great lens~ these are always fun to put together :)
What a cool project for kids to do, it looks like a lot of fun! - Kathy
Blessed by a SquidAngel :)
What a truly great lens. Thank you so much for the info and instructions
Hi,
I remember make these when I was young. However I did not know what they were called. Great fun for kids.
A sweet and original project! And a beautiful purple star to adorn it! Congrats!
A wonderful project!
This is great! I will definitely be coming back to this as a reference when we get ready to do our first diorama! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
I haven't made one of these in years. In the last one I made, I put a ziplock bag full of water in it to make a sweet lake effect. It ended up leaking and ruining the whole thing. What a shame.
This lens is truly exceptional. What a wonderful project and it has so many uses.
wow I forgot about those I remember making those in elementary school. Nice lens
Very good lens I love it when people take the time to do a useful page like this
I absolutely LOVE making dioramas. I look forward to those assignments coming home from school. I did one for undersea animals and we glued dried coffee grinds to the bottom as the under-sea dirt. We used an aquarium back-drop for the back of the box (of course, my aquarium was without a back for a few days. It was SO fun getting creative and thinking outside of the 'box'! :) Thanks for sharing this lens!
Very nice indeed. Fun for all ages.
I loved this. When I was a boy, I used to use a shoe box to construct theatre sets. i used torches and small lights to light up the sets and cut the flats from card and paper and paint them. Not quite the same thing, but in very much the same vein. Thanks for the memory
these are great! thanks for sharing! blessed and featured here: http://www.squidoo.com/100-blessings
What a cute thing to make it looks like fun!
Wow, great diorama's!
cool ideas, was thinking what to do with my old shoe boxes these ideas will come handy.
i just bought some shoes like 3 days ago. i think ima turn one into a diorama
I'm so glad I saw this! Our family will have so much fun making one! Thank you!
this is so cool, i'm gonna do these as crafts with the kids at church! :)
These are excellent diorama ideas. Thanks for sharing.
thank you for the instructions
Very lovely.
This page is awesome. My nieces will have fun making these.
There is one more use of diorama: just for fun! I woill try makingone with my daughter, she's 4 and will be greatly amused (she loves everything connected with cutting paper figures).And thanks for the great ideas:)
wow,you are awesome.
This brings back memories. I used to make these all the time when I was a kid. It kept me entertain and out of trouble lol. Great job.
At the time, this was my least favorite project in elementary school, probably because it was required. When I think about dioramas now, I realize that they can be fun. Awesome lens.
i will show my kids this lens
This is a great lens, what a great way to have fun with your kids. Nicely done!
I remember doing shoebox dioramas in elementary school. Geez, thanks for taking me back!
Today it is raining, now I know what to do!
Great craft idea! I think many people people get intimidated with the idea of creating something. Thanks for making it so simple that a guy like me can do it.
very nice love it
Really cute, and I'll be they last forever!
Nice lens. good work keep it up
Great job on the lens, this is a great idea for young kids to do to keep them busy.
Really awesome job on this lens! I'll definitely refer students and parents to this site! Very complete coverage of this topic, with lots of resources.
Blessed by an Angel!
I love anything that's creative as im into art myself so a big like given here i love it NICE ONE!
Another blessing. I need this for the 4th grade mission project (well not exactly me but I will get stuck working on it anyway). Great job!
I remember making these in grade school, man I miss school, no worries or bills. Thanks for reminding me!
i remember this from 3rd grade
Fun...brings back so many memories!
Makes me want to be a kid again! I enjoyed those things so much. Thanks for the lens.
Me and my nephews had fun doing these. Thanks for sharing!
Used to make these all the time as a kid for school. Fun times! Great Squidoo!
cool stuffs!
Dropping in at this wonderful Purple Star lens to wish you happy holidays and a new year filled with abundance and love.
Great lens. Thanks for sharing!
Very cool...am always looking for fun things to do with our 3 year old.
What great ideas and such a fun thing to do with the kids.
good advice. will help my 10 yo with his world geography diorama about Thailand this month. Thanx
diorama is hard to make for first time, second it will be more easy
Fantastic. Like 3D drawing.
Waw, I like hand made things. Thanks for the hint for boring afternoon with my son.
so fun and creative! thank you for the wonderful ideas
I really enjoyed this lens... It's a perfect activity for quality bonding time. My 2-year old kid is very fond of books and pictures as well as writing and drawing, and i'm sure he's gonna love doing diorama. I'm so excited to try this with him already. Thanks you for the wonderful ideas!
I had to read this so quicckly as I ran to find a shoe box and my daighter and i are going to make one now!! Fantastic I knd of knew, but not really what this was and was so surprised to read this, the models are awesome 10/10
This is such a great idea.... I am going to try this one... Thanks
Fabulous Instructions! I have no idea how many of these I have had to help my children make over the years, but I sure wish I had your help back then :)
I love making dioramas. I wish my kids had to make them more often :)
Great lens. We don't call them dioramas over here, but I remember making them in school.
This is such a great lens. Wonderful pictures and great ideas for making shoebox dioramas.
What awesome ideas and great pictures to follow along with. Loved it!
All i could think of when i saw this was Family Guy....those that have seen the episode will know what i mean LOL
Wonderful site. It's made my 'Bookmark" list
Very wonderful informative lens! I wish this happened 10 years ago when I first realized I needed to help my kids do a Diorama project. Thanks for sharing!
Nice lens. Would show it to my kid and improve his creativity.
interesting lens
Awesome Lens! I love these types of projects (obviously). I only remember having to make a few of these in school. I like how on Community they are always having to make dioramas for class, haha
wow i haven't done one of those since i was in elementry school lol i think i might do one this week with my niece though thanks for the idea great lens btw
What a wonderful find taking me back to childhood. If you want a craft to do with your child than this should be just what the doc ordered enjoy
Dioramas were such a fun project, and these tips would have definitely shortened the learning curve way back when I had to do them for school.
I am sure this will come in handy for my grandchildren. I can remember when one needed information about dioramas they had never ever heard about them
What a fun lens! I wish I was back in school....these would be so great to make! Wonderful directions!
This lens bought back some memories for me! I think my kids will enjoy making some of their own. Thank you
The projects are easy to do: copy and have students color them in, cut them out and paste together. No difficult folds or pasting required. It works well with 4th - 6th graders.
I just loved making paper models, paper dolls/animals and dioramas when I was a child. Lots of creative ideas and wonderful resources here. Love this ... blessed by the Crafting Squid Angel.
Love educational paper crafts! Learning on several levels. Thanks and **angel blessed**!
Don't you just love making things from paper, love this lens.
I have helped my grandson make dioramas and personally love creating beautiful shadow boxes--not quite the same technique, but same general principles. Lots of fun!
This is just an exclusive piece of work. Love this lens adding this my favorites.
What a great project!!!! Thanks!
My son got given a shoebox from school for this last week, so guess who will be helping him make it before it is due on Wednesday.
lovely ideas, and thanks for the links
Great idea. I am going to do this on the weekend with my little one.
Great lens!!!!!!!
Great Lens!
Wow, fifth grade. Mrs Drutt's class. Thanks for the memory. Great lens.
I love the idea!
Great tips on making dioramas. I found all the resources and pictures helpful.
I used to love making dioramas as a kid ( a loooong time ago). Thanks for the great lens!
@anonymous: That looks so cool.
Dioramas was a great time as a kid, my daughter just made one for school.
@AmyPhx: yeah it's very helpful and interactive.
aww.. very sweet lens i must say.. great ideas for making dioramas
Great guide! I'm going to have to try this - I've got plenty of shoe boxes left over.
Good stuff! Love all the dioramas you've made.
I like your lens good job.
lovely lens.~blessed by a squid angel~
Your lens brings back memories of fun school projects!
Blessed by a Squid angel! â¥
Fantastic! well done!!
So cool.. I think I want to make one too now! YAY!
Great ideas for my son's craft work. Loved this lens.
We used to do this when we were kids utilizing a discarded shoebox. Thanks for bringing back memories.
Awesome tips here - I remember making dioramas back in the day. :)
How wonderful! So many ideas!
Wonderful ideas and tutorial for creating a diorama. Blessed!
Wow! I almost stuck on this lens...it is a great activity for children.
Thank you for this fantastic lens!!!
What great ideas! My grandkids will love some of these. They love doing crafty things, so this will be really fun for them.
Tremendous fun. Excellent ideas for crafts day.
Thanks for this.
nice ideas, for some fun with the kids
u are so creative, nice lens.
Great squidoo! My daughter has to do these all the time! You have some wonderful resources!
very helpful
Great examples, and lots of helpful tips. thank you!
really nice lens
Great ideas, my son had to make a diorama for a school project and i had no idea where to get started...thank you for all the cool ideas!!
Fantastic lens
Wow great idea, thanks for the instructions.
My son also has this project coming up for school. This is a great lens!
Thank you so much! We had no idea where to begin a second grade diorama project. Now I know enough to give him choices, step-by-step instructions, and let him truly create his own diorama. Bless you!
Great lens! I always want to know how to make attractive diorama. Your lens is so helpful to me. Many thanks.
My daughter has to make a diorama coming up in August. Thank you for a very nice lens.
How cute! I'm sure kids love making these fun dioramas!
These are great ideas. It got my brain busy thinking about how I can use them for my guided reading lessons with my son. Thank you.
The printables section is awesome. Imma make a diorama just because now.
Oh man, I loved making these as a kid! If I remember, I might still have one lying around the storage room! Thanks for the nostalgic Lens!
after reading this lens, all I want know is to turn off my computer, go home and have some fun with my little baby...
If it rains this weekend I will definitely make one of these with my son!
So many great ideas and good explanations how to do it as well. Loved this lens!
what a great creativity! very, very clever
These are so cool...I didn't get to make these when I grew up. I think I have to have my neighbor girls come over and we can make these. How fun would that be?
fun to do with kid in free time
One of my favorite school projects when I was a kid was a book report diorama.
Been here before, just perusing some of your terrific lenses!
Great content, thanks!
Cool lens! I think I'll try this with my son next time we are feeling "crafty" :)
Really great lens...
Cute! Good ideas.
Hi Jimmie! I loved reading your lens on dioramas for kids. Your photos make it easy to understand how to go about creating one. Recently, I made a diorama of a paper deer and forest background. It was for my daughter's second grade project. It's fun to make these and gives parents some quality time with their kids.
nice lens ...
Shows what can be done without technology.
Excellent Lens..
What a delughtful lens. It took me back to my childhood when I loved making them, with cottonwool as snow. I now know what they are called in English. We (Dutch) know them as kijkdoos (looking box)
Cute diorama ideas. Useful recycling project.
Oh I love these ideas so much, my girls will love to make some.
O nostalgia, nostalgia. Blessed by a squid angel.
Another excellent idea. Great work.
Seriously - it is so much easier to make dioramas now that you can print the images off of the internet. This is even one more reason to love the internet.
Blessing this cool lens on the school bus trip!
This would be fun to do with my little girl. Thanks for all the pics of dioramas.
Great ideas....awesome lens thanks
good lens
Nice lens
Interesting lens. That's some beautiful dioramas...
very unique content lens
Such lovely toys and all created very economically. Kids get more fun from these playthings that toy that cost hundreds of dollars. Great lens.
This is great! I love your photos of these wonderful dioramas!!
So cute and so simple.
wow.. this brings back memories of being a kid. very cool.
dee :)
Very creative and certainly something I can refer teachers to...
Really Amazing work !! Pictures are also pretty cool, I wish my teachers should have taught me something like this ..
Dioramas were my favorite things to make when I was in school...this brought back memories! :)
I've always loved dioramas, and as an adult I still make them from time to time. I made some tiny fairy dolls and a diorama of a fairy circle to set them in. I'm not sure why people stop making them when they grow up.
I remember making diorama when i was 7. Now I'm 28...
Very cool lens, brought back many memories. Ah! The Diorama rite of passage...
Passing on the link to a relative who teaches elementary school, quite sure will greatly appreciate your detailed explanations and photography. Thank you for sharing!
I wish I had found this lens last year, as my daughter had this project as a 1st grader. Great job and some Angel blessings to you!
Wonderful, blessed by an angel on the labor day weekend bus trip :)
amazing lens!!!! wow..i really like it
For the kid in all of us. as a new squid I love reading posts that have done well. Congraulations
I remember some time ago I made a train for my son. Inspired by your lens, I shall make a lens out of that great lens
Awesome lens and awesome pictures. Shoebox diorama's were always my favorite projects in grade school!
that is much nicer than the ones i did as a kid haha
i need to do a diorama on the nsw government !!! Would anyone have ideas for me ???
This diorama lens takes me back to third grade. I love what you've done with it - such good ideas and great instructions.
Well done! Blessed!
I feel like an idiot -- I never thought about using a tissue box. I have always just done shoe boxes, so apparently I couldn't think outside the (shoe) box. ;)
Wonderful! :D I like this.
Wonderful project to do with the kids. Thanks for your neat lens.
Gosh what a great lens. A warm wave of feelings came over me. You have unlocked some hidden treasure of memories for me of the joy and happiness from building shoebox dioramas. Thank you.
Oh my, this page sure has changed since I last visited, I like it. Now, I thought I had blessed this before, but I did again and hope it sticks.
My son had to make one last year for a school project and it really took some to finish! great lens
We just helped my son finish up a diorama yesterday. It was a lot of fun.
Really interesting lens - great information on diorama. Takes me back to my school days.
Wow! Fab lens! So easy to follow the instructions and wonderfully put together with loads of info! :-)
I love models and dioramas, they are so fun. Nice lens
interesting and easy to follow...thanks
Ah remember the days when a simple cardboard box gave us such pleasure!!!! Literally HOURS of FUN in a box!!! I have added a link to your lens from my recycled t-shirt lens. Thanks for the hit of nostalgia! : )
Wow. This is great. Now that my kids are grown I just have to wait for grandchildren to do these projects with.
This brings back memories, great pics and info, blessed!!!
this lens is enjoyable to see crafting
Very artistic ideas! I like how it is being presented on the lens. Two thumbs up!
Brings back memories from primary school :-) thanks for the lens.
my kids are going to love this, thanks
A very unique lens. Enjoyed it...:)
I second that, great lens! Really inspiring. Was for sure a lot of work. :-)
Definitely going to give this a go with my first grader; maybe we'll try something Thanksgiving / Christmas themed. :)
I remember doing similar project in mt grade school days, thanks for bringing back such great memories.
brings me back to my childhood! i'll have to do these with my nephews :-) great lens!
fun and creative...great lens!
i remember making those for school. they are pretty cool to make.
Nostalgic Lens, bring me back in school, Thanks
Gosh, I forget all about these. Thanks for reminding me so I can do this with the grandkids.
Great lens with a creative idea. Pretty soon my nephew will be old enough to do these projects with me. :)
Great article you've written and terrific set of resources. Dioramas are fun learning opportunities for kids!
Several more dioramas at this link:
I remember doing these 'kleenex' dioramas as a child, thanks for the trip back in time! There is really no limit to the adorable miniature scenes that can be made in an old kleenex box, all you need is the creativity!
Great ideas for the upcoming holidays with my kids, thanks!
A great lens to share. Nice! Squid-liked!
I have used this project in my classroom for years. Kids love doing them and at the end of a unit we have a party with the parents to celebrate. Thanks for sharing this. You have provided many new ideas for the idea.
I was tasked with teaching at a winter camp at the last minute this break and I've been trying to come up with ideas for the kids. How fortuitous that I'd come across this lens! Thanks!
Great ideas for the classroom. I think making a Christmas diorama with my granddaughters will be a fun project for this holiday season.
Great lens! I was not familiar with Diorama until I stumbled upon your lens. I think this activity is superb for children and their education. Something about building, coloring, and my favorite~creating an idea is practical and great for kids! Thanks for sharing it!
very cool indeed, enjoyed my visit this morning, thank you.
Thank you for a great tutorial this would be perfect for a homemade gift
My grandchildren love to work with me on projects. Thank You for offering ideas that will send us on another path of creation, together.
Hey, I love the tipi diorama! Glad I stopped by, and blessed again!
Never thought of doing this before!
Did some of this when I was a kid. Brings back fond memories. I may start again. Thanks.
i wish i had done these as a child. Interesting, now though, I'm creating something similar as an adult. I hope I'll have some completed this year.
These are so neat. i made one for my niece when she graduated high school and filled it with some of her things I had saved from her child hood. Great explanation of how to do these.
What wonderful creations and so inexpensive. Excellent for school projects.
so cool. I made these in school 40 years ago!
I know I did one of these as a kid but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. My daughter, who attends a Waldorf school, will be doing one in the 4th grade. Thanks for a great lens!
woaa! this bring back to my childhood days! Love it.. (maybe I'll do these projects quietly in my bedroom later! ) Great lens!
This really looks like something my grand kids would love to do thank for the info
great ideas, so cool
Wow, this is great. Just wandering how to reproduce these in real life.
I remember doing these in middle school as a kid. Technically, that's a tissue box!
Thank you for another activity to engage in with my daughter. Need to ask her what
She wants to make.
This is one comprehensive lens-I will let my little girl know about it
A wonderful activity for parents and children to do together. Well done !
I have done my share of dioramas. Helpful lense!
Wow! I wish this lens was around when I was busy helping my kids with those. :) Great and very helpful lens.
This was fun when we had to do it for school.
A great tutorial. Wonderful lens.
I'm always looking for different things to do with the kids. Great idea, thanks for sharing.
Making dioramas are fun, but are so pressuring if it is for school...
Good memories of making a dinosaur diorama in a shoebox.
My children and I love doing dioramas!
Very interesting, I bet it helps them learn more. wish we had stuff like that then. Great lens. Blessings
Hi nice shoe box craft,look like fun for the whole family.
Some fantastic ideas. Well done.
I remember making these when I was a child. Nice article!
omg I made these and school and totally forgot about them! thanks for reminding me about a project i had so much fun at and the great ideas!
Yay for homeschooling! We do the same with our children. Great crafts!
Boy this sure brought back memories of making these in school. Thanks for the very nice instructions and resources. Blessed by a joyful angel.
Been along time since I've seen one of these.
I used to do diorama when I was a kid specially when I'm in primary school as part of my project. But I oftentimes do it now but to share my knowledge about it, I used teach and help my little brother, sisters and the kids on kindergarten school here in our place.
Many moons ago, when I was a little kid of elementary-school age, I attended a Vacation Bible School at a local neighborhood church. We made shoebox dioramas and I chose to copy a scene of Washington DC with the reflecting pool and the Washington Monument. It was fun and educational. I'm almost age 60, and I still never made it to Washington DC, but at least my diorama taught me some history!
I loved to make dioramas when I was a child. Your lens is very inspiring to try it out again :)
OMG Id forgotten these even existed! Lovely idea for my neice & I to do together.
I met a university student from Germany who made very elaborate dioramas as an artform, they were quite spectacular! I enjoyed your lens on this subject, I am looking for Squidtastic ideas to share with my granddaughter:) thanx!
I remember doing these in school. They were so much fun.
Cool idea! :)
awesome ideas
Thanks! I'm sending this link to the parents of my second graders, so they can get some ideas. Your information is simple, and interesting. We're making animal dioramas, and if I can figure out how to do it, I'll send you a couple of photos!
My daughter needs to make a solar system diorama. Was looking for inspiration and found your site. Got some useful tips off here but would be great if you had some cut outs or something else on the solar system. Thanks
second visit to take another look, this time can leave you a blessing. Great lens. As an artist this gives me lots of ideas for 3-D paper sculptures/models.
Brilliant ideas! Thanks!
Thanks for the directions on how to Make a Shoebox Diorama, itâs very helpful!
A shoe box diorama let students showcase their creative skills. I wonder why school teachers never ask their students to have this project nowadays.
Fun project. Kids enjoy making these.
I remember making these at school long ago. Nice lens.
What a great lens! Some great ideas here, thanks!
What fabulous tips for making dioramas! They were always such a fun project for school.
Oh, I love these! I used to make dioramas when I was a kid.
This is an excellent lens on making diorama. It has great instructions amd pictures to help. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, good ideas for the next school project of my son...
Jimmie, Jimmie, Jimmie. Your lenses make me smile! Someday I hope to do a dioramma lens as well. Just wanted to stop in and say Hello and thank you for all of your good works!
cute and simple! :)
You gave lots of great ideas here. It looks like a lot of fun!
I used to love making these when I was younger. Thanks for the memory
Ha, quick simple way to make one of these. I used to use play-dough for them too, just to add to the realism.
I just stumbled upon this lens at the perfect time! My son is preparing to do his first ever diorama for school! Thanks for the great tips.
This is a wonder, creative idea for kids. Your pictures truly add a great deal to this article. Enjoyed.
Awesome lens! I passed it along to my kids to use some of your creative ideas for school:) Thanks!
A really helpful lens...
I used to do these for my kids summer reading projects. You have some good ideas here.
These are wonderful projects for children to do during the summer months. Parents could use them to keep children engaged in reading and them making the story into a diorama to keep them focused on their reading skills.
Our grandkids love this stuff and I suspect so does granny.
Very woderful and creative idea,gret work.You have done a very hard work,I think!athank you very much for sharing this great ideas!!
I like these
Hi nice lens you got there and ranking well. My grandson Callum is going to be real busy on Tuesday when he comes visiting
Have given you a squidlike.
Love the 3-D pyramid. We'll have to try that. We always end up doing animal scenes.
What fantastic ideas and resources - a great tool for children to have fun and learn at the same time!
fascinating lens, full of ideas! Thanks!
Very creative idea. Good for kids.
neat!
Great idea! I think I will try it.
Thanks for the tutorial! I plan on sharing this page with my readers.
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