The classic shoebox diorama is a childhood rite of passage. Although it can be used for school work, your children may enjoy making them just for fun. Make a diorama alongside your child today with this step by step tutorial.
Dioramas -- Uses and Applications
Making the Diorama -- Step One
Create a Base
The diorama base can be anything -- the traditional shoebox is only one option among many. 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 reuseable container -- cardboard, plastic, or tin. Think creatively! Odd things such as a cookie tin or a plastic ice cream bucket could make for an original diorama.
Making the Diorama -- Step Two
Create the Background.
The simplest background could simply be colored paper -- green for grass, blue for sky, brown for earth, blue for water, etc. Or be creative with patterned papers or design your own by drawing on clouds, rocks, etc. Making the Diorama -- Step Three
Make and Place your Figures
Use coloring pages printed from the Internet to make figures for your diorama. You can do a websearch in your favorite search engine by entering "your topic" coloring pages.
Here are two really nice coloring pages sites -- Edupics and Kids Coloring Pages. For all of my bookmarked coloring pages sites, visit my tagfoot page.
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 (as 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.
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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 the objects from the top of the box. In this way, they will swing and give more of a realistic 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:
- Billy Bear's Paper Dolls and Furniture
- The Toymaker
- Paper Toys
- Paper Make It
- Native American Homes Paper Models
Or look in your toy chest for small figurines that would suit as well. Or build something from Lego blocks or Sculpey clay if you don't have quite what you need.
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 diorama figures are inside the box, you may want to cover the opening with plastic wrap. For underwater scenes, this makes a more realistic finish.
Toobs -- Plastic Figurines for Dioramas
and for play
Safari LTD Knights and Dragon Toob
Amazon Price: $11.89 (as of 07/06/2009) 
Safari LTD Ancient Egypt Toob
Amazon Price: $9.69 (as of 07/06/2009)
Safari LTD Jamestown Settlers Toob
Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 07/06/2009)
Safari LTD Wild West Toob
Amazon Price: $9.11 (as of 07/06/2009)
Safari LTD Pirates Toob
Amazon Price: $9.80 (as of 07/06/2009)
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.
Diorama Links
Directions and printables for making dioramas!
- PRINTABLE --Habitat Dioramas
- Print and color these freebies to make dioramas of Wetland, Desert, and Rainforest.
- DIRECTIONS --How to Make Dioramas
- Directions for making a shoebox diorama.
- PRINTABLE --Prairie Mobile
- Easily adaptable into a diorama! There's even a full color image that could serve as a background.
- PRINTABLE --Ocean Diorama
- Fish and seaweed make this very simple printable. Fun!
- PRINTABLE --Crayola's Dioramas
- These are painfully simple, but they may serve as a good foundation for your own ideas.
- PRINTABLE --Enchanted Learning
- This site has printables for ocean and forest habitat scenes as well as a dinosaur diorama. I like the directions for 3D trees!
- DIRECTIONS --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!
- PRINTABLE --Diorama Figures of Jesus and the Children
- This PDF has directions and full color images of Jesus and children.
- PRINTABLE --Dinosaur Diorama Printable
- Look for the link to the PDF. It's a full color, complete set with ground, background, side panels, and dinosaurs. Cut, paste, and you're done.
- DIRECTIONS --A Dinosaur Diorama in Seven Steps
- A great idea for reusing a cardboard box. I love how this diorama was completely made by children. The backgrounds were drawn by hand and the dinosaurs were molded from rainbow clay!
- DIRECTIONS --Making Sea Fans and Coral Reefs
- Another ocean diorama, but this post from Homeschool Creations is quite original -- plastic canvas sea fans plus playdough coral.
- PRINTABLE --Panda Diorama
- This PDF from the National Zoo give directions for making a panda diorama with authentic Chinese habitat. The last page has images of foliage and animals to cut out and use in your diorama!
- PRINTABLE --African Housing Diorama Templates
- This printable diorama PDF shows the variety of homes found in Africa -- from huts to apartment complexes.
- PRINTABLE -- Yet Another Dinosaur Diorama
- This full color PDF has both figures and backgrounds.
- PRINTABLE --Outer Space Diorama
- A full color PDF with astronauts, a space background, space shuttle, and lunar lander. Just cut out and glue into your box.
- PRINTABLE -- Giant Squid (and Whale) Diorama
- A colossal squid is being chased by a whale in this print and cut diorama. There's even a strip to pull through the aquatic plants for a more interactive feel.
- PRINTABLE -- 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.
Quick and Easy Dioramas
Diorama Variations
when you don't have a box
These variations don't require a box at all. Just large sheets of paper, folded into 3D shapes are all that's required.- Indian Life Triarama
- Michelle, a homeschooling mom, shares her Indian life triarama -- the base is a cleverly folded piece of paper!
- Pyramid Diorama Blank Template
- This template is for a 3D pyramid diorama that you can use for any topic. This is pictured to the right. It's especially good if your topic has three to four parts since the diorama has four sections. (If you've got three sections, on part can be uses as a title.)
This is where I upload all my files to share with others. Towards the top of the list, there is a Pyramid Diorama about the three types of rocks. - Crayola's Triarama
- This shows a possible triarama with comparing two seasons in one habitat. Another example includes Anemones.
- 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 diorama 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 3-D landscape! These directions are geared toward a more advanced papercrafter, so simplify it for a child. We've made tunnel books by simply attaching tabbed figures to the accordion sides of the book.
- Diorama 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 coop or class project! Make rolling dioramas -- small scale floats for a parade! These examples feature a 50 states theme. But you could use the parade float idea for any topic.
Dioramas from Scholastic Books
The following images are photos of projects taken from Scholastic books linked below. These books have such neat papercrafts! And they are so easy! Just copy, color, cut and assemble. These are easy and realistic dioramas that really teach.
Reproducible Books with Diorama Patterns
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Guestbook
Thank you for your feedback. If you upload pictures of your diorama, be sure to share the link here!
Deadicated wrote...
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.
Posted June 08, 2009
Captin Giggles911 wrote
these are wonderful!=)
add more on plz=)
Posted May 22, 2009
mikeitloffe wrote...
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.
Posted May 19, 2009
jhianysha23 wrote
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.
Posted May 12, 2009
Pastiche wrote...
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*
Posted May 12, 2009
Snozzle wrote...
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.
Posted May 09, 2009
kodiak wrote
this is amazing
Posted April 28, 2009
yesido wrote...
ooooh, this brings back so many memories, thank you. I never knew they actually had a name for it. Great work.. 5*'s
Posted April 24, 2009
AppalachianCountry wrote...
This is a great project that is ideal for vacation bible school. Beautiful job on the lens.
Posted April 07, 2009
groovyoldlady wrote...
This is a unique way of teaching our kids to think INSIDE the box!
Posted April 07, 2009
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