Purposes of Diorama The purposes of the diorama include: demonstrate pupil knowledge and understanding of a concept. demonstrate relationships of components to each other. represent a historical, scientific, or fantasy scene. interpret concepts at museums, architectural firms, and other organizations. communicate nature scenes, geologic representations and many other concepts.
Types of Diorama There are many models of diorama. This section includes five models: Flat Surface Model Shoe Box Model Cardboard Box Model Tri-fold Model Gourd Model
for Diorama The table illustrates the materials needed for each type of diorama. It is important to substitute materials that are available in your local environment. Flat Surface Model Shoe Box Model Cardboard Box Model Tri-fold Model Gourd Model Base tray or board shoe box cardboard box card paper 60 cm x 60 cm gourd Natural grass, straw, sand, leaves, flowers, twigs, seeds, pebbles, shells, recycled paper, boxes, bags, fabric, clay, paper maché grass, straw, sand, leaves, flowers, twigs, seeds, pebbles, shells, recycled paper, boxes, bags, fabric, clay, paper maché grass, straw, sand, leaves, flowers, twigs, seeds, pebbles, shells, recycled paper, boxes, bags, fabric, clay, paper maché grass, straw, sand, leaves, flowers, twigs, seeds, pebbles, shells, recycled paper, boxes, bags, fabric, clay, paper maché grass, straw, sand, leaves, flowers, twigs, seeds, pebbles, shells, recycled paper, boxes, bags, fabric, clay, paper maché Other scissors, stapler, staples, paste, paper, card, paint, paint brush, crayons, markers, plasticine scissors, stapler, staples, paste, paper, card, paint, paint brush, crayons, markers, plasticine scissors, stapler, staples, paste, paper, card, paint, paint brush, crayons, markers, plasticine scissors, stapler, staples, paste, paper, card, paint, paint brush, crayons, markers, plasticine scissors, stapler, staples, paste, paper, card, paint, paint brush, crayons, markers, plasticine To Make Refer to Making Section Refer to Making Section Refer to Making Section Refer to Making Section Refer to Making Section
Cut-outs for Diorama The following figures can be used if the pupils do not want to draw figures. It is best to encourage the pupils to be creative and draw their own figures. 1. Cut-out the figures of the donkeys and Nyakundi leaving the tabs underneath attached. 2. Make scenery for the diorama. Colour the ground green or use green construction paper or paste dried grass to the bottom of the diorama. Draw the market buildings, colour, cut out and paste in the diorama. Draw the river using colours. 3. Fold under the base of the figures of the donkeys and Nyakundi so they stand up. 4. Arrange the figures in the diorama.
General Procedure for Diorama The following General Procedure describes the steps for building a diorama for the story The Lazy Donkeys. Teachers should share with the pupils an example of the model the pupils will be using. Verbal and written directions are enhanced when an example model is available for pupils to analyze. 1. Show pupils a model of the diorama and explain to pupils they are going to make a model or a diorama of a scene from The Lazy Donkeys. 2. As a class, brainstorm the scenes in the story. 3. Record the pupil s ideas on the chalkboard or on chart paper. 4. Divide the pupils into working groups of 5 or 6 pupils. 5. Have each group select a scene for their diorama. 6. Provide each pupil with a tray or board, a shoe box, a cardboard box, a piece of card paper 60 cm. x 60 cm. or a gourd. 7. Have pupils paint the sides of each surface (back, sides and top). Blue can be used for the sky, white for clouds, yellow for sunrise or sunset, brown for sand, and so on. 8. Have pupils create the landscape by gluing grass, straw, sand or dirt onto the floor of the diorama. They can use paper maché, plasticine or clay to create rivers. 9. Have pupils make models of tukels, store houses, animal shelters, trees, or a bridge and place in the diorama. 10. Have pupils make plants, trees, roads, donkeys, other animals and people with paper maché, plasticine, clay or cardboard and set in the diorama. 11. Encourage pupils to read the story and look through resource books for details that could be added to the diorama. 12. Give pupils an opportunity to present their diorama to the class. Pupils can also explain the diorama, the scene and what each part represents. 13. For younger pupils present leading questions (For Example: What does the donkey eat? Do you have any grain, rice, or straw in your diorama? Can you point that out to us? How do you think the donkey will cross the river the next time?) 14. Have pupils complete the Pupil Self-Assessment at the end of this section. Extensions 1. Give pupils an opportunity to present their projects to family members or to pupils in another class. They can explain each part of the diorama and what it represents about the story. 2. Create a Forest Scene using all the class dioramas. Have pupils arrange the dioramas in a creative way on a large table or flat surface.
More about Types of Diorama Models This section includes information about each of the four models of diorama. Your selection of model will depend on the materials available in your local environment. It is important to adapt, delete or add materials as needed. Flat Surface Model Shoe Box Model Cardboard Box Model Tri-fold Model Gourd Model
Flat Surface Model The Flat Surface Model is built on one of the following: cookie tray cake pan pizza pan shallow tray piece of board piece of styrofoam piece of strong cardboard Contents 1. The Landscape (the trees, grass, rocks, roads, paths); glue grass, straw, twigs, leaves, sand, pebbles, or dirt onto the floor of the diorama use paper maché, plasticine or clay to create hills, valleys and river banks 2. The River paint a river shape with blue paint use plastic blue bags, cut and shape into a river-shape, then glue Use plastic wrap for the river 3. Structures (tukels, storehouses, animal shelters, market, trees or bridge): glue clay, dirt, sand, paper maché, plasticine, cardboard, or paper glue leaves, twigs, pieces of wood 4. Animals and People use paper maché, plasticine, clay or cardboard use plastic or wooden toys use paper and cardboard 5. Putting the Diorama Together place the contents in the diorama, moving objects around until satisfied then glue down make notes for presentation
Shoe Box Model The Shoe Box Model is created by: taking the lid off of a shoe box placing the box on its side turning the lid of the box upside down putting the lid under the box using the upside down lid to hold part of the diorama Contents 1. The Landscape (the trees, grass, rocks, roads, paths); glue grass, straw, twigs, leaves, sand, pebbles, or dirt onto the floor of the diorama use paper maché, plasticine or clay to create hills, valleys and river banks 2. The River paint a river shape with blue paint use plastic blue bags, cut and shape into a river-shape, then glue Use plastic wrap for the river 3. Structures (tukels, storehouses, animal shelters, market, trees or bridge): glue clay, dirt, sand, paper maché, plasticine, cardboard, or paper glue leaves, twigs, pieces of wood 4. Animals and People use paper maché, plasticine, clay or cardboard use plastic or wooden toys use paper and cardboard 5. Putting the Diorama Together place the contents in the diorama, moving objects around until satisfied then glue down make notes for presentation
The Cardboard Box Model The Cardboard Box Model is made by: taking a cardboard box cutting all four flaps (from the top) off the box placing the box on its side Contents 1. The Landscape (the trees, grass, rocks, roads, paths); glue grass, straw, twigs, leaves, sand, pebbles, or dirt onto the floor of the diorama use paper maché, plasticine or clay to create hills, valleys and river banks 2. The River paint a river shape with blue paint use plastic blue bags, cut and shape into a river-shape, then glue Use plastic wrap for the river 3. Structures (tukels, storehouses, animal shelters, market, trees or bridge): glue clay, dirt, sand, paper maché, plasticine, cardboard, or paper glue leaves, twigs, pieces of wood 4. Animals and People use paper maché, plasticine, clay or cardboard use plastic or wooden toys use paper and cardboard 5. Putting the Diorama Together place the contents in the diorama, moving objects around until satisfied then glue down make notes for presentation
The Tri-fold Model The Tri-fold Model (looks like the corner of a room) and is made by following the steps: 1 2 Use a rectangular piece of cardboard, strong paper or construction paper. 3 Hold the paper horizontally and fold in half. 4 Keep the paper folded and fold again. 5 Open the paper all the way. 6 Turn the paper horizontally. 7 In the center of the paper, rip or cut on the fold half way down to the center of the paper. 8 Fold the paper to overlap the two squares adjacent to the cut. Staple together.
Contents 1. The Landscape (the trees, grass, rocks, roads, paths); glue grass, straw, twigs, leaves, sand, pebbles, or dirt onto the floor of the diorama use paper maché, plasticine or clay to create hills, valleys and river banks 2. The River paint a river shape with blue paint use plastic blue bags, cut and shape into a river-shape, then glue Use plastic wrap for the river 3. Structures (tukels, storehouses, animal shelters, market, trees or bridge): glue clay, dirt, sand, paper maché, plasticine, cardboard, or paper glue leaves, twigs, pieces of wood 4. Animals and People use paper maché, plasticine, clay or cardboard use plastic or wooden toys use paper and cardboard 5. Putting the Diorama Together place the contents in the diorama, moving objects around until satisfied then glue down make notes for presentation
The Gourd Model The Gourd Model is made by: taking a gourd cutting a hole on one side like in the illustration drying the gourd placing the gourd on its rounded bottom Contents 1. The Landscape (the trees, grass, rocks, roads, paths); glue grass, straw, twigs, leaves, sand, pebbles, or dirt onto the floor of the diorama use paper maché, plasticine or clay to create hills, valleys and river banks 2. The River paint a river shape with blue paint use plastic blue bags, cut and shape into a river-shape, then glue Use plastic wrap for the river 3. Structures (tukels, storehouses, animal shelters, market, trees or bridge): glue clay, dirt, sand, paper maché, plasticine, cardboard, or paper glue leaves, twigs, pieces of wood 4. Animals and People use paper maché, plasticine, clay or cardboard use plastic or wooden toys use paper and cardboard 5. Putting the Diorama Together place the contents in the diorama, moving objects around until satisfied then glue down make notes for presentation
Pupil Self-Assessment Copy or make the Pupil Self-assessment on the chalkboard or chart paper. Have pupils complete the Pupil Self-Assessment to reflect on what they have learned about building the diorama and presenting to the class. Pupil Self-Assessment Reflecting on My Learning Name: Date: 1. Topic: 2. Activity: 3. What I learned: 4. Diagrams, Maps or Pictures: 5. I would like to learn more about: 6. I would like to improve in: