Shoebox Diorama Project

Dear First Grade Families,

Green Meadow will be celebrating Read Across America on Friday, March 1st. This is a special day to celebrate reading.

You can help celebrate with your child by doing a special book project at home. We are asking the children to make a shoebox diorama of their favorite story. This can be done as a family project. Each child will pick a book of their choice, and create their favorite scene from the story in a shoebox. Please see attached instructions. Use any materials that you would like to create the scene. Have fun and be creative!

The Shoebox Diorama is due on Friday, March 1st, 2013.  In school, we will be working on creating a summary that goes along with your child’s diorama. Please have your child bring in his/her book they used to create their diorama on the due date.

If you have any questions about the special project please feel free to contact your child’s teacher. 

Thank you,

The First Grade Team

Dioramas are easy and fun to make.  

Just follow the instructions below.

You will need:

*	A shoe box or similar sized box (keep lid if you have one.)
*	paper
*	pencils, crayons, markers
*	glue
*	yarn, scraps of material or anything for extra effects.

Step 1.  Decide on a book.

Step 2.

*	Cut a piece a paper to fit the back (inside) of the box and two pieces for the sides.
*	Draw the setting on these pieces of paper. (For example; Charlotte’s Web would be in a barn.)  Color.
*	Paste the setting pieces in the box.

Step 3.

*	Draw and color individual pieces: (for example; Charlotte’s Web would have a spider, a pig, other barn animals, and Fern.)
*	Decide where you want these to be in the diorama. Some should be back and some forward, some could be hanging from the top or attached to the side. You can use yarn to hang things.

HINT:  To make your objects stand up...fold the bottom 1/4 inch back.  Glue the bottom to the floor of the diorama.  If the object falls backward make a small strip and attach it to the back of the object on one side and the other side can be attached to the back or bottom.

Step 4.

*	Use the extra materials to add the finishing touches. You can use small plastic animals, people, etc.
*	Have fun!! Be creative!