Coral Reef Habitat Diorama

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Learn all about coral reefs and ocean life in this fun coral reef
habitat diorama craft.
View more habitat diorama projects: African Savanna
Diorama, Polar Diorama, ainforest Diorama, All Diorama
!rafts
Safety Tips
"atch out for this si#n . $t means
adult help is needed for the particular
step.
Materials
Shoebo% or similar&si'ed bo%
Printable card stoc( or construction paper
!ra)ons or colored pencils
Acr)lic paint
"hite #lue
Scissors
Paint brush
Pencil
Sand
Sea shells *optional+
Paper bowl or e## carton *optional+
Steps
,.
Prepare the box
-ost bo% dioramas would be standin# on its wider panel. $n this
tutorial, we wanted to show that a vertical bo% orientation can be used
to emphasi'e depth, which is a #reat concept for an ocean&themed
scene.
Start off b) paintin# the inside of the bo% with blue acr)lic paint or
coverin# it with blue&colored paper. .ou can also paint the outside of
the bo% if )ou li(e.
$f )ou/re usin# a bo% other than a shoebo%, cut out the front panel. 0se
tape or #lue #un to fi% an) open flaps in place.
1.
Make the animals
Draw different (inds of sea animals, includin# corals and bottom
dwellers *e.#. starfish, crabs, clams, etc.+ on white construction paper.
.ou ma) also print out these sea creatures and corals on card stoc(.
!olor and cut out the animals.
2.
Create paper tabs
-a(e side, bottom, or center tabs for )our sea creatures. These will
allow the animals to be attached to the bottom and3or sides of )our bo%.
There are a number of wa)s to ma(e the tabs:
a.+ -a(e an L&shaped paper tab and #lue this at the bac( of the animal/s
bod). Position the tab at the bottom portion of the animal *bottom tab+
or at the sides *side tab+.
b.+ Draw side and3or bottom tabs before cuttin# out )our animals in
Step 1.
c.+ 4old a rectan#ular piece of paper on both ends to create a center tab.
This tab allows )ou to attach a paper animal to the bac(#round.
5.
Add backrgound details
6lue some animals and corals onto the bac(#round. These pieces
obviousl) do not need an) tabs.
Paint more animals and other details onto the bac(#round if )ou li(e.
7.
Add ground details
.ou ma) add other pieces on the #round besides the paper cut&outs. 4or
instance, this paper bowl section *bowl cut into 8uarters+ can be used as
a roc( where one of the animals can be positioned. 9esides paper
bowls, e## carton sections or small bo%es can be cut and painted to
create roc(s or small caves.
:.
Position the animals
Animals without tabs can be positioned onto objects on the #round. The
paper bowl we #lued on in Step 7 is perfect for the octopus to rest on.

Position the rest of the animals inside )our diorama. The creatures on
the #round all have bottom tabs. 6lue the tabs in place.

These swimmin# fishes have side tabs for #luin# onto the sides of the
bo%. 4ishes with center tabs can be #lued onto the bac(#round.
Another option for creatin# swimmin# animals is to han# them from
the bo%/s ceilin# with strin#s.

.ou can also create a fish hidin# amon# corals b) creatin# a slit each on
the bottom ed#e of the fish and on the top ed#e of a coral. $nterloc( the
slits to position the fish in place.
;.
Add sand
<nce all the animals are in place, appl) #lue on the entire bottom
surface of the bo%. Spoon on some sand over the #lue to create a sand)
ocean bottom.
Position the paper starfish on the sand. Add real seashells if )ou have
some.
=.
More deas
>njo) )our terrific !oral eef ?abitat Diorama@A
4ind more habitat diorama&ma(in# ideas in these awesome projects:
African Savanna ?abitat Diorama
Dinosaur Diorama
Polar ?abitat Diorama
ainforest ?abitat Diorama
All Diorama !rafts