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diorama

How To Make A Shoebox Water Cycle Diorama With Free Printables

May 8, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free printable shoebox water cycle diorama. Also, look at my page Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas for more activities.

A water cycle diorama is a fun visual way for kids to learn the four main stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

Besides, explaining abstract concepts like the water cycle can be hard for kids to grasp.

How To Make A Shoebox Water Cycle Diorama With Free Printables

So, a shoebox water cycle diorama is a visual way to introduce weather concepts.

Too, kids can use all of the free printable pieces of this water cycle diorama download or create some features of their own to mix and match with the printables.

Also, engage your child while he is preparing the diorama. You can prepare questions to engage critical thinking.

For example, where does the water start, what happens to the rain, and where does the groundwater go.

BOOKS ABOUT THE WATER CYCLE FOR KIDS

In addition, look at some of these books about the water cycle.

4 Water Cycle Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these living books and reference books to your learning day about water and the water cycle.

A Drop of Water

A child crouches beside a meadow brook, and a drop of water collects and falls from the child’s fingertip to continue on its journey. Where does that journey begin? High in the sky, rain clouds are parting. Water trickles and flows down the mountain, collecting in an upland bog, seeping through a beaver’s dam, rushing over rocks, passing many plants and animals along its winding way—each dependent on water and the different environments it shapes to live.

A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder

The most spectacular photographs ever created on the subject of water appear in this unique science book by Walter Wick. The camera stops the action and magnifies it so that all the amazing states of water can be observed — water as ice, rainbow, steam, frost, dew. Readers can examine a drop of water as it falls from a faucet, see a drop of water as it splashes on a hard surface, count the points of an actual snowflake, and contemplate how drops of water form clouds. Evaporation, condensation, capillary, attraction, and surface tension are explained through simple text and illustrated by pictures that reveal water in its many awesome transformations.

The Snowflake : A Water Cycle Story

With a double-page spread for each month, this book describes the journey of a single drop of water throughout the year.

Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle

Meet Drop. She's water! And she's seen a thing or two--even dinosaurs. Everywhere Drop flows--and she flows everywhere--she makes life on Earth possible, and has a great time doing it. Have you ever plummeted from a rain cloud? Or taken a thousand-year nap in a glacier? Drop has! She'll tell you all about it

Also, look at more water life cycle activities.

How To Make A Shoebox Water Cycle Diorama With Free Printables

Finally, look at what included in this download.

You will need:

  • Free Water Cycle Diorama (add your email to the link at the end of this post and get the freebie instantly. no waiting)
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Crayons, markers, or colored pencils

Print out all of the diorama pages onto thick sturdy cardstock.

Encourage your child to color the pieces or leave them as they are.

I included a photo in the download to show you were to place the pieces.

MORE ACTIVITIES TO PAIR WITH THE SHOEBOX WATER CYCLE DIORAMA

  • Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids
  • 5 Great Water Cycle Activities and Lessons, Labeling the Water Cycle
  • Rain Cloud in a Jar Science Activity
  • Free Weather Unit Study and Rain Cloud in a Jar
  • Water Cycle, Rain Cycle Science Experiments and Craftivity

HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE WATER CYCLE DIORAMA

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: diorama, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, water, water life cycle

Step-by-Step: Building a Colorful Pond Diorama with Free Printables

May 5, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Your kids will love this free printable pond diorama. And look at my page Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook for more fun ideas to learn about ponds.

In a digital world of learning, hands-on learning becomes more important.

Besides this free printable pond diorama can be as simple or as creative as your child wants to be.

Step-by-Step: Building a Colorful Pond Diorama with Free Printables

And dioramas even printable ones encourages kids to be creative and they allow kids to bring ideas to life in 3D.

There is no limitations on learning or what they want to put in their diorama. Unstructured play is essential for brain development.

Also, they have numerous benefits for younger children. For example, cutting, gluing, painting, and coloring.

BOOKS ABOUT PONDS FOR KIDS

First, look at these living books about pond.

Learn about ponds and the flora and fauna in them and that make their home close to ponds.

11 Fun Pond Life Resources for Kids

Add one or two of these resources to you learning day or to a pond unit study.

Over and Under the Pond: (Environment and Ecology Books for Kids)

In Over and Under the Pond, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the water is a hidden world of creatures—minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing.  
These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered over and under the pond in this sweet children’s book from Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal, the latest in their beloved series that offers kids a peek into hidden ecosystems.

Natural and Earth Science Educational Flash Card

This set of 48 cards features a colorful illustration on one side and informational facts on the other side.

CARD SIZE: 4.5 x 6 inches. Each card is double-sided and durable.

Rivers, Ponds, and Lakes (Collins Nature Explorers)

Have you ever wondered:

  • How to find life in a puddle?
  • What lives in your local river?
  • How to make a micro zoo?
  • How pond snails breathe?

Now you can become an expert nature explorer and learn fantastic facts to impress your friends and family!

You'll love that these hands-on books contain straightforward and safe step-by-step projects, allowing you to help your children discover the natural world. They are ideal supplements to school science projects and the perfect activities for weekends and vacations.

Pond Life: Revised and Updated (A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press)

This guide describes and illustrates, in full color, the plants and animals that live in or near ponds, lakes, streams, and wetlands. It includes surface-dwelling creatures as well as those of open water, the bottom, and the shore and tells how various animals and plants live together in a community.Plus suggestions for:Where and when to lookObserving and collecting specimensMaking exciting discoveries

Photo Credit: ourjourneywestward.com

Peaceful Ponds

Using Peaceful Ponds, you’ll have so much fun learning about pond plants and animals, as well as earth science topics as they relate to ponds. 

Lakes and Ponds!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Imagine the smooth, glasslike surface of a pond, the water mirroring a bright moon or a crystal blue sky. The water appears perfectly calm and still. What’s going on underneath the surface?

Lakes and Ponds! With 25 Science Projects for Kids invites kids ages 7 though 10 to investigate the bodies of water that might look calm from the shore but which are teeming with life and activity! Through fun facts and engaging content, readers explore the plants and animals living in lakes and ponds, from fish darting about to dragonfly nymphs gestating in the shallows to algae and aquatic plants converting sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. Discover fun facts about the duckweed, water lilies, and cattails growing in and around the waters of lakes and ponds. It’s a busy place!

Keystone Species that Live in Ponds, Streams, & Wetlands (Kid's Guide to Keystone Species in Nature)

The same thing is true in nature. Certain species of animals and plants are so important to their ecosystems, that if they disappear, the whole system may collapse. They are called keystone species.

Frogs and Toads and Tadpoles, Too (Rookie Read-About Science: Animals)

What's the difference between a frog and a toad? The natural world comes alive for young readers (Ages 6-7) with Rookie Read-About "RM" Science! With striking, full-color photos and just the right amount of text, this series immediately involves young readers as they discover intriguing facts about the fascinating world around them.This book discusses the likenesses and differences between frogs and toads.

Amphibian

Frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and the rare caecilians come in a stunning array of colors, shapes, sizes, and habitats. They live both in water and on land and move in a variety of ways from swimming to hopping and even flying. With a series of specially commissioned photographs, DK Eyewitness Books: Amphibian takes a close look at the fascinating natural history of these creatures from the bright green, red-eyed tree frogs to dull, burrowing, wormlike caecilians; from startling black and yellow fire salamanders to tiny transparent glass frogs.

Pond Life: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Plants & Animals Living in or Near Ponds, Lakes & Wetlands (Wildlife and Nature Identification)

So many people get their start in nature study by exploring ponds. These small bodies of calm, standing water are fascinating living laboratories of plant and animal life at all scales, from microscopic algae to iconic birds like Great Blue Herons or ecosystem engineers like Beavers. To better understand how a pond ecosystems functions, it helps to get familiar with its living parts, namely its flora and fauna. The portable reference Pond Life is an excellent tool to bring on your next pond study, as it includes beautiful illustrations of 140 common and familiar birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects, and other invertebrates as well as trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, waterproof, 12-panel folding pocket guide is the perfect tool for educators, learners, naturalists, botanists, and wildlife enthusiasts to use the next time they go searching for minnows, tadpoles, or dragonfly nymphs at their local pond.

Pond Wildlife (Adventures in Nature)

Get ready to take a leap into the water in this exciting exploration of pond habitats. This volume examines different kinds of pond habitats, and the creatures that are found both in the water and on its edge, from bass to grass snakes to herons. Readers will learn about life cycles, ecosystems, and conservation, which are important curricula-based science topics. This volume pairs compelling text with vivid color photographs to bring readers on a nature walk they won’t soon forget. Diagrams, activities, and quizzes provide greater opportunities for exploration. This book is perfect for nature-enthused readers to get their feet wet identifying creatures and understanding the wonder of pond wildlife!

Then, look at these other activities about pond to add to your diorama day.

MORE ACTIVITIES ABOUT PONDS

  • 8 Engaging Pond Books for Preschoolers Who Love Pond Animals
  • Why Is a Toad An Amphibian And Pondlife Facts & Make a Fun Toad House
  • Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook
  • Make Way For Ducklings Fun Duck Pond Playdough Invitation to Play
  • Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam

Additionally, look at these ideas for dioramas.

MORE DIORAMA IDEAS

  • Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids
  • How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall
  • How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands
  • How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids
  • 6 Facts About Mountain Lions and How to Make a Fun Mountain Lion Diorama
  • 5 Tide Pool Facts and Create An Edible Tide Pool Diorama Ideas
  • How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama
  • How to Make A Pyramid Diorama For States Of Matter
  • Fun Arctic Habitat Diorama and Fascinating Facts About Walruses

Finally, look at how to assemble the diorama.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE THE POND DIORAMA

You will need:

  • Free Pond Diorama (add your email to the link at the end of this post and get the freebie instantly. no waiting)
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Crayons, markers, or colored pencils

Print out all of the diorama pages onto thick sturdy cardstock.

Step-by-Step: Building a Colorful Pond Diorama with Free Printables

Encourage your child to color in the animals and trees, or leave them as they are.

I included a photo in the download to show you were to place the pieces.

HOW TO GET THE FREE PRINTABLE POND DIORAMA

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: diorama, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, ponds

Free Printable Colorful Frog Diorama: Cool Frog Life Cycle Facts

February 12, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re making a frog diorama and learning about the life cycle of our froggy friends. Also, look at my Free Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas for more activities.

Whether they’re croaking in the pond or leaping through the forest, frogs are some of the most interesting animals around.

Frogs are amphibians, which means they can live both in water and on land.

They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Free Printable Colorful Frog Diorama: Cool Frog Life Cycle Facts

Some frogs are tiny, like a penny, while others can be as big as a football.

There are over 6,000 species of frogs worldwide, each with its own unique life cycle and adaptations.

Frogs are sensitive to changes in temperature and environment, which is why they are great indicators of the health of their habitat.

You might spot frogs in ponds, marshes, or even your own backyard.

Frog Books for Kids

Next, look at some of these fun books about frogs.

I prefer living books in my home library when I can find them.

Then I add reference books. Add some of these fun books to your library.

14 Frog Unit Study Resources

Add a book or two or some fun hands-on resources to your unit study.

The Frog (Animal Lives)

Superbly detailed drawings capture the elusive frog in its watery realm, as it captures its prey with a sticky tongue, feeds its young, and leaps from place to place to escape from predators.

Tale of a tadpole

The natural world doesn't work the way fairy tales do, but it still has its fair share of enchantments. With text and pictures that are both scientifically accurate and totally true to the comedies of family life, this is a happily-ever-after tale of unexpected transformations

Rainforest Frogs

Rainforest Frogs Haiku by Caley Vickerman Illustrated by Mark Lerer Foreword by Franco Andreone Designed and Edited by Susan Newman Frogs Are Green, Inc is proud to announce… Rainforest Frogs Order your copy now! Free shipping in the USA if you order directly from us! $11.95 | 52 pages softcover | Full color Rainforest Frogs profiles ten exotic and endangered amphibian species. Table of Contents Foreword by Franco Andreone Blue Poison Dart frog Amazon Milk frog Yellow-Banded Poison Dart frog Northern Glass frog Tiger’s Tree frog Golden Mantella Red-Eyed Tree frog Flat-Head Bromeliad Tree frog Tiger-Leg Monkey Tree frog Rabbs Fringe-Limbed Tree frog (Toughie)

Frog (Life Cycle of a . . .)

Do tadpoles have legs? Why do frogs live in water? How do frogs catch food? Explaining concepts through stunning photographs and simple text, 'Life Cycle of a Frog' takes an in-depth look at this familiar but fascinating animal.

Ice King Bear Plush Giant Frog

Scientific name of this frog is Conraua goliath (The largest frog in the world).

  • Product size is 22 inches length from head to soles of the feet, big size.
  • Soft, huggable material built to high-quality standards and hand wash best.
  • Suit for kids toy, funny party props, early education animals, cute decorations in house.
  • Climbing Tree Frogs (Pull Ahead Books)

    Introduces the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitats of North American tree frogs

    Frogs

    How far can frogs jump? Why do their eggs look slimy? Answer these questions and many more in this illustrated introduction to amphibians, and learn about the unique role frogs play in the environment. With her signature bright, well-labeled diagrams and simple text, Gail Gibbons introduces the habitat and life cycles of frogs, and gives a brief overview of common frog behaviors. Important vocabulary is introduced, defined, and reinforced with kid-friendly language and clear illustrations—plus a page of intriguing frog trivia. 

    Frog and Friends

    Frog and Toad

    Frog & Toad The Complete Collection

    This collection brings together all of Arnold Lobel’s engaging, warm and funny stories about Frog and Toad, and features a special foreword by Julia Donaldson. A collectable classic treasury that every child should read and own. Julia Donaldson says “I hugely admire and envy Arnold Lobel; he is my hero”. Once upon a time there were two good friends, a frog and a toad… From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other – just as best friends should be.

    Frog Growth Cycle

    This Forg life cycle set is a fun for children with an interest in insects and nature explore. And also it is a great teaching and learning tool for homeschoolers and preschoolers teaching.

    Anatomy Lab Soft Cover Frog Dissection Guide Book

    Fully Illustrated Guide: Each study guide is fully illustrated and conveys the complete dissection through illustration.

    Visualize the Steps: the dissection guides depict anatomically correct step-by-step procedural illustrations helping the student visualize key organs and anatomy aiding in the overall dissection process.

    Frog-Development Paperweight Specimens

    The frog development paperweight specimen is a 100% natural insect incased in clear resin block, you can observe its development all life stages very clearly from any angle.

    Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf)

    Category: NatureIn a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators. Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers. This is a nature tale like you've never seen before!

    Frogs Toy Mini Vinyl Realistic Frog

    Rich in style: the plastic frogs toys contain 12 different types and each type includes 3 pieces, allowing you to combine and match for beautiful and personalized decorations at your will, which can give rein to your imagination and creativity

    Quality material: the realistic frogs toy decorations are made of quality PVC material for safety and wearing, which are odorless; They are also easy to clean and can be applied many times, providing a comfortable touching experience for you

    Also, look at some fun features about frogs.

    Frog Features

    What makes frog so fun learn about is their features.

    For example, look at these features.

    Big Eyes: Frogs have large, bulging eyes that help them see in the dark and spot their prey.

    Sticky Tongue: Frogs use their long, sticky tongues to catch insects.

    When a frog sees a bug, its tongue shoots out super fast and sticks to the bug, pulling it back into the frog’s mouth.

    Slimy Skin: A frog’s skin is smooth and slimy, which helps keep them moist and healthy.

    Some frogs even have bright colors or patterns to warn predators that they’re toxic (poisonous).

    Hopping Legs: Frogs are excellent jumpers.

    Their powerful back legs help them leap from place to place, and they can jump up to 20 times their own body length.

    Additionally, learn about the frog life cycle with this diorama.

    4 Stages Frog Life Cycle

    They go through a fascinating transformation as they grow.

    They go through four stages.

    1. Egg

    A female frog can lay hundreds of eggs at once.

    These eggs are often grouped together in jelly-like clusters. They’re pretty small and look like tiny, transparent blobs.

    2. Tadpole

    Once the eggs hatch, out come the tadpoles.

    Tadpoles are like little fish with tails and gills.

    They live in the water and spend their days swimming around.

    At this stage, tadpoles don’t look much like frogs yet. They’re mostly focused on eating and growing.

    Cool Fact: Tadpoles feed on algae and tiny plants in the water.

    As they grow, they start to develop legs and their tails begin to shrink.

    3. Tadpoles with Legs

    As the tadpoles continue to grow, they start to change dramatically. This stage is called the “tadpole with legs” phase. Here’s what happens:

    Then tadpoles gradually lose their gills and start developing lungs so they can breathe air.

    First, the hind legs begin to grow, followed by the front legs.

    Thereafter, the tadpole’s tail gets shorter as the body transforms.

    4. Adult Frog

    Finally, the tadpole turns into an adult frog.

    This is when it’s ready to hop out of the water and start living on land.

    Adult frogs have strong legs for jumping and a different diet. They eat insects and other small animals instead of algae.

    Free Printable Colorful Frog Diorama: Cool Frog Life Cycle Facts

    Adult frogs have to stay moist to keep their skin healthy, so you might often see them in damp or wet places.

    Finally, do this fun printable colorful frog diorama together.

    How to Get the Free Printable Frog Diorama Life Cycle

    Now, how to grab the free diorama. It’s a subscriber freebie.

    That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

    1) Sign up on my email list.

    2) Grab the freebie now.

    3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

    Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: diorama, frog life cycle, frogs, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    June 4, 2024 | Leave a Comment
    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    Today we are creating a toucan habitat diorama. Also, look at my page Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon and Rainforest Activities for Kids or more ideas, crafts and activities.

    Our diorama resembles the rainforest canopies of Central and South America where the toucan make their home.

    High above the ground, where the covering is lush and thick, Toucans build their nests.

    They build them in hollowed out tree cavities sleeping in groups of 5 or 6.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    They very rarely fly down to the forest floor.

    Also, they are prey for forest eagles, hawks, owls, boas, and jaguars.

    We are creating a tropical rainforest paradise that is perfect for a bright toucan to hide out in.

    It is complete with a unique waterfall just like you might find in the Lacandon Jungle, Mexico or Kaieteur Falls in the Amazon.

    This is a pretty safe hot glue craft even for younger kids as they only have to squeeze the glue gun to create their piece and do not touch the glue until it’s completely cooled.

    They may just need a little bit of help attaching the waterfall.

    What better way to learn about this fascinating and beautiful bird than to study its habitat with a unique rainforest diorama.

    5 Fun Facts About Toucans

    1. Toucans use their massive beaks to attract mates, intimidate predators, to reach food that would otherwise be out of reach, and to control their body temperature by regulating blood flow through it.
    2. Vocabulary alert- They are ‘monomorphic’ which means that there is no color difference in males and females, both are equally colorful.
    3. Toucans range in size from the toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) that can be up to 24” down to the tawny-tufted toucanet (Selenidera nattereri) at just 12.5”.
    4. Toucans hang out in groups of 3 to 12, but also as large as groups of 20.
    5. They are very important to the biome of the rainforest. They eat a variety of native fruits and spread the seeds via their droppings, which helps keep the plants growing and maintains the forest’s diversity.
    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Next, add a few more ideas to bring your toucan habitat diorama to life.

    Toucan Habitat Resources

    • Toucans! My Incredible World Picture Book
    • If you want another toucan activity that is especially great for younger kids make these. Wildlife in the Amazon Rainforest – Create Fun Macaw and Toucan Crafts
    • Watch All About Toucans to see the big beaked beauties in action.
    • You can include toucans or any rainforest creature in this unique and easy Rainforest Triorama with kids project
    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Finally, look at how to make this fun toucan shoebox diorama.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    You will need:

    • Glue gun/sticks
    • Box/shoebox
    • Greenery
    • Plastic toucan figure
    • Green and blue craft paint
    • Rocks and sticks
    • Paintbrushes
    • Silicone mat

    These messy mats are a must for any project, and they work well to contain paint, glue, playdough, or any other mess.

    Perfect for glue gun “sculptures”, they allow you to peel it away so easily.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    First, decide which way you want to design your box.

    We opted to put our box vertically so that we could maximize our waterfall and canopy height.

    Paint the inside with thick blobby layers of different greens to create a thick full background, leaving some space for the blue of the waterfall.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Let the paint dry (or use a blow dryer to move it along a little faster).

    Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Then paint your blue waterfall from the top down and on the bottom inside of the box to create a little pool.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Allow the paint to dry completely, while you are waiting you can create the waterfall

    Lay out your silicone mat and drizzle hot glue in continuous motions up and down as tall and as wide as you like.

    Be sure to overlap each of the layers so that each strand of glue is touching in multiple areas.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Allow glue to cool and harden, add more to the base of the waterfall for where it splashes up as it hits the pool.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Once your glue is hardened you can dab a bit of blue on the glue or leave it clear.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    When the paint is dry inside your habitat you can begin to assemble it.

    Place some hot glue along the top and bottom of your waterfall and layer over where you painted it in the box.

    Drip additional hot glue to attach it into place and fill it out as you like.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Next, glue in some rocks around the pool and secure some sticks from the yard to use as tree trunks.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Then, attach greenery to the “trees” as well as on the ground to create a thick dense rainforest

    Finally, add in your toucan and other animals if you would like to represent various parts of the rainforest.

    How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall

    Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: amazon rain forest, bird, birds, diorama, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science, toucan

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    January 23, 2024 | Leave a Comment
    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    I’m showing you how to make an Everglades diorama by simply upcycling a cereal box, adding in a few gathered nature items, and a handful of plastic animals. You’ll also love ideas on my post How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama.

    This is a fantastic hands-on project to cover the flora and fauna of the Everglades.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    And you research, talk, and learn about this unique biome.

    The Everglades are a subtropical wetland ecosystem that spread across much of central and south Florida.

    It’s so large it covers over 1.5 million acres.

    Sadly, it was twice as large many years ago but has been depleted.

    Books about The Everglades

    Next, add some of these books set in Florida and about the Everglades.

    I lean toward living books first, then like to add reference type books to round out our study of topics.

    12 Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read to About the Everglades in Florida

    Add a few of these resources about the Everglades to your learning day.

    [( Strawberry Girl )] [by: Lois Lenski] [Dec-2008]

    Birdie and her family are trying to build a farm in Florida. But it’s not easy with the heat, droughts, and cold snaps—and neighbors that don’t believe in fences. But Birdie won’t give up on her dream of strawberries, and her family won’t let those Slaters drive them from their home! This Newberry Medal–winning novel presents a realistic picture of life on the Florida frontier. 

    Everglades Adventure

    Toby Morgan was sixteen when his doctor father moved the family from New Jersey to Fort Dallas---now known as Miami---just after the Civil War. Florida then was an unexplored tropical wilderness that would have delighted the heart of an active boy---and Toby was no exception. Hunting, fishing, and cruising in his canoe through the watery channels of the Everglades, Toby soon came to know the birds and animals that abound there, as well as the ruthless plume hunters. He also discovered a forgotten tribe of Indians deep in the swampland. One day, in a dangerous encounter with an alligator, Toby's life was saved by Miki-loko, son of the Caloosa chief, and they became close friends. Later, when Professor Evans, a naturalist, arrived to photograph Florida wild life, Toby was well qualified to act as guide for him and his tomboy daughter, Sue. Through a swift and unexpected turn of events, the story builds to an exciting climax, and in the end Toby is launched on a fascinating scientific career. As a writer of thrilling adventure tales for teenagers, Stephen Meader has few equals, and in this book he has not only told a story of action and suspense, but has caught the vivid color of a picturesque era with authenticity and rare skill.

    Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas

    From acclaimed children’s book biographer Sandra Neil Wallace comes the inspiring and little-known story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the remarkable journalist who saved the Florida Everglades from development and ruin. Marjory Stoneman Douglas didn’t intend to write about the Everglades but when she returned to Florida from World War I, she hardly recognized the place that was her home. The Florida that Marjory knew was rapidly disappearing—the rare orchids, magnificent birds, and massive trees disappearing with it. Marjory couldn’t sit back and watch her home be destroyed—she had to do something. Thanks to Marjory, a part of the Everglades became a national park and the first park not created for sightseeing, but for the benefit of animals and plants. Without Marjory, the part of her home that she loved so much would have been destroyed instead of the protected wildlife reserve it has become today.

    Sea of Grass

    Charming Children's story of a little Seminole Indian boy and his family life in the Florida Everglades with Color illustrations throughout by Richard Floethe.

    The Moon of the Alligators (The Thirteen Moons Series)

    Describes an alligator's desperate search for food in the Florida Everglades during the month of October.

    Everglades: America's Wetland

    From Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay, from inside the bone-crushing jaws of an alligator to the storms that race across the blackwater backcountry, award-winning conservation photographer Mac Stone takes us on a visual journey through the Everglades. More than 200 striking photographs showcase the natural beauty of this unique wetland, capturing the amazing depths of its landscapes, the diversity of its wildlife, and the resilience of the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.Aerial views highlight the vast expanse of the River of Grass. Underwater images capture the endless wonders of the Everglades, including sharks darting through mangrove roots. Intimate close-ups showcase awe-inspiring flora and fauna such as the ghost orchid, the Florida panther, the endangered Everglades snail kite, roseate spoonbills, and, of course, the majestic American alligator.

    The Talking Earth

    Billie Wind lives with her Seminole tribe. She follows their customs, but the dangers of pollution and nuclear war she's learned about in school seem much more real to her. How can she believe the
    Seminole legends about talking animals and earth spirits? She wants answers, not legends.

    "You are a doubter,"say the men of the Seminole Council and so Billie goes out into the Everglades alone, to stay until she can believe. In the wilderness, she discovers that she must listen to the land and animals in order to survive. With an otter, a panther cub, and a turtle as companions and guides, she begins to understand that the world of her people can give her the answers she seeks.

    Figurines of Bald Eagle, Beaver, Alligator & More

    Add these fun animals to any hands-on activities to learn about the wetlands.

    Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

    See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

    A Land Remembered

    In this best-selling novel, Patrick Smith tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirt-poor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness to start a new life with his wife and infant son, and ends two generations later in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that the land has been exploited far beyond human need. The sweeping story that emerges is a rich, rugged Florida history featuring a memorable cast of crusty, indomitable Crackers battling wild animals, rustlers, Confederate deserters, mosquitoes, starvation, hurricanes, and freezes to carve a kingdom out of the swamp. But their most formidable adversary turns out to be greed, including finally their own. Love and tenderness are here too: the hopes and passions of each new generation, friendships with the persecuted blacks and Indians, and respect for the land and its wildlife.

    The Wahoo Bobcat

    In wildcat country, deep in the Florida water prairie wilderness, a great bobcat reigned supreme. He was called the Tiger by farmers and hunters of the region, some of whom feared or hated him. Only the boy Sammy, who roamed the woods finding all the teeming wildlife thrilling, cared enough to befriend the fierce king of the Wahoo. The boy and the cat established a strange friendship that endured through seasons of drought, forest fire and flood, and through the resolute hunting of the Tiger by his enemies - men and dogs.

    The Everglades: River of Grass

    Before 1947, when Marjory Stoneman Douglas named The Everglades a "river of grass," most people considered the area worthless. She brought the world's attention to the need to preserve The Everglades. In the Afterword, Michael Grunwald tells us what has happened to them since then. Grunwald points out that in 1947 the government was in the midst of establishing the Everglades National Park and turning loose the Army Corps of Engineers to control floods--both of which seemed like saviors for the Glades. But neither turned out to be the answer. Working from the research he did for his book, The Swamp, Grunwald offers an account of what went wrong and the many attempts to fix it, beginning with Save Our Everglades, which Douglas declared was "not nearly enough." Grunwald then lays out the intricacies (and inanities) of the more recent and ongoing CERP, the hugely expensive Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

    Amazing Facts about The Everglades

    1. When early explorers first laid eyes on the Everglades long ago, they saw large fields of grass and named it ‘ever’ as a shortened form of forever and ‘glades’ which means a grassy open place in old English.
    2. Most people assume that the Everglades is a swamp, but it is a slow-moving river that flows over an area 40 miles wide by 100 miles long. It is the largest wetland ecosystem in the United States.
    3. While it may look deep the water in the Everglades is very shallow, the majority of it is less than a few feet deep.
    4. The Everglades used to be much bigger, it covered nearly ⅓ of Florida but due to years of draining the wetlands to reclaim land for agriculture and urban development, 50% of its land has been lost.
    5. The Everglades are home to one of the highest concentrations of species that are listed as vulnerable to extinction in the US-39 native species found in the Everglades National Park are federally listed as threatened or endangered.

    The Everglades

    1. This is the only place in the entire world where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist in the wild.
    2. This precious water source is responsible for supplying drinking water for 1 out of every 3 Floridians.
    3. It is home to more than 360 bird species, 300 types of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 different mammal species, 50 species of reptiles, and about 750 native seed-bearing plants in the park, with over 160 plant species making it an extremely diverse and important ecosystem.
    4. Everglades National Park is the 3rd largest National Park, after Wrangell-St. Elias and Gates of The Arctic National Parks in Alaska.
    5. They are the location of the most significant breeding grounds for tropical wading birds in North America.

    Everglades Resources and Activities

    The first thing you want to do is grab a few great resources for your Everglades study to supplement this hands-on activity I have for you- books, videos, and maybe another craft or two.

    • Nature Anatomy- While the Nature Anatomy series does not have specific information on the Everglades you will be able to find plenty of information on swamps, bogs, and many of the animals that make their home here. It makes a great reference book.
    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands
    • You can see that you will find plenty of information and inspiration for your diorama.
    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands
    • Watch Wild Kratts Explore the Everglades to see more about some of the amazing animals of the Everglades.
    • For older kids watch Meet The Residents of Everglades National Park.
    • You can grab this Safari Ltd River Animals Toob to use for your diorama but they are also wonderful used as art inspiration, in sensory bins, and even on the block shelf.
    • Grab this Florida Everglades word search to familiarize your child with related words and phrases.

    Some animals you might want to include in your diorama are alligators, otters, beavers, panthers, key deer, raccoons, black bears, red foxes, alligator snapping turtles, snakes, and water birds like Roseate Spoonbills or Herons.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama

    To save money and encourage creativity, I like to use items we already have on hand, reclaiming them from the recycle bin like paper bags, paper plates, and even cereal boxes.

    You will need:

    • Plastic animals
    • Cereal Box
    • Craft paints-brown, green, blue
    • Paintbrushes
    • School glue
    • Natural items- pebbles, moss, sticks, etc…
    • Scissors or cutting blade
    • Hot glue gun/sticks
    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    First, tape or hot glue the open end of the box closed.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Take scissors or a box cutter and make a 3-sided cut on the large face of the cereal box.

    Leave about a ½” border on the 3 sides but cutting right up to the edge of the 4th.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    To disguise the outside of the box you can either paint it or cover it with green paper.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Begin inside the box by painting a blue background for the sky that is going to peek through our trees.

    Paint the inside the top and sides of the box as well. Allow to dry to the touch.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Next, use two or three different shades of green paint to create the dirt and greenery of the ground.

    Florida Everglades Diorama Craft with Kids

    The more you layer the color the better the final results will be. Leave some area for the water to run through your scene.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Now use the same greens to create trees in the background.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Stir together a couple of tablespoons of school glue and some brown, green and blue paint.

    The water in the Everglades is not blue.

    And beckons it’s often a murky muddy tea-colored shade and often so deeper in the woodland areas.

    And the water is brown but not muddy and is tinted by the cypress and pine trees. 

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Pour the glue mixture where you want it to be on your scene.

    Paint it how you would like it to be, the glue gives it a little more thickness and helps define it from the land area.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    While the paint is still wet on the land you can sprinkle moss, a little dirt, etc. or add some glue to help it adhere better.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Allow the paint to dry overnight.

    Begin hot gluing on pebbles, and sticks to use as tree trunks, moss, etc…

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Place the Everglades animals you have chosen around the diorama.

    How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

    Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: diorama, everglades, Florida, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, wetlands

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