This rain forest diorama is easy to make and above all it shows in its construction the basic structure of a rain forest. A rain forest has five different layes of plant life and vegetation. These layers are called overlayer, canopy, underlayer, shrub layer and ground layer. This diorama takes the unique approach of creating each layer on a piece of paper then building these five layers into a diorama.

Cut out all five of the rainforest levels.Feel free to dress them up a bit by coloring them with your own colors. Add any details you would like to add. Notice that the bottom part of each sheet is about a 1 inch thick section. This is the fold line. And you can also see that I cut a notch in the fold section of each level. This notch will allow you to fold the paper a little bit. This way it will stand up straighter and be stronger.

This is what I mean by folding it at the notch a bit. If you fold it just a little like this and tape it where my thumb is it will be a much stronger structure and will stand up straight.

After you have them all cut out and ready for installation you can put them aside while you build the diorama housing. This picture shows all five of them assembled on the table. This is how you will finally put them into your diorama.

Here is the pattern. Measure this out on poster board and cut it. The dotted lines are fold lines. From this overall shape there are only two cuts on the bottom part.

Now just fold it and tape it. The box is ready for you to add some details and the five layers of the rainforest canopy.

Here is my completed diorama with an extra stand-up card that explains each layer of the canopy.

To make the amphitheatre diorama house we start with a piece of posterboard cut like this. This one is about 28 inches wide and 20 inches high. Of the 20 inch height it is about ten inches to the fold then the semi circle part is another ten inches.

From here you just fold it in half then bring in the semi circle halves. Tape it firmly together.

Now measure and cut a top and tape it in place.

Add two strips, one at the top and one at the bottom and it is done. Now you can decorate it and add the five layers of the rainforest canopy.

Here is my completed diorama.

The assembly is complete. I hope you had fun and I hope you did some little creative extras to make your diorama special.

Paper Parthenon - Acropolis

How to Make PlayDough

There are lots of recipes on how to make dough for kids to play with. This recipe is probably the best. Requires a bit of heating in a pan. Its a fun project in itself and the final product is fun too!

How to Make PlayDough