Conceiving a diorama is an adventure in scale and spatial relationships. Choose a container, then put yourself in the shoes of one of its future inhabitants.

Tools and Materials
Sardine tin (well washed and dried)
Cardboard
Nautical map
Blue paper
Shells
Twigs
Toy Birds
Cutout images (from sardine label)
Cheesecloth
Fish cutout
Card stock
Sand
Rope

Ocean Diorama How-To
1. For background, trace bottom of well-washed sardine tin onto cardboard and a nautical map, and cut out; glue map onto cardboard, then glue inside tin.

2. Cut waves from blue paper, making tabs on bottom and sides for attaching to can; glue in place. Glue on shells, twigs, toy birds, and cutout images photocopied from sardine label, and cheesecloth for a net.

3. To make free-floating fish, glue fish cut out to one end of card stock strip folded at each end; glue other end to background.

4. Brush glue on floor of diorama; sprinkle with sand. To hang diorama, tape rope to back.