How to Make a Swamp Diorama

Children become quickly engaged when learning about swamp animals, muddy habitats and plant life as they study the habitat of the swamp. Units on swamp habitats are usually taught during elementary school, along with the study of other habitats and biomes. Making a diorama is one way for a student to demonstrate what they've learned about swamp habitats.

Begin with an empty shoe box standing on one long side. Place the shoe-box lid underneath the long side to form an extension for the bottom of the diorama.

Drizzle glue all over the bottom of the diorama and use one of the craft sticks to spread it around.

Cut an oval shape out of aluminum foil, big enough to take up at least half of the bottom of the diorama. Lightly crumple the foil to give it a textured look. Place the oval on the glue and press down. This forms the swamp water.

Sprinkle some of the grass clippings from your yard around the edges of the swamp water and in a few random places in the bottom of the diorama.

Scoop up some dirt with the measuring cup and pour it around the remainder of the bottom of the diorama, allowing it to set for a few minutes so it can adhere to the glue. Then tilt the diorama over a garbage bag and shake out any excess dirt.

Push six to seven marble-sized balls of sticky tack into random places on the bottom of the diorama. Place one craft stick into each ball of sticky tack to form tree trunks.

Fold green construction paper in half, then in half again so it's folded into quarters. Once folded, cut a tree-top shape with a rounded or scalloped edge. You should end up with four tree tops. Glue these to the top of the four craft sticks and leave the other craft sticks empty to represent the deadwood found in swamps.

Fold the white construction paper once. Start at the fold and cut a long, thin triangle about 1 to 2 inches in length. Repeat this two more times. Unfold the three triangles, which will now look like skinny diamonds, and use the masking tape to affix one end of the string to the center of each diamond shape. Make an upward crease in the middle of the diamond, near the string, and fold the tips of the diamond downward. This creates swamp birds. Affix the other end of the strings to the diorama ceiling using the masking tape.

Cut the licorice whip into 2-inch segments and the Swedish fish in half. Glue a few licorice whips, or snakes, in random places around the swamp water. Affix the fish in the swamp water, making them look as if they're jumping out of the water.