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Educator Amy O'Donnell from the American Museum of Natural History guides learners to create a diorama of a coral reef. Learners will use craft skills to transform household materials into simulated brain coral, sea fans, sea anemones, and a sponge. This resource contains background information about coral and the use of dioramas in museums. Also includes extension ideas.
- Under 5 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours
- $5 - $10 per student
- Ages 6 - 14
- Activity, Model
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- cardboard box, approximately 2' x 1'
- blue tissue paper or blue construction paper (or even newspaper painted blue)
- clear tape
- a few pieces of sandpaper OR paper, sand, and glue
- scissors
- bag of "radiatore" pasta; it has a ruffled, ridged shape
- ball of modeling clay, Model Magic, or Play-Doh
- paint, green, yellow, and brown
- paint brushes
- plastic cups or bowls for paint
- cup of water, for cleaning brushes
- newspaper, to put on table before painting
- sheet of white (plain) needlepoint canvas
- pipe cleaners, thick (orange, red, yellow, pink or purple)
- pipe cleaners, thin (orange, red, yellow, pink, or purple)
- paint, orange, red, yellow, pink, or purple
- a bag of hair curlers (or cardboard paper towel or toilet paper rolls)
- pink or red plastic pom-poms, or red construction paper cut into thin strips, or pink Easter grass
- about 6 to 10 tan-colored plastic hair curlers (the kind that have two parts)
- yellow Play-Doh
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Structure
- Oceans and Water
-
Earth Structure
-
Life Sciences
-
Diversity of Life
- Plants
- Animals
-
Ecology
- Ecosystems
-
Diversity of Life
-
The Nature of Science
- Science as a Career
Informal Categories
- Animals
- Arts and Crafts
- Model Building
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Source Collection
- Ology
Rights:
- All rights reserved, American Museum of Natural History,