F is for Forest Diorama (Geography Projects from A to Z)
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I have been doing a whole series of Geography Projects from A to Z. This month we are on the letter F. We decided to go with F is for Forest and make a Layers of the Forest Diorama. We learned about the different layers and the creatures that live there. We also read several books about forests to help us in our learning. This project can be expanded on so many levels. We could really have spent a month learning about forests! My kids love nature study and really enjoyed this project and learning more about forests.
These projects are based on the book Geography from A to Z by Jack Knowlton. It’s a great, simple book for learning about different landforms.
How We Made Our Forest Diorama
For our forest diorama, we used a cardboard box and painted the inside all green.
Once the paint was dry, they made the sky on the top flap and the ground with a sheet of brown paper glued to the bottom.
Then to make the different elements of the forest, we used paper towel roll and toilet paper roll tubes. We glued them into the bottom of the box with hot glue and decorated with construction paper. The kids made little animals and insects out of clay. They also made the sky on the top flap by gluing on blue paper and a yellow sun.
The layers of the forest are Canopy, Understory, Shrub, Herb and Soil. To learn more about the forest we used these two websites:
The Smithsonian National Zoo site has a wonderful interactive Forest section that my kids really enjoyed! There are a few other interactive ones there for kids, too.
ESchool Today also has a great section to help kids learn about the structure of a forest.
We found some great books to read about forests, too.
12 Forest Books for Kids
This Tree Counts by Alison Formento
One Small Square- Woods by Donald Silver
Explore the Deciduous Forest by Linda Tagliaferro
A Walk in the Deciduous Forest by Rebecca L. Johnson
Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek by Marianne Berkes
Who Lives Here? Forest Animals by Deborah Hodge
The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward
Whose Tracks Are These? by Jim Nail
One Small Place In a Tree by Barbara Brenner
Around One Log by Anthony Fredricks
Magic School Bus Meets the Rot Squad by Joanna Cole
The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton Burgess (free on Kindle)
See my Learning Guide for this book.
See more Geography Projects from A to Z:
Geography Nesting Cans
A is for Atoll & Archipelago
B is for Beach & Bay
C is for Continent
D is for Delta
E is for Edible Earth’s Core
What an awesome idea to do geography projects from A to Z. I just happen to buy that book recently. I don’t think it has arrived yet. I love what the kids did to make the rain forest. They did an awesome job. Look forward to seeing the other projects you do as well.
We are doing a year long Geography for Kids study as well. The forest diorama is so cute and I love all of learning going on behind the scenes! It’s fun to see what others are doing on the same topic.
Flute’s Journey by Lynne Cherry would be a great addition to your books. Flute’s journey begins in the woods of Maryland and migrates to Costa Rica. Fabulous habitat and geography concepts.
This is fantastic! I love that you used a cardboard box and created a unique and creative lesson.
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Thanks so much for sharing this super-fun project!
Two of the links to other letters in this series did not work. 🙁 I am bummed. Is there a way to get to your whole series?
Katie
So sorry about that! Those are really old posts. I have them all updated now.