Making Sea Fans and Coral Reefs
Otherwise known as the Great Ocean Biome Diorama.
Say that ten times fast and you'll have a great sum-up of my week.
Laurianna has been studying about different biomes and she had to choose one biome and make a diorama of it ~ she chose saltwater.
Rather than having everything be flat and just a cut-out we decided to have a little fun and thought you might like to see how to make a few quick and simple 3-D underwater specimens of your own.
What You'll need:
~ needlepoint canvas
~ orange paint & a brush {or color you choose to make your sea fan}
~ orange {or other color} pipe cleaner
~ scissors
~ newspaper.
Make the Sea Fan:
1. Cut the needlepoint canvas in the shape that you would like your sea fan to be (a tree shape). The shape doesn't have to be exact - they're all different. :)
2. Paint the canvas orange {use the newspaper to protect your surface} and let it dry.
3. When the canvas is dry, use the pipe cleaner to make 'branches' and a 'trunk' on the canvas.
What You'll Need:
~ playdough or modeling clay
~ paint and a paint brush
~ radiatore pasta {small ruffled and ridged shaped pasta}
~ newspaper
Make the Coral Reef:
1. Form a ball with your playdough or modeling clay and flatten it just a little bit. Size will vary based on either your diorama size or what you are making it for. Our balls were about 2 inches in diameter.
2. Press the pasta into the clay to create a 'brain-like' pattern.
3. Paint your coral mass and let it dry!
{A few other notes}
~ The shark 'swims' across the sea. He is glued to a popsicle stick and travels along a slit at the top of the box.
~ We used blue tissue paper as our water and half a sheet of sandpaper as our ocean floor.
~ Laurianna drew fish, crabs, jellyfish and the shark to decorate her diorama. The fish are hanging by a clear sewing thread from the top of the box. We also used shells and coral that we found on the beach to decorate it a little more.
4 Comments:
LOVE it! And that's all I'm gonna say about that. I may totally steal this one. ;-)
By Anonymous, At April 23, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Very cute! We'll be stealing this one, too. ;0) My oldest DD (7) is TOTALLY into crafts and marine biology.
By Sara @ Embracing Destiny, At April 24, 2009 at 1:23 AM
I love this, it takes me back to my school days. I will remember the sea fans when we study the sea.
By DJ, At April 24, 2009 at 8:15 PM
I just found your site while searching for "make coral reef".....YOU ARE SO CREATIVE!!! I have ZERO creativity in my body, but I love the internet and folks like you who share their great ideas! My kids and the book club will LOVE this!
Thanks!!
By Elissa, At June 27, 2009 at 6:49 PM
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