Coraline Diorama Book Report

We are nearing the end of Coraline by Neil Gaiman. As a final activity, I want you to complete a diorama book project to re-create a scene you remember from the story. All instructions and rubrics are attached. Below is an explanation of a diorama and samples are also included. There are many other examples found online. Along with your diorama, you will write/type a report explaining the diorama you created.

Your report must include:

  • Your name, title and author of the book.
  • Describe the setting of the scene you chose. Why is the character there?
  • Any important characters that are involved in your scene. What is happening to the character at this time? What is the character thinking?
  • The plot of the story needs to be told. What lead the character to this part of the story?
  • Use the rubric to guide you! Shoot for a 4!

Instructions for the diorama:

  • Read your book
  • Make notes for your scene of the story
  • Design a scene from the book inside a shoebox to create a three dimensional diorama. It can be an outdoor scene or an indoor scene.
  • Label the top of the box with your name, the author’s name and the name of the book.
  • Use the diorama rubric to guide you!

What is a diorama?

A diorama is the three dimensional recreation of a scene. Diorama’s are designed inside a box.

What materials do I need?

A shoe box, or a box of some type, is the only “required” material. You will also need decorative materials such as paints, construction paper, scraps of cloth, scraps of collage paper (gift wrap, wall paper, etc.), stones, bits of wood, pipe cleaners, clay, wool, etc.

Where do I start?

  • As we are reading Coraline, choose a scene that is brought up in the book. Describe that scene in the book (the setting).
  • Make a rough sketch of your diorama on a piece of paper.
  • Look through the materials you have on hand and consider how you might accomplish the look you want. Write out a materials list noting what you have on hand.
  • Eliminate any distractions by painting the box or covering the outside with paper.
  • Design the “background” of your scene directly on the inside of the box or on a separate sheet of paper that you can later glue into the box. You can paint, collage, or use the computer to make the background. Make sure you design the background AND sides. Use details you get from the book or ideas you infer in your head.
  • Create the “floor” of your scene using pain, collage, felt, scraps of fabric, plastic, etc. (For example, green fabric could be used for grass).
  • Create 3 dimensional animals, people or furniture frol clay, pipe cleaners, spools, or small boxes. Or draw them on a piece of paper and glue to a cardstock or Styrofoam base to help them stand up.
  • For the illusion of depth, consider adding card stock trees, pillars or archways at the front of the box. Use folded tabs to glue these objects into your box.