Dioramas can be as complicated or as simple as you would like. A common base for a diorama that is inexpensive and readily available is an old shoebox. This would be an ideal foundation for students. Provide students with paints, paper and raw materials: sand for deserts, modeling clay, small rocks, plastic or real leaves and animal figurines. Students can also draw all these things out on card stock/construction paper and cut them out and paste them within the diorama.
Make sure that students understand ecosystems. These are geographical areas where plants, animals, climates and landscapes interact as one. Provide adequate lessons on the ecosystems that the students will be building. Provide them with background information and visuals of animals, plants and landscapes. Common ecosystem dioramas include desert, marine, rain forest, forest and human.
A desert is a great diorama for younger students. It can be a little messy, but the outcome is realistic. Students can color the background blue or use blue construction paper to represent those big desert skies. They brush the floor of the diorama with glue, and students then sprinkle sand from a craft store or from outside onto the glue. Depending on the desert, select a plant or an animal native to that area. The Mojave desert, for example, might feature a tiny figure of a tarantula and a small yucca plant made out of clay. Secure the figurines and models using tape or glue.
Oceans provide a lot of options for creativity. Instruct students to paint the whole inside of the diorama box blue, then brush glue on the bottom and sprinkle craft sand on the glue. Students may draw their own sharks, dolphins or other marine life or use figurines. If using figurines, have them tie clear string around the figurines and hang them from the roof so it appears that the marine life is in motion. Choose small rocks from outside to place in the diorama, or use modeling clay to recreate a coral reef.