Remove the shoebox lid from the shoebox and paint the exterior and interior. Use a color that represents the depicted ecosystem. For example, paint the shoebox blue if you are rendering an ocean ecosystem or green for a jungle ecosystem.
Find soil that most accurately reflects the soil in the chosen ecosystem. Mix the soil with a small amount of glue (mix until the soil begins to clump together) and apply to one of the interior sides of the shoebox. For example, use sand when depicting oceans and deserts. Use soil for jungle and plains. The side with the soil serves as the ground for your diorama.
Construct small models of natural structures such as cliffs, mountains and rocks with modeling clay. Allow the clay to dry and glue the structures into the shoebox with white craft glue.
Cut out tree and other plant-life shapes from construction paper. Color these shapes with colored pencils to give color and to outline the physical characteristics of the indigenous fauna. Glue to the diorama with the white craft glue.
Place at least two animals inside the diorama, including one prey animal and one predator. This depicts the natural hierarchy of animals on the food chain in this particular ecosystem. Use construction paper to create these animals or glue in plastic figurines.
Write a short description of the ecosystem on your computer. This includes basic information on climate, common types of animals and common plant-life. Cut out this information and paste onto the side of the shoebox for students to read. You can also create labels to identify animals and plants inside the diorama.