Choose a grassland biome and make a list of its physical features and the plants and animals that are typically found there. Consider characteristics like climate, food chains, plant types, and physical features. Make note of the special adaptations that the animals and plants have developed for this type of habitat.
Search through magazines and on the Internet for pictures of the chosen biome. Cut out or print useful pictures. Make special note of the colors of the plants and types of land surfaces found in the habitat.
Create the biome's background within the box or bottle. Use pictures cut from magazines or printed off the Internet, color or paint the inside of the diorama or line it with colored paper to represent the colors of the plants and land surfaces. Be sure to consider the types of water sources and the importance of fires in this biome. Note: If using a bottle, cut the bottle at the spout end to create an opening large enough to work through.
Cover the bottom of the inside of the box or bottle with glue and place grasses from your yard or pictures of grasses within it. You may create a tree or two using craft sticks and plant material or printed pictures, but make sure to keep them to a minimum to mimic the actual distribution of trees in a grassland. Place rocks as appropriate and paint Styrofoam to create features like termite mounds.
Use cellophane or tissue paper to depict water sources or cut paper or plastic cups near the bottom and paint the inside blue for a similar effect.
Attach pictures, plastic toys or hand-drawn creatures to the model to complete the ecosystem. Create flying animals by attaching them to fishing line and hanging them from the top of the model. Attach others to craft sticks or toothpicks and push them through the bottom of the box or bottle. Glue pictures of animals to the sides of the diorama to create a three-dimensional effect.