How to Build a Medieval Knight Diorama With Schleich Toy Figures
Textbooks are a necessary part of school, but there are many other great ways for kids to learn.
Since kids have different learning styles, teachers should be open to different teaching methods.
For example, would your students rather read a textbook about the history of medieval knights or would they prefer to see medieval knight figures displayed in a detailed setting? How is this possible? By building a miniature diorama, students can not only get a visual impression but they can also participate in building the diorama.
High quality medieval knight figures are available from brands like Safari and Schleich toy figures.
When most people imagine a diorama, they imagine a large-scale scenic display in a museum, with sculptured toy figures and a realistic natural setting.
However, dioramas can also be miniature, small-scale representations, and these representations can be created at home.
Dioramas can be made with a few simple supplies, and can be used to supplement an academic lesson or as an entertaining pastime.
Before starting the diorama, you should create a plan.
Use a sketch pad and pencil to draw out some rough scenes of your final project.
Measure the toy figures that will be placed within your diorama and plan where you want those objects to be located in relation to each other.
Schleich toy figures are about 4.
0 inches tall.
However, if the knight figures are on horseback, they are about 6.
0 inches tall.
Safari knight figures are smaller, ranging from 1.
5 - 3.
0 inches tall.
Remember the diorama will be three dimensional, so create many sketches of the diorama from many different angles.
Don't be afraid to rearrange your diorama to get the perfect image! Remember that your diorama should tell a story.
In your story, no element should be forgotten.
Imagine how every character is feeling or reacting in relation to the other characters, and how the items in your setting are reacting to the forces around them.
Creating a diorama can also be a fantastic opportunity to recycle many products around the home.
A diorama always begins with a base- typically a box or container of some sort.
Shoeboxes are commonly used in dioramas, but most homes include other "throwaway" boxes that can be used for dioramas, such as tissue box.
Even unusual items like cookie tins or plastic ice cream buckets can be used to create an original diorama.
You will probably also want an assortment of construction paper, scissors, crayons or colored pencils, and glue.
There are no rules to making your diorama, so you can use any other items you want in your diorama, including clay, small tiles, pebbles, and manufactured toy figures.
If you want to go with medieval knight figures, it will be hard to beat the quality and detail available from Schleich toy figures.
However, using knight figures is just one possible theme.
There are many themes to choose from.
You are only limited by your imagination.
Your diorama will need a background.
This background can be as complex as an intricate painting, or as simple as a pastoral scene created from blue and green construction paper.
With practice, you will be able to create a background that is as realistic (or fantastic) as you want.
At this point, you can purchase or create your three-dimensional figures.
Depending on the outcome you hope to achieve, you can purchase Schleich toy figures or premade knight figures, or you can create your own figures out of clay, construction paper, or any other material you may desire.
You can also use preprinted coloring pages as a base for your figures.
Preprinted coloring pages can also give you ideas for the layout of your diorama.
Finally, glue your figures into place.
Remember, you can use all 4 sides of your diorama "box".
Figures can be glued directly to the side of the box or can be hung from the top using dental floss or fishing wire.
For neater results, use cotton swabs to apply the glue.
The possibilities for your diorama are endless.
You can create hundreds (even thousands) of different diorama scenes, or you can create the same scene again and again using different materials.
You can create a fictitious scene or a realistic scene, or any combination of fantasy and fact.
Creating a diorama will be an unforgettable experience, so most importantly, have fun!
Since kids have different learning styles, teachers should be open to different teaching methods.
For example, would your students rather read a textbook about the history of medieval knights or would they prefer to see medieval knight figures displayed in a detailed setting? How is this possible? By building a miniature diorama, students can not only get a visual impression but they can also participate in building the diorama.
High quality medieval knight figures are available from brands like Safari and Schleich toy figures.
When most people imagine a diorama, they imagine a large-scale scenic display in a museum, with sculptured toy figures and a realistic natural setting.
However, dioramas can also be miniature, small-scale representations, and these representations can be created at home.
Dioramas can be made with a few simple supplies, and can be used to supplement an academic lesson or as an entertaining pastime.
Before starting the diorama, you should create a plan.
Use a sketch pad and pencil to draw out some rough scenes of your final project.
Measure the toy figures that will be placed within your diorama and plan where you want those objects to be located in relation to each other.
Schleich toy figures are about 4.
0 inches tall.
However, if the knight figures are on horseback, they are about 6.
0 inches tall.
Safari knight figures are smaller, ranging from 1.
5 - 3.
0 inches tall.
Remember the diorama will be three dimensional, so create many sketches of the diorama from many different angles.
Don't be afraid to rearrange your diorama to get the perfect image! Remember that your diorama should tell a story.
In your story, no element should be forgotten.
Imagine how every character is feeling or reacting in relation to the other characters, and how the items in your setting are reacting to the forces around them.
Creating a diorama can also be a fantastic opportunity to recycle many products around the home.
A diorama always begins with a base- typically a box or container of some sort.
Shoeboxes are commonly used in dioramas, but most homes include other "throwaway" boxes that can be used for dioramas, such as tissue box.
Even unusual items like cookie tins or plastic ice cream buckets can be used to create an original diorama.
You will probably also want an assortment of construction paper, scissors, crayons or colored pencils, and glue.
There are no rules to making your diorama, so you can use any other items you want in your diorama, including clay, small tiles, pebbles, and manufactured toy figures.
If you want to go with medieval knight figures, it will be hard to beat the quality and detail available from Schleich toy figures.
However, using knight figures is just one possible theme.
There are many themes to choose from.
You are only limited by your imagination.
Your diorama will need a background.
This background can be as complex as an intricate painting, or as simple as a pastoral scene created from blue and green construction paper.
With practice, you will be able to create a background that is as realistic (or fantastic) as you want.
At this point, you can purchase or create your three-dimensional figures.
Depending on the outcome you hope to achieve, you can purchase Schleich toy figures or premade knight figures, or you can create your own figures out of clay, construction paper, or any other material you may desire.
You can also use preprinted coloring pages as a base for your figures.
Preprinted coloring pages can also give you ideas for the layout of your diorama.
Finally, glue your figures into place.
Remember, you can use all 4 sides of your diorama "box".
Figures can be glued directly to the side of the box or can be hung from the top using dental floss or fishing wire.
For neater results, use cotton swabs to apply the glue.
The possibilities for your diorama are endless.
You can create hundreds (even thousands) of different diorama scenes, or you can create the same scene again and again using different materials.
You can create a fictitious scene or a realistic scene, or any combination of fantasy and fact.
Creating a diorama will be an unforgettable experience, so most importantly, have fun!