Diorama Drama

Educators can use this activity to imagine and create a unique community out of cereal boxes and popsicle sticks, inspired by their favorite neighborhood spots.

Materials Needed: cereal boxes, craft paper, popsicle sticks, crayons, markers and open-ended materials

1. Ask students to get into a seated circle and ask them to think about their favorite place or building in their neighborhood. Is it a cool park, an ice cream shop, a colorful mural or house? Have volunteers share their answers aloud and then have a full-group chat about why these places are so special to them.
2. Let students know they’re going to turn cereal boxes into amazing mini versions of their favorite neighborhood spots.
3. First, cover the cereal boxes in craft paper. Then, grab markers, crayons and open-ended materials, and transform the boxes into students’ favorite places by adding windows, doors, signs, mural art, etc.
4. After students finish recreating their favorite places, find a spot in the classroom to arrange your creations into a city of you and your students’ own creation—a community that belongs to all of you!
5. Next, create some popsicle stick puppets to bring your city to life. Draw their faces, give them cool outfits and think about what kind of adventures they might have in your new community.
6. Then, puppets in hand, go on some wild adventures in your new city. Maybe your puppet is visiting the ice cream shop, running into friends at the park or discovering a hidden treasure in a subway station! Work together to tell fun stories and see where your imagination takes you.

Reflection Questions:

• What was your favorite part of creating our city, and why?
• How did you decide which place to build?
• What makes it special to you?
• If you could add one more thing to our city, what would it be?