How to Make a Hopi Pueblo Diorama

The Hopi Native Americans lived in what is today the Southwest United States and Mexico. Their pueblos, or homes, were flat topped and built of the natural red clay deposits and stone plentiful to the area. The homes were often multiple stories high with movable ladders in lieu of internal staircases. The cool clay provided some relief from the heat of the desert. Recreating a Hopi village in a diorama is a fun and informative school project.

Remove the lid from the shoebox, and use the crayons to color scenery on the inside panels. Glue, scissors and paper may also be used to construct the sky and ground of the scene.

Create pueblo homes from the modeling clay by pinching flat-topped rectangles into shape. Use a toothpick to carve out windows and doors. Allow the clay to dry overnight.

Paint the clay homes shades of brown, dark yellow and white. Allow the homes to dry, then arrange them in the shoebox. Glue the homes to the box with a strong clay adhesive.

Create figures from the clay by pinching, molding and carving bodies, or use small figurines. Place the figurines in the diorama, then glue them with an adhesive based on the figurine materials. For example, if the figurines are plastic, you will need some plastic adhesive.