Create a habitat project for school in a shoebox or plastic container. A habitat is an area with a specific climate and ecosystem. Desert, forest, grassland, wetlands and tundra are the main habitats found around the world. Each habitat has its own landscape and wildlife. Use small plastic animals to portray the wildlife in the area. Buy plastic animals from toy stores. Buy plastic trees at hobby or toy stores.
Desert
Fill a shoe box or plastic container a fourth of the way with sand. Make the sand's surface uneven. Make sand dunes and ditches by moving the sand around with your hand.
Scatter a few rocks in the box.
Place plastic snakes and lizards in the sand.
Add two or three pieces of greenery. Cacti live in the desert because they can hold water.
Forest
Fill a shoebox or plastic container halfway with dirt.
Put plastic trees in the dirt. Maple, oak and walnut trees are commonly found in forests.
Cut a piece of blue plastic wrap and set it on the dirt. This acts as the water.
Add plastic animals. Deer, raccoons, birds, snakes, rabbits, foxes and squirrels are some animals found in forests.
Grasslands
Cut out a piece of plastic turf. Lay it in the shoebox or plastic container.
Add plastic bushes.
Add plastic animals like lions, bison, giraffe and zebra.
Cut a blue piece of plastic wrap for a body of water. Set it in the habitat.
Wetlands
Cut a piece of foam to fit most of the container. Paint it blue.
Put the dry foam in the container.
Glue water-dwelling animals, like alligators, to the foam.
Glue or tape birds onto toothpicks and insert them into the foam.
Fill the rest of the box with dirt. Add a few trees.
Tundra
- Shoe box or plastic container
- Sand
- Small, quarter-size rocks
- Plastic greenery
- Small plastic animals
- Dirt
- Foam
- Blue paint
- Paintbrush
- Tape
- Blue plastic wrap
- Scissors
- Toothpicks
If you have a lot of time to do the project, grow your own grass for the grassland and forest by planting seeds in the dirt several weeks before the project is due.
Place a piece of foam in the container.
Glue packing peanuts on the foam to make hills and dunes.
Add plastic animals such as polar bears and penguins.
Cut a piece of blue plastic wrap and glue it along the edge of the foam for water.
Add evergreen trees and bushes.
Things You'll Need
Tips
References
Tips
- If you have a lot of time to do the project, grow your own grass for the grassland and forest by planting seeds in the dirt several weeks before the project is due.
About the Author
Racheal Ambrose started writing professionally in 2007. She has worked for the minority publishing company Elite Media Group Inc., Ball Bearings online magazine, "Ball State Daily News" and "The Herald Bulletin." Her articles focus on minority and women's issues, children, crafts, housekeeping and green living. Ambrose holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Ball State University.