By Lauren Krotosky, Updated March 24, 2022

Looking for a hands‑on way to showcase your Mars research? A homemade diorama can turn a simple shoe box into an engaging educational display. Follow these steps to create a realistic Mars model that will captivate classmates and reinforce key planetary facts.

Step 1

Take a standard cardboard shoe box and remove the lid. Cut away one of the longer side panels to create an open side, giving the viewer a clear view of your diorama.

Step 2

Spray paint both the exterior and interior of the box with black spray paint. This sets a neutral backdrop that makes the planet and star stickers pop.

Step 3

Scatter silver star stickers across the inside of the box. These represent distant stars and add depth to the scene.

Step 4

Write concise, scientifically accurate facts about Mars on index cards. Sample facts:

• Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
• Olympus Mons, at 22 km high, is the tallest mountain in the solar system.
• Valles Marineris, 4,600 km long, is the deepest canyon known.
• Water on Mars exists only as ice.
• Its thin CO₂ atmosphere and iron oxide dust give it a reddish hue, earning it the nickname “the Red Planet.”
• Average surface temperature is about –80 °F (–62 °C).

Attach the cards to the outside panels of the box so they’re visible when the box is opened.

Step 5

Spray a 6‑inch foam craft ball with red paint and let it dry. Using a small brush, add darker red accents to mimic Martian surface variation.

Step 6

Cut a plastic drinking straw to roughly 4 inches. Insert one end into the center of the foam ball, then glue the other end to the center of the box’s interior. The ball will appear to float in space, surrounded by stars.

Things Needed

• Shoe box
• Scissors
• Black spray paint
• Silver star stickers
• Index cards
• Pen
• Tape
• Foam craft ball
• Red paint
• Drinking straw
• Glue