Miniature scenes capture big lessons at TLC Public Charter School’s Diorama Showcase Day

Ian Hanigan April 4, 2025

Students, parents and staff in a classroom at Diorama Showcase Day — Tiny models tell big stories: TLC Public Charter School families, students and staff gather in a classroom during Diorama Showcase Day on March 27.

From erupting volcanoes to the history of Disneyland, tiny scenes captured big ideas at TLC Public Charter School’s Diorama Showcase Day.

County Superintendent Dr. Bean greets at student at Diorama Showcase Day — County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean visits with TLC Public Charter School students on Diorama Showcase Day.

The event, held March 27 at the school’s Orange campus, served as the culminating celebration of trimester-long projects that emphasized real-world connections, collaboration across disciplines and the school’s commitment to creativity, curiosity and project-based learning.

If it’s been a while since your elementary school days, dioramas are small, three-dimensional models that depict scenes or concepts. School officials said assembling these displays commanded a deeper understanding of academic content, along with critical thinking, problem-solving and presentation skills.

Crafted over the course of several weeks, projects integrated English language arts, math, social sciences, science, art and technology.

County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean and OCDE Chief of Staff Dennis Cole were among those who dropped by the showcase. Both said they were impressed by the depth of knowledge the students displayed.

Visual storytelling

One standout creation came from third-graders who had studied the novel “Nothing Rhymes with Orange” while learning about the history of Orange County.

Three students with their diorama — TLC Public Charter School students proudly show off their diorama — one of many hands-on projects designed to bring learning to life during Diorama Showcase Day.

For this project, they focused on one particularly iconic landmark — Disneyland. Each student focused on a different era of the park’s evolution, producing detailed dioramas accompanied by PowerPoint presentations and written summaries that highlighted key historical moments and local influence.

Upper-grade students tackled the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the story of ancient Pompeii in a unit titled “I Survived Pompeii.” Their immersive displays depicted life before, during and after the eruption, incorporating research, written narratives and visual storytelling.

Research and teamwork

“At TLC, we understand the importance of collaboration in today’s learning environment, and the Diorama Showcase Day was the perfect example of how teamwork can elevate students’ educational experiences,” Principal Stacy Lee said.

“Through collaborative planning, research and presentation efforts, students were able to experience the true essence of project-based learning.”

TLC Public Charter School is a tuition-free charter school in Orange, serving transitional kindergarten through grade six.