Make a Cityscape with Debi Gliori

This resource is great for:
Getting creative using simple, everyday objects.

Summary:
Much-loved Scottish author and illustrator Debi Gliori gives you a step-by-step guide for creating your own cityscape out of a few simple items.


Introduction
P6 pupils from Sandaig Primary School in Glasgow recently worked with author and illustrator Debi Gliori to create an amazing city scene out of newspaper for the exciting car chase which features at the end of The Crocodiamond, a story by popular author Anthony Horowitz.

You can see there cityscape in the image at the top of this page. Why not have a go at creating one yourself?


Activity – Creating a Cityscape

What you need:
Newspaper
A3 Card
Black felt tip pen
Glue
Scissors

Step 1: Cover a sheet of A3 card with glue and then lay on top a double page spread of newspaper (or several smaller pieces) so the card is covered in newspaper.

1

Allow to dry and then cut into as many A4 sheets as you want.

Step 2: Plan the shape of your buildings in pencil on the white (ie blank) side of the sheets. As well as houses why not try to draw a library, museum, theatre, or any other buildings you can think of!

4

Step 3: Cut out your building shape.

5

Then turn over your building so the newspaper side faces up.

6

Step 4: Very carefully, using a thick black felt pen, draw a line 5mm in from edge, following the outline of your shape.

7

Step 5: Using lines of print as a guide, draw windows on your building.

8

Step 6: Maybe even add a front door? Some steps? A bit of fancy stonework?

10

No two buildings are the same! Customise your building until you’re happy with it.

11

And your building is complete! Do some others and then lay them out to form a street, a town, a city, maybe even a whole newspaper country. Think of all the adventures that could take place in your newspaper world…


Further information:

Debi Gliori is well known for both her picture books and her novels for children and has been shortlisted for all the major prizes, including the Kate Greenaway Award (twice) and the Scottish Arts Council Award. Debi was the Shetland Islands’ first Children’s Writer-in-Residence. More fun activities from Debi Gliori can be found on her website here: http://www.debiglioribooks.com/fun-stuff