Rizzi City Slides
5th Grade Art Studio
Collaborative Hallway Cityscape
POP ART ARCHITECTURE
WELCOME TO
RIZZI CITY!
Transforming colorful construction paper into joyful, living skyscrapers inspired by artist James Rizzi!
Our Mission: Create your building, then assemble our class megacity in the hallway! Let's Build!
Lesson Roadmap
Essential Question & Studio Goals
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
"How can artists use shapes, faces, and patterns to make ordinary buildings burst with personality and joy?"
Content Goal
I can cut, layer, and assemble colorful construction paper into a whimsical building with expressive architectural features and decorative patterns.
Language Goal
I can explain how visual traits like contour lines, emotions, and patterns give my building its unique character.
Key Art Words:
Pop Art Expression Contour Line Collaborative
Artist Spotlight
Meet James Rizzi (1950–2011)
🗽 NYC Pop Art Pioneer
James Rizzi in His Studio World-famous for his colorful 3D prints & smiling city art!
1
Brooklyn Born & City Inspired
He loved the crowded, chaotic streets of New York City and wanted his art to capture its electric energy.
2
Inventor of 3D Pop Art Prints
Rizzi hand-cut duplicate drawings and mounted them on foam tape so his characters popped off the paper!
"My art is about people, life, and fun in the city. If it makes you happy, it works!"
— James Rizzi
Artist Observation: How does Rizzi's friendly personality match the artwork he created?
Masterwork Gallery
Artwork Showcase: The Living City
🖼️ 3D Construction Art
"Happy Rizzi House" Real Architecture!
Look closely: Rizzi turned actual multi-story city buildings into grinning, cartoon faces with heart-shaped windows and whimsical eyes!
"City of Smiles & Patterns" 3D Layers
Look closely: Notice the heavy black outlines around every window, the polka-dot chimneys, and how buildings lean together like best friends!
Art Detective Challenge: How many different facial expressions can you spot in these structures?
Key Element 1 of 3
Playful Architecture: No Boring Boxes!
📐 Architectural Shapes
1. Tilt & Lean
Buildings can bend, curve, or lean into each other like they are chatting or dancing down the sidewalk.
Try: Slanted cut outlines!
2. Quirky Rooflines
Step pyramids, castle turrets, onion domes, slanted slopes, or scalloped cloud-like roof borders!
Try: Spooky or silly spires!
3. Funky Hats & Tops
Chimneys puffing smoke clouds, radio antennas with blinking lights, water towers, or clock faces.
Try: Antenna & chimney caps!
5th Grade Challenge: Cut your main building silhouette with at least ONE surprising curve or angle!
Key Element 2 of 3
Faces & Figures: Giving Buildings Heart!
👀 Windows with Eyes
Every Architectural Part Has An Emotion
👀
Windows = Expressive Eyes Big circular goggles, sleepy eyelids, winking shutters, or round glasses!
👄
Doors = Joyful Mouths Cheery grins showing teeth, singing arches, silly tongues, or shocked 'O' shapes!
🐦
Peeking Friends Birds nesting on roofs, cats on ledges, or people waving from balconies!
What Mood Is Your Building In?
😆 Giggling & Silly
😲 Shocked & Tall
😴 Sleepy Tower
😎 Cool Shades
"Your building isn't just brick—it's a living character!"
Pro Tip: Cut contrasting paper circles for eyeballs so they pop against your building's color!
Key Element 3 of 3
Lines & Patterns: The Rizzi Pop!
✒️ Bold Contour Lines
THICK BLACK LINE
1. Thick Black Outlines
Every window, edge, and rooftop needs a confident black contour line. That’s what makes Pop Art jump!
Use thick permanent markers!
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2. Decorative Patterns
Fill walls with checkerboards, polka dots, wiggly zig-zags, diagonal stripes, or stacked bricks!
Mix at least 2 patterns!
3. High Color Contrast
Pair light windows on dark walls, or bright yellow doors on electric blue towers. No dull shades!
Make elements stand out loud!
🎨 Bright Paper Base ➕ ✂️ Layered Paper Cutouts ➕ 🖊️ Bold Black Details 🟰 RIZZI MAGIC!
Studio Action Plan
4 Steps To Build Your Masterpiece
✂️ Construction Paper Collage
1
Cut Silhouette
Choose a full sheet of construction paper. Cut an expressive, tall outline with curves, steps, or angles.
Tip: Fill the paper!
2
Layer Windows
Cut contrasting paper for eyes, doorways, eyelids, rooftops, and eyebrows. Arrange first, then glue down!
Tip: Small glue dots!
3
Draw Outlines
Trace every paper shape with thick black marker. Draw pupils, smirks, bricks, stripes, and wacky patterns.
Tip: Go bold and dark!
4
Final Trim
Trim cleanly around your outer silhouette so your building is ready to lock into our giant hallway skyline grid.
Tip: Name on back!
Studio Craftsmanship Rule: Keep glue neat, make black lines bold, and let your paper colors pop!
The Big Picture
Uniting Into Our Hallway Megacity!
🏫 School-Wide Showcase
Together, We Create a Living Skyline!
James Rizzi crowded hundreds of buildings together so his city felt like a joyous community. When our class finishes:
✓ Every building stands shoulder-to-shoulder down the main hallway wall.
✓ Varying heights, rooflines, and vibrant colors produce an electric skyline rhythm.
✓ We will install smiling clouds, happy suns, and flying birds between our towers!
🌟 Think: What bright color will help your building contrast with your neighbor's?
Hallway Installation Preview
☁️ Hi!
"Our Whole Grade, One Mega City!"
📍 Location: 5th Grade Main Hallway Display Wall Grand Reveal Ahead!
Before You Clean Up
Studio Exit Ticket: City Check-In
📝 3 Quick Questions
1
Personality Check
Building Mood
What emotion or personality did you give your building? Which feature shows it best?
Starter: "My building feels _____ because..."
2
Rizzi Elements
Lines & Patterns
Where did you use bold contour lines and decorative patterns (checkerboard, stripes)?
Starter: "I added a pattern of _____ on..."
3
Hallway City
Collaborative Vibe
How will your building stand out and connect with neighboring buildings in the hallway?
Starter: "In the hallway, my building will..."
Share your response on an exit slip or turn and talk with your studio partner! Awesome Work! 🎨
