elementary - high school
Introduction defines comics while looking at ancient examples of illustrated writing in various media. Students read a Little Sammy Sneeze strip from 1905 and discuss panels. They review speech bubbles, captions and play a group activity requiring pencil drawing and organizing stories about three caricatures. Instructions below–
Four panels from the above activity by elementary to high schoolers
Students practice drawing to express volume through shading while observing personal objects at home or assembling a still life in the classroom. Studies have also included self-portraits and perspective drawings from both memory and observation. Classes examine more illustrated and literary devices from Masters of American Comics before storyboarding and final drafting their own.
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| 9th grader |
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| etching by 10th grader |
Storylines selected from monthly writing prompt lists
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| 3rd grader |
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| 5th grader |
An assignment to depict a metaphor
