Lessons first define comics while looking examples of illustrated writing in various media and languages. After reading a Little Sammy Sneeze strip from 1905 students review panels, captions and speech bubbles. They 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 might practice drawing to express volume through shading while observing personal objects at home, assembling a still life in the classroom, or using mirrors for self-portraits.
Classes examine more illustrated and literary devices from Masters of American Comics before storyboarding then 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
