Focus: Graphic Novel/Comics

Learning Intention: Students will learn how to plan, write, and illustrate a short comic that tells a clear and engaging story.

Mini Lesson

Use what you like from the following Mini Lesson.

Minds-On:

Open the Elements of a Comic Slides presentation.

Slide 2: Ask students:

What they know about comics?

How is a comic different from a chapter or picture book?

Brainstorm their ideas on the clipboard. 

Slide 3: Read the comic as a class.

What do they notice about the way the comic is written?

Are there any paragraphs or chapters?

How did the writer tell the story? 

Slides 3-13: Using the Slides presentation, teach the primary storytelling tools used to create a comic e.g., caption, speech bubble, thought bubble, whisper bubble, shout bubble.

Independent

In your writers notebook:

Brainstorm/Plan:
Think of a simple story idea—something funny, exciting, or surprising. Who are your main characters, and what problem do they face?

Begin Writing:
Write a short summary (2–3 sentences) of what happens in your comic.

Continue Writing/Drawing:

Sketch rough ideas for 3–4 panels showing the beginning, middle, and end of your story. 

Reflection
Let's share our work from today... 

Focus: Graphic Novel/Comics

Learning Intention:  Students will learn how to plan, write, and illustrate a short comic that tells a clear and engaging story. 

Hook
Watch 'Jenaly's Presidential Election speech'

Mini Lesson

Look at the last page of each document. There is an example speech. Show the students and discuss how we write a speech in paragraph and list then explain their reasons for wanting a leadership position. 

Independent

Use what slides you like. 

Slides 6-9: Explore the basics of ‘What is a setting.’

Slides 10-13: Questions students can ask themselves when selecting the best setting for their story and character. These are important things to go back to if a student is stuck. 

Slides 14-17: These slides will explore the difference between a storybook setting and a comic book setting.

Activity:

Slides 18-20: Students are going to plan an adventure to one of the locations. They can pick one or more if they would like to. If you need this to be more structured, you can use the following to help guide them:

Panel 1: In their room packing.

Panel 2: At the airport or train station.

Panel 3: Arrive at their travel destination.

Panel 4: Activity at their travel location.

Panel 5: Thinking about leaving.

Panel 6: Traveling home.

Consolidation: Students can share where they travelled to with the class.

Reflection
Allow students to share their comics with the class. 

Mini Lesson
What makes a successful story/comic?

All need a good beginning, middle and end.

Think about setting, characters and structure.

TEacher to model how to plan for success:

Independent

Brainstorm/Plan:
List your main characters and describe their personality, appearance, and goal. What makes them interesting or funny?

Begin Writing:
Write a short dialogue or scene that shows who they are.

Continue Writing/Drawing:

Draw your characters. 

Reflection

Allow students to share their comics with the class.