Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans:
Buzz! Whiz! Bang! Using Comic Books to Teach Onomatopoeia
Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Narrative Structure
Book Report Alternative: Examining Story Elements Using Story Map Comic Strips
Using Comic Strips to Teach the Use of Quotation Marks
LESSON PLANS FOR ELEMENTARY
Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Genre Study. Perfect for 3rd-5th graders, this lesson helps students understand the genre of comics through examining and creating comics.
Comic-Strip Challenge. Teach sequencing by using comic strips in this lesson appropriate for grades 2-5.
Creative Writing Using Comics. Teach creative writing to 4th through 8th graders with this lesson that also expands to include vocabulary and a group activity.
Learning Storytelling Elements the Fun Way!-A Visual Storytelling Lesson Using Comics. Second and third graders can practice storytelling and sequencing with this lesson.
Buzz! Whiz! Bang! Using Comic Books to Teach Onomatopoeia. Great for grades 3-5, this four-part lesson lets students create their own comic strip while exploring onomatopoeia.
Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Narrative Structure. Sequencing, story-telling, and plotting are all part of this lesson appropriate for 3rd-5th graders.
Creating Comic Strips. Students in 4th through 6th grade can learn about sequencing, drawing, and humor with this lesson.
Make Family Comic Strips. Appropriate for grades 2-5, this lesson guides students through creating a comic strip depicting a funny event from their family.
Story Switch Comics. For learners in 1st-3rd, this lesson allows students to change the problem in a familiar story and draw it in a cartoon.
Book Report Alternative: Examining Story Elements Using Story Map Comic Strips. Students will independently and as a group read a text, identify elements of the story, then create a comic strip to report what they learned.
Gabbing About Garfield: Conversing About Texts With Comic Creator. Students play an online sequencing game using Garfield comics, discuss the elements of comic strips, and create their own.
To, Too, or Two: Developing an Understanding of Homophones. After studying homophones, students will create a skit acting out the homophones, then convert their skit to a comic strip.
LESSON PLANS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
Comic Book Characters. 5th through 7th graders can study gender representations in media through an examination of comics with this lesson.
Greek and Latin Roots Lesson Plan: Superhero Comic Strip. Let students show their knowledge of Greek and Latin root words by creating a superhero comic strip in this lesson plan.
Comic Book Project – Grades 5-8. This writing lesson emphasizes such concepts as creating conflict and resolution, sequential writing, action verbs, descriptive language, and onomatopoeia.
Comic Strip (Lesson Plan). Students create their own comic strip in this lesson that is easily adjusted for any age.
Fair Housing Lesson Plan. This lesson uses a bilingual comic book as the text and teaches 7th and 8th graders about the Fair Housing Act.
Cartoon Project. 7th through 12th graders can reinforce math concepts of ratio and proportion in this lesson.
Change Happens. Study the development and change of tools and systems through creating comic strips.
Make a Statement. Students take a position on the politics during the American Revolutionary War and convey their stance through several different mediums, including comics.
A Directed Listening-Thinking Activity for the Tell-Tale Heart. Students listen to a reading of Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart and write a response in comic strip form.
Book Report Alternative: Comic Strips and Cartoon Squares. A great alternative to traditional book reports, this lesson has students explore comic books and graphic novels in order to create a report of a traditional book.
LESSON PLANS FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Lesson Plan: Maus. This high school lesson uses Art Spiegelman’s comic book, Maus (the first comic to win the Pulitzer Prize), to teach students about the Holocaust and World War II. Read through the information about comic book programs, then find this lesson plan at the end of the report.
The Comic Book Show and Tell. Students will draft a comic book script based on a prompt, create a layout, revise their drafts, and share revisions with others.
Comic Book Show and Tell. Related to the above lesson, this group activity allows students to create and draw their own story through the medium of comics.
Comic Makeovers: Examining Race, Class, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Media. Students will learn to recognize stereotypes as presented by the media in this two-week lesson that culminates in a “comic character makeover.”
Man in the Iron Mask Teachers’ Guide. This detailed lesson plan for the Marvel Illustrated version of Man in the Iron Mask includes vocabulary, cross-curricular applications, literacy standards, and detailed instructions for lessons.
Last of the Mohicans Teachers’ Guide. The second from Marvel Illustrated, use this lesson plan and graphic novel to supplement your class’ reading of the novel.
Treasure Island Teachers’ Guide. The third in the series, be sure to use this lesson plan when studying Treasure Island in class.
American Born Chinese Lesson Plans. This guide offers suggestions for teaching culture and history using graphic novels.
Examining Transcendentalism Through Popular Culture. Students learn about Emerson, Thoreau, and aspects of transcendentalism through popular culture–including comics.
LESSON PLANS FOR ALL AGES
Comic Strip Lesson Plan. This lesson plan is actually for an ESL class, but can easily be used in any class and is adjustable to the age and/or reading level of the students.
Superhero Comic Strip. This lesson plan can be adjusted from 3rd grade up to 12th grade and focuses on the difference between a hero and a superhero as well as creating a comic strip.
Character and Plot Development Through Comics. Character, plot development, point of view, and tone are learned through this lesson plan that is specifically aligned to the Florida testing standards.
Comic Strip. This lesson can be adjusted for any age and reinforces listening skills and comprehension.
Art Lesson Inspired by Japanese Manga. Adaptable to any age, this art lesson uses Manga as inspiration for learning to draw.
Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked!. This study guide from the History Channel offers suggestions for teaching this lesson to middle and high school students and also includes a link to the video.
Comic Concepts. For students in 4th to 12th grade, this lesson allows students to create and draw their own comic narrative based on one of three styles.
Autobiographical Comics. This project steps teachers through guiding middle and high school students through creating comics to detail autobiographical stories.
Rhonda Altonen 