Comics

Creating comics can be a fun way for students to develop their skills for planning a storyline. Comic creation is also a good way to get reluctant writers started on creating a story. Even though [|I've previously reviewed quite a few comic creation resources], I still learned about a couple of resources from the [|slideshow] that I hadn't seen before. Likewise, from the [|slideshow] I also got a new idea for using comics in the US History course that I teach for special education students.
 * Applications for Education**

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Comic Creators [|Comic Life in Education]

[|Comic Life Resources]

[|Teachers First Comics Resources]

[|Chogger]

**Kerpoof** allows children to draw, tell stories and create cartoons and animations. Very popular website, now part of the Disney family of companies







Classroom Uses
[|A Teacher's Guide to Comics]

Rather than the traditional paper/pencil activity…
 * Rather than the traditional paper/pencil activity…Reinforce curriculum concepts, explain vocabulary words from any class or subject area.
 * Create strips with characters explaining the steps in a process or procedure, sequencing of events…
 * Write summaries of current events, responses to reading assignments, and creative works of humor.
 * World language and ESL/ELL teachers can assign students to create dialog strips as an alternate to traditional written assessments.
 * With younger students or those who need examples, create the first comic(s) together on interactive whiteboard or projector as a closure activity to reinforce concepts before a test. Gradually allow students to create their own comics (or collections of comics) to tell stories, review concepts, or make political comments.
 * Instead of writing boring summaries, why not summarize through a comic strip.
 * Make a class book of the comics created throughout the year. That book will become the most read classroom book of all in an elementary classroom.
 * When studying about characterization, create dialog to show (not tell) about a character.
 * Why not use the comic strips for conflict resolution or other guidance issues (such as bullying)? Sometimes it is easier for students to write it down (or draw the pictures) than use the actual words. Emotional support /autistic support teachers and students can create comics to help explain social interactions.
 * Use a comic as an anticipatory activity for talking and thinking bubbles, as well as for dialog, by sharing your own example.
 * Students could also use these to summarize a piece of literature.
 * Older students can create political satire cartoons.

[|7 Ideas for Using Comics]

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