Meaningful TextsComic Books, Graphic Novels and Picture Books

Today We Will:• Look at the potential comic books and graphic novels have in

the classroom

• Discuss learning strategies involved with using visual printed media and Language Arts

• View samples of graphic novels and comics

Comic Books • Comic books as a medium began around the turn of the last

century

• Gained a surge of popularity in the 30s and during WWII

• Lost popularity during the late 40s.

• Re-surged to mainstream popularity in the 60s

• Today are a multimedia juggernaut with movies, TV shows and of course printed media

The Benefits of Using Comic Books• Great for struggling readers,

as the pictures help them follow the text

• Are finished faster than novels, giving a sense of accomplishment

• Usually action-packed, very good at keeping attention

Are All Comics about Super-heroes?

• Nope.

• The range of subject matter in comics is just as diverse as TV or movies.

• You’ve likely seen a show based on comic book property and didn’t even realize it was based on a comic book

It’s easy!How Do I Use Comic Books in Class?

Sample Activities for Comic BooksFor Reading/Writing:

• Have a shelf of comic books available for students. (Check your local comic shop to see if they have left over Free Comic Book Day Samples)

• Use Graphic Novels as source material for reading projects

• Use single pages (cut out) as a prompt for writing/story-telling

• Students could be asked to write a description of the action in the comic book

Cross-Curricular

• There are many comics that use history as a source (including some by local artists!) – Social Studies

• There are comics that focus on science and learning (easy to find through the library) - Science

• Sport comics – Physical Education

• Being a drawn medium, fits perfectly with Fine Art - Art

Some samples:At your table are some sample comic books and graphic novels. These cover a wide range of ages.

To Sum Up:

Comic books are a great way to get kids reading. There are TONS of activities you can do with comics. Comic books are culturally relevant and a great way to stimulate imaginations. Kids of all ages can benefit from reading comics.