Tap Into
the
World of
Comics
Strategies for using Comics
in the Classroom

Comics have always
been associated with
fun and creativity.
With the help of many
online applications and
resources, there are
some great ways to tap
into the excitement of
comics to help engage
students in learning.

The comic making process itself offers many
learning opportunities and with the
incorporation of content delivery, comics can
provide an effective tool for teaching and
learning.
The next slide outlines
some possible learning
outcomes from making
comics.
Sims 3

Literacy
Skills
Develop Design
Characters Elements
Develop
Computer Creativity
Skills
Comics
Create a
Decision
setting for a
Making
story
Problem
Sequencing
Solving
Storytelling

Here are They range in creativity levels, graphics
some online availability and age suitability. You will
comic have to decide which site is best suited
for your students and the proposed
creators you
activity.
may wish to
use.
My Sims

For more information on
comic creators go to
http://www.slideshare.net/
shend5/online-comic-
creators

This could be used for activities which
Students can learn new involve building, safety, cooking, science,
processes and skills by craft making and any other practical
creating an instruction activity.
manual.
My Sims

http://www.howtoons.com/
This site provides many comics which provide instructions.

Computer Games contain Students could do screen captures of
some of the most scenes from their games and
spectacular graphics create a comic strip. This could be done
available, so why not utilise using software or online applications.
this resource. .
My Sims

Some great
Some games
ones are My
allow you
Sims, Sims,
to design
Spore and The
your own
Movies, but you
characters
could really
use any game.
There are also
games which Wow, there is
allow you to no end to
take screenshots how creative
within the game, you can be!
you can even
change camera
angles.
Sims 3

For some This site does It allows you to design You can print, save,
inspiration here is require email and embed the
your own comic book
a great site based registration.
on the Spore game. using images provided. finished results.
There is also an option to add There are many games which You can also add your own images to
your own images use comics at the beginning to http://chogger.com/create
explain the plot. http://comiqs.com/editor/
Youda Sushi Chef

http://www.mashon.com/spore/
Simple drag and drop with great graphics

Explore the
Comics are often
theme of
associated with
Superheroes
Superheroes
and create
your own
comics
http://superherosquad.marvel.com/create_your_own_comic

This site Or a comic
allows you to Book up
create a comic to 22
strip pages
long. You
can even
download
as .pdf
Choose from
Marvel Comic
Characters

Marvel Kids DC Comics
Marvel Comics Downloadable Graphic Novels based on Heroes TV show

Create your own
superheroes to
use in comics
using these
Superhero
creators

Students can combine
images with text in a
comic strip using
information from a
research task.
There are many comic
creators which may
have images relating to
the research task or
students can add their
own.
Muggins

Characters can ask
How could you each other The teacher could
create an interview questions. The provide the questions
in a comic? questions can
or students can devise
explore a topic.
their own.
Muggins

Students
could select
from classic
tales or
contemporary
novels.
Engage students’ interest
in stories by asking them
to convert a novel, fable,
fairy tale or play into
comic form. They could
keep to the setting of the
story or add a modern
Doll Divine twist to it. AZDressup

A great example is
creating a comic based
on a Shakespeare play Great idea! Here are
or using a some examples to use
Shakespearean phrase for inspiration.
as a starting point.
My Sims

This site offers Shakespearean Classics
as Graphic Novels.
There are free teacher resource
downloads and previews.
It offers Shakespearean script or plain
English versions.

Here is another
example of using
Shakespeare
inspired comics.
My Sims

It allows them to
Creating
create a sequence,
comics is a
explore storylines and
great method to
understand the use of
help students
characters, settings
learn how to
develop a story. and dialogue.
Doll Divine Doll Divine

You might choose a theme to work from and
select a comic creator which works around a
theme, such as:
http://www.creaza.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/comicmaker/create/
Doll Divine

Here are some examples of Web Comics also referred to as Graphic Novels.
They are comics which can be read online and in some cases can be downloaded.
Please check age suitability before using them.

C
O
M
I
C
S

Students can
use comics to
investigate and
respond to
Current Affair
social and
Items can be
political issues.
great topics
to explore
Howzat!
Ashes Cricket 2009

Due to the dialogue aspect of
comics, they are perfect for
learning languages.
Characters can speak to each
using a different language.
http://www.dolldivine.com/kimono.swf

Comic books
in other
languages are
also useful
Students can
also add
aspects of the
cultural
traditions from
It is a fun way
the country.
to develop
reading skills.
http://www.dolldivine.com/kimono.swf ToonDoo

Comics are a
great tool for
students to
use when
reflecting on
a task.
Characters
It could be can discuss
represented the unit of
as an work they
interview or just did
discussion

Students can make
judgments and give their
opinion on how they did
and what they learnt.
You could even
use comics to
reflect on an
excursion or a
camp
ToonDoo

•The task for this unit was ……..
•I got my ideas for this task from…………
•Problems I came across were……………..
Here is a list
•I solved them by ………………… of prompts to
help with
•The new skills and knowledge I learnt from this task reflection.
were……
•Skills I would like to develop
further are …….
•What I like most about my work
is …………..
•If I were to do this task again
I would change …………..

Comics are This allows you
divided into to explore
frames and order
sequences placement
You could make And students
a comic by can place them
deliberately into their
putting frames correct order.
in the wrong
order
Sims 3

As an activity at
the beginning of
the school year,
students can make
a comic which
provides It could be set in
information about their favourite
them. place and reflect
on an event in
their life
or simply
communicate
information These could be
about their printed to create a
interests and class comic book.
hobbies.
ToonDoo

Comic
creators
can Comics
provide a provide
great tool sequence
to help placement
create a and offer
story inspiration.
board for
a film or
activity.
Some great sites to use are:
Hmm.. Read Write Think and Myths and Legends
http://goanimate.com/

Allow students
to develop their
creativity
Provide a comic
with empty
speech bubbles
and students can
fill them in. This
could be a great
group activity.
Sims 3

This may help
with
Develop Photography skills inspiration for
by planning a comic and subjects and
create it using your own camera angles
digital photography
A great site for
this is
http://www.comeek
o.com/
You can
upload your
own images
and then save
them to file or
embed them
Doll Divine

Use any of the
Students can webcomics or graphic
use comics in novels already
comprehension mentioned
exercises.
Sims 3

Check for
understanding by
allowing students to
revise new knowledge.
This can be done by The teacher
asking students to could also use
create a comic using comics to
the new content they deliver content.
have learnt.
ToonDoo

Students can learn new A good activity is to
words by applying them in
provide 5 words which
the correct context in a
comic. must be used in a comic.
http://www.mashon.com/spore/

Comics can
This can be
be used
used by
to give
teachers
directions.
or
students.
Try
creating a
scavenger
hunt using
a comic
strip to
deliver the
clues.
My Sims

Hmm…
Try using Song
Lyrics as
inspiration for a
comic
and
develop
This will their
allow ability to
students interpret.
to
understand
the use of
symbolic
images The Movies

Students can extend
their knowledge of a
poem by interpreting
it into visual form
using a comic.
Ballads, in particular,
can be very successful
in this task.
You
Or.. could
write
your
own
poem
Yeah!
Using
comics
The Movies

This can be done
using relevant
images or using a
comic creator Such as
which offers
graphics which http://www.creaza.com/
Students can explore are needed
events from history
and adapt them into
comic form.
http://www.creaza.com/

Comics are a great
way to create
interest to a boring
page.
Teachers can use comics
to add interest to
worksheets, hand outs,
professional development
activities, add to a virtual
classroom or deliver
content using comics.
My Sims

Students can learn
about internet safety
and demonstrate their
knowledge by creating a
comic which explores
internet safety rules.
Here are some examples
which are also great
teaching tools.
http://pixton.com/uk/

Why not take advantage
of the great graphics
available in many of the
online comic creators and
use them to create
designs.
Design a Poster, Title
Page, Invitation, Magazine
Cover, Title for a
Slideshow Presentation
http://superherosquad.marvel.com/create_your_own_comic

Why not use comics to write reports or Yeah! That will make it
reviews. fun and engaging for
students.
Students And
develop Hmm…
can still
their That’s
develop
creativity logical,
literacy
Captain!
skills
http://goanimate.com/

Screencaptures taken using http://greenshot.sourceforge.net/
http://mashon.com/holidays/
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/index.html
http://www.garfield.com/fungames/comiccreator.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/comicmaker/create/
http://www.toondoo.com/
http://www.mashon.com/
http://pixton.com/uk/
http://www.bam.gov/sub_yourLife/yourlife_comiccreator.html
http://myths.e2bn.org/story_creator/
http://boyslife.org/games/online-games/235/comic-creator/
http://www.creaza.com/
http://www.bitstrips.com/
http://www.zamsquest.com/kids_place.php
http://stripgenerator.com/create/
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/
http://www.professorgarfield.org/comics_lab_extreme/
http://yogabbagabba.com/
http://www.clickwheel.net/
http://www.comicbrush.com/
http://www.mashon.com/spore/
http://superherosquad.marvel.com/cyoc/
http://www.comeeko.com/

Sims 3 http://www.thesims3.com/
My Sims http://mysimskingdom.com/pc/
Youda Sushi Chef http://www.youdagames.com/Youda-Sushi-Chef-game-info-3401
Ashes Cricket 2009 http://www.playashes.com/
The Movies http://www.lionhead.com/themovies/
http://www1.uk.mypersonalexpression.com/muggins/index.pd
http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/heromachine2/heroMachine2.asp
http://marvel.com/create_your_own_superhero
http://www.cpbintegrated.com/theherofactory/
http://ammotu.deviantart.com/art/Super-Character-Creator-Female-66610994
http://ammotu.deviantart.com/art/Super-Character-Creator-Male-67189399
http://www.dolldivine.com/
http://goanimate.com/
http://www.azdressup.com/fantasy-dress-up/alice-in-wonderland.html

http://www.howtoons.com/
http://superherosquad.marvel.com/comics/
http://marvelkids.marvel.com/comics
http://www.dccomics.com/dckids/?action=stuff
http://marvel.com/digitalcomics/free/
http://www.nbc.com/heroes/novels/novels_library.shtml
http://www.classicalcomics.com/index.html
http://www.stickfigurehamlet.com/act1/scene1/page01.html
http://www.rabbitandbearpaws.com/gnovel.php
http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/
http://www.runemasterstudios.com/literacy1.php
http://www.harptoons.com/
http://www.donteatanybugs.net/books/cup2.html
http://www.zeros2heroes.com/property/hero-high
http://www.andyrunton.com/comics.html
http://zipandbit.com/upsidedownme/
http://www.ellieconnelly.com/
http://www.nbc.com/chuck/exclusives/novel/
http://www.kidjutsu.com/browse
http://www.kelvi.net/books/comics/
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/manga/index.html
http://www.shonenjump.com/e/mangaonline/index.html
http://anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/comic/index.html
http://cindispace.utdallas.edu/education/cindi_comic.html
http://www.sciencecomics.uwe.ac.uk/index.php
http://www.grammarmancomic.com/comicsgman.html
http://www.kinsa.net/Programs/Category/Program/?contentId=136
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/comics.aspx