In House Program: Get Graphic at the Library/Media Center

Introduction:
In order to promote reading in literacy in our school the art teacher and myself are
purposing the program Get Graphic at the Library/Media Center. During this afterschool ten
week program our 5th grade students will explore the genre of graphic novels, compare and
contrast different graphic novels, create their own graphic novels using the computer program
Pixton.
Upon completion the students will have the opportunity to present their creations to the
entire 5th grade class and students can vote on their favorite one. The winners will receive
various prizes that will be donated by a local comic book store and they will also have the honor
of being a published author by having their creations available for check out in our library.
Demographic(s):
Per Snow Elementary Schools Strategic School Profile for 2012-2013 there are 356
students enrolled, of which 47.5% are white, 23.6% are African American, 6.2% are Asian
American, 16.6% are Hispanic and 6.2% are two or more races (C). Of those students 43.8% are
eligible for free/reduced-priced meals compared to 45.1% in the district and 41.3% in the state.
This in house program is designed for 5th grade students. If interested, students will sign
up for the program. We can have approximately 20 students. Students will work in groups of
four, so there will be five groups.
Differentiation: Students will be grouped in order to their strengths and weaknesses to ensure
that they can work together to create a graphic novel.
Focus: The focus of this program is to promote reading, literacy and art while exploring the
genre of graphic novels.
Objective(s):

Students will explore the genre of graphic novels

Students will compare and contrast graphic novels
Students will write and draw their own graphic novels
Students work will be published using Pixton
Students will present their graphic novels to the school for a vote

Assessment: Students will be assessed on the graphic novels they produce. In addition I will
keep track of how many graphic novels are checked out of the library.
Activity/ies:

Exploration of graphic novels

Exploration of graphic novel screenwriting books
Writing and drawing graphic novels
Publishing work using Pixton

Materials: The following materials are needed for the project:

The following materials will be needed over the course of the two weeks:

Letter to administration
Parent permission slip
A variety of graphic novels including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Big Nate, Babymouse and
Lunch Lady.
Graphic novel screenwriting books:
Graphic Storytelling & Visual Narrative, Will Eisner
Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an
Art Form, Scott McCloud
o Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, by Scott McCloud
o Comics and Sequential Art, Will Eisner
Laptop cart (one hour each day after school)
School subscription to Pixton.com
Drawing paper, pencils, makers, crayons and colored pencils (supplies already in
Library/Media Center and Art room)
Donations from local comic book stores: bookmarks, posters, pencils, erasers and etcetera
for prizes
o
o

Space: We will be using the Library/Media Center.

Budget:
We already have a variety of graphic novels in our library and will borrow additional ones from
the public library in town, Russell Library. For the screenwriting books we will borrow them
from Russell Library and using the ICONN interlibrary loan system. In addition the library
already has a supply of paper, crayons and coloring pencils the students can use. The following
will need to be purchased:
Item
Subscription to Pixton

Cost:
$8.99 for a one month subscription

The money for the program will come out of the Library/Media Center budget.

Time Management:
Week
and time
1

Lesson/Activity Time Table

LMS will introduce and cover:

3:30PM (1) The history of comic books and the beginning of graphic novels.
3:45PM (2) The characteristics of graphic novels including: plot, setting, characters, dialogue, and writing
style. Create student groups (4 students)
4:00PM (3) Allow exploration of graphic novels to begin brainstorming.
4:30PM (4) Clean up and conclusion for the day.
2&3

Groups will continue brainstorming, begin story plot outline and write dialogue for characters.

3:30PM
to
4:30PM
4

Students will participate in a workshop utilizing options of Pixton.

3:30PM
to
4:30PM
5&6

Students will use Pixton to digitally create their graphic novel and conference with LMS.

3:30PM
to
4:30PM
7
3:30PM
to

Students will peer review graphic novels using a rubric and submit to LMS for review.

4:30PM
8

Groups will edit and revise draft novels for final submission to LMS.

3:30PM
to
4:30PM
9

Students will present their graphic novels to the student body in the school auditorium
(approximately one hour). The students will then vote for the best graphic novel. LMS will tally
10:00am11:00am the votes.

10

Announcement of the best graphic novel will be made and students will receive award of prizes.
All graphic novels created during the workshop will be laminated and bound and added to the
9:00am
school library collection.

Preparation: The art teacher and I will need approximately one month to prepare for this
program. During that month we will read a variety of graphic novels myself and prepare books
talks on several of them. In addition we will explore Pixton and be able to teach this program to
our students. We will create my own graphic novels to ensure we can show the students how to
create their own and also to use as an example to show to the students. We will also obtain the
prizes to be distributed.
Publicity: The 5th graders will be made aware of this program during morning announcements,
posters around school and during their Library/Media time.
Delegating:
Library/Media Specialist: Discussion and presentation of graphic novels as well as screenwriting
books. Obtain prizes for winning graphic novels. Obtain permission to use the auditorium the
day when the students present their work.
Art teacher: Permission slip to parents and collecting of the returned slips. Lesson plan and
guidance on using Pixton. Purchase of Pixton.

We will both be assisting the students as needs as well as both running the event in the
auditorium. We will both announce the winners during morning announcements.
Emergencies/Incidents:
Inclement Weather: Should we miss a day for inclement weather the program will be extending
by one day.
Internet down: Should the internet crash while we are working in Pixton students will use paper
and colored pencils to write and draw their graphic novels by hand. Students can also explore
the graphic novels I will have pulled.
What else do you need to consider in planning?
The art teacher and I will have to obtain permission to use the auditorium.