Problem-Based Lesson Plan | ARTE 301

Title of Lesson: Story Comic Strips

Teacher: Jade Browning

School: Prairie View Ogden - South

Grade Level(s): 6th grade

Date to be taught: March 14th, 2019

Big Idea that drives Lesson/Unit:

Superheroes have many different tasks and abilities, but are not always just some made up character. These lesson plans
revolve around building themselves into a superhero. By building themselves into a superhero, students get the opportunity to make
new self-discoveries, confidences, independence, and self-esteem while building on various art mediums exploring drawing, painting,
color theory, photography, and filmography.

Key concepts about Big Idea:

● Imagery can tell a story
● Art incorporates multiple subjects, including not art forms -- reading, writing, math, science.

Fine Arts Goals Met by the Objectives:

● 6th VA:Cr3.1.6​ - ​ A ​ rtists and designers develop excellence through practice and constructive critique, reflecting on,
revising, and refining work over time.
■ a. Reflect on whether personal artwork conveys the intended meaning and revise accordingly.
● 6th VA:Cr2.1.6​ - ​Students who meet the standard understand that artists and designers experiment with forms,
structures, materials, concepts, media, and art-making approaches
■ a. Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art
and design.
3-4 Essential Questions:
● How do artists utilize common core subjects? (math, reading, writing, science)
● How do comic artists incorporate a story throughout their visual representations in comic panels?
● How can a still image, or sequence of still images, tell a story?

Vocabulary Acquisition:
● Panel: ​one still image in a sequence of images
● Tier: ​a single row of panels
● Caricature: ​a representation of a person or thing that is exaggerated or distorted for comic effect

Key Artistic Concepts:

● Understand the process of creating a story comic and various art forms, that include other subjects (not all visual)
● Creating a visual representation out of a written story

Artmaking Materials Needed:

● Markers (30)
● Pencil (30)
● Pens (30)
● Worksheets (provided by ms. browning) (30)
 Problem-Based Lesson Plan | ARTE 301

Contemporary/Historical/Multicultural exemplars:

Newspaper comic- Unknown artist | Marvel Comics

Procedures:
● DISCUSSION: (5 minutes)
○ Schedule
■ First we will discuss what is art? (forms, is science, math, reading and writing art?)
■ Next we will do a quick story telling demo
■ Then you will write a small paragraph about your characters story
■ Finally, you will create a visual representation in a minimum of 3 comic panels
○ How can you portray your story through the comic strip?
○ Introduce key artistic concepts
● DEMONSTRATIONS: (5 minutes)
○ Show teacher made exemplars
○ Show Historical/Multicultural exemplars
■ How do we know what is happening in comics? (action words, short sentences, etc.)
■ How does a long story get condensed into a few images?
○ Demonstration
■ Show how to format your comic
■ Different ways of using the comic panel
■ Utilize vocab in demo that students will be using
● DESIGN/WORK SESSION: (25 minutes)
○ “Row ____ can go grab their art boxes” etc.
○ “ [student name] can you help pass out
○ Each person will get one hand out of 3 comic panels (one is mandatory, but can use more if needed)
○ On the bottom half of the worksheet, you will need to write a short paragraph about your character
■ A time that they “saved the day”
■ How they got their powers
■ A day to day task
■ How they change into the superhero
○ Once you are done writing, you may begin turning that story into a comic strip
■ Using pens, pencils, markers
○ Try to limit the amount of words you use
■ 2 action words allowed
■ 1 sentence allowed in the image
■ One frame has to be without any text
○ Overall Goal(s) for the day:
■ Write a paragraph about your superhero
■ Use that story to create a three frame comic panel (more available if wanted/needed)
 Problem-Based Lesson Plan | ARTE 301

● CLEAN UP: (2 minutes)

○ Put all art materials back in your art boxes and return them to the cabinet
○ Make sure your names are on your art work
● CLOSURE: (3 minute)
○ Finishing thoughts: anyone want to share their story/drawing? likes/dislikes about the project?
○ How was it changing a written story into a visual story?
○ [student name] can you please collect everyone’s project
○ “Next week (technically next two weeks), we will be taking pictures on ipads for the cover of your comic. Think
about a pose or action you would like your superhero to have/do as you will be posing like them and we will work
with them to create a comic cover”