My Comic

Group 6
Megan Theep
Rebeca Orozco-Chavez
Vanessa Stott
Sydney Steele
Christopher Wong
Big Idea: Heroes
21st Century Approach: Learner Directed Education

Grade Level: 3rd Grade

Article Discussion:

With your group answer the following questions:

-What is a comic?

-What are the differences between a film and a comic?

-How can you avoid character stereotyping?

-What is the relationship between the reader and character?

My Comic Hero Learning Objectives:
Content Areas:

Literacy- TSW be able to comprehend what is a Hero/Heroine by viewing a video segment about the
Inspiration Artist and through information provided about the Studio Investigation.

Visual Art- TSW be able to create an artwork of a hero in their life by bringing a self portrait photo of their
own heroic figure and customizing the image to become a Comic hero.

Social Studies- TSW be able to understand what qualities, characteristics, and duties are entailed with
being a hero/heroine by discussing their narrative about why they chose their character(s) (Hero/Heroine)
with each other.
Day after day, ordinary people become heroes through extraordinary and
selfless actions to help their neighbors. -Sylvia Mathews Burwell

Key Concepts: Heroes...

influence our lives in positive ways.
are admired for being courageous.
inspire artists to create an artwork through use of storytelling.
encourage acquisition of noble qualities that can be portrayed artistically.
Essential Questions:
How do heroes influence our lives in positive ways?
Why are heroes admired for being courageous?
How do heroes help create artistic works through storytelling?
How do heroes encourage acquisition of noble qualities that can be artistically
portrayed?
Lesson Overview:
Vocabulary:

Hero: a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character.

Ethnicity: the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural
tradition.

Civic Duties: relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city, or local area.

Narrative: a spoken or written account of connected events; a story.

Identity: the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.

Worksheet/Handout
On a separate sheet of paper, write about your personal hero

-Superhero Name

-Secret Identity

-Super Power(s)

-Weakness(es)

-How am I going to change the world?

Inspiration Artist: Alex Ross
-American artist, born in 1970 in Portland, Oregon.

-Award-winning painter and illustrator.

-Awards include several Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards

and several Harvey Awards for Best Cover Artist and Best
Artist/Painter/Penciler.

-Has primarily worked for DC and Marvel comics.

-He uses traditional mediums like gouache paint to create a

photo-realistic style of art for comic books.

-His breakthrough success came from the comic book series

Marvels in 1994, which was a limited 4 issue series that Ross
illustrated.
 Alex Ross
"I idealized people like Rockwell, who
drew in that photo-realistic style.
When I was 16 or so, I said to myself,
I want to see that in a comic book!" -
Alex Ross

Source: http://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/alex-ross
Segment on Alex Ross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2DZC_ud9S4&list=LL1MsNGXXjvsYLn5a-
5XRjAw&index=1&t=92s

Exhibition video for "Heroes & Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross," on view at Norman Rockwell
Museum from November 5, 2012 through February 24, 2013.
Inspiration Artist: Alex Ross

Studio Investigation:

TSW

Create their own mini comic book with a picture of

the hero of their choice to explore the meaning of
the big idea Heroes in connection with their own
lives.
Materials
-Photo of personal hero

-Construction paper

-Colorful masking tape

-Transparent film

-Scissors/Xacto Knife/Paper Cutting Board

-Paint/brushes/palettes

-Glue sticks

-Pencil, pen, markers

Studio Investigation: Instructions
-Glue picture of personal hero onto construction paper.

-Cut construction paper to desired size.

-Align transparent film with construction paper.

-Attach with colorful masking tape.

-Cut transparent film to fit the construction paper.

-Add interactive masking tape to the top or bottom corner.

-Use paints and brushes provided to decorate the transparent film to create a
comic superhero.

-While paint dries, write about why you chose your personal hero and
personalise your comic as you wish.

-Present handout and comic hero to group members. Front

Studio Investigation: Example

Inside Back
Closing
-How can you compare your hero to that of other students
heroes?

-What emotion(s) do you feel when you look at other

students artwork?

-What can we say to our heros?

-What are the differences between your hero and the

heroes of others? (ex. A hero versus comic book hero.)