Name of Project: Comic Journaling
Grade Level or Age of Participant: Adult
School, Teacher and Classroom: Spectrum Artworks, Jes Reyes
MCAD Teaching Artist: Hanna Kivimaki
Number of Students: around 10
Overview of Project
The students will design a character that represents them, and draw (or start drawing) a simple short comic about their day or of a thought or idea that they have been thinking of.
“Big Ideas”/ Essential QUESTION(s)
What do I want the comic of my life to be like?
What about my daily life would be interesting and/or fun for others to read too?
What makes me a good comic character?
What can represent me as a character?
How can I draw and write in a way that is intuitive and fun?
Student Outcome Objectives
Students will:
1. Develop a spontaneous, quick way of comfortably representing themselves as comic characters.
2. Identify what parts of their daily life are interesting as story material.
3. Discover a new reason of self-worth and respect. They can each be the heroes of their own stories!
Prior Knowledge
Basic storytelling and drawing skills. Prepared to show their work to a small audience (this is not mandatory).
Examples of Artwork
Examples of famous journal comics and some not as well-known comics found online, also examples done by the teacher.
Additional Resources
http://www.artworksatspectrum.org
Assessment
Individual assessment happens throughout the class, by the teacher (and assistants). There will also be a short sharing situation at the end, where most of the student work will be laid out for everyone to look at.
Materials
15-20 square shaped 8.5" x 8.5" pieces of drawing paper printed with comic templates
15-20 pieces of regular 8.5" x 11" printing paper for sketching and character design.
10 drawing pens
A variety of drawing pens to try out
12-15 pencils
5 pencil sharpeners
10 erasers
3 rulers
3 white-out pens
Learning Activities and Timing
1. A power point presentation and explanation of the project (10 minutes)
-explanation of what journal comics are, followed with examples
-examples of good journal comic characters
-introduction of the project
2. Story-planning and character designs (15 minutes)
-students start designing their characters and stories
-teacher and assistants walk around, give feedback and help when needed
3. Drawing the story (25 minutes)
-students draw their stories, preferably without sketching and straight with ink
-teacher and assistants walk around, give feedback and help when needed
4. Sharing and discussion (10 minutes)
-everyone spreads out their work and then walk around looking at the pieces.
5. The end!
-The teacher thanks the students (and other participants) for good work
(students don’t have to be finished at the end of class, but the goal is to have a good start to a new project)
Examples of Student Artwork
