Comic Lesson Plan and Artwork by John Goshorn, Sax Art Consultant, Ohio and Michigan Grades 4-12 Concepts Cross-Curricular – Math, Art History, History, Language Arts

Description: In this lesson, students will be introduced to the idea of developing a visual and possibly a verbal narrative in comic book style. They may choose to use either manga, anime or traditional comic drawing styles. They will learn how to develop a story line and characters. Each student will complete at least one short comic strip. Comparisons will be made between creating a comic strip and writing a story with no pictures.

Objectives: • Students will observe and discuss comics by artists of the past and present. Character and subject/story will be discussed. • Styles of drawing comics will be observed and discussed. • Students will develop a comic character(s) in one of several styles. • Students will develop a story in a sequential comic strip with a beginning, middle and end, using their character(s).

Materials: Canson Comic Strip Board Pad, 150-Lb., 14-Sheet Pad, 5” x 17” (411519-705) Canson Comic Book Concept Sketch Pages, 100-Lb., 10-Sheet Pad, 8-1/2” x 11 (411516-705) Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Manga Set, 8-Pen Set (409651-705) Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Manga Set, Shojo, 6-Color Set (1296492-705) Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Manga Set, Manga, 6-Color Set (1296493-705) Pigma Sensei Manga, 6-Pen Set (1272523-705) Sakura Pigma Micron Collection, Colors, 16-Pen Set (1272520-705) Sakura Pigma Micron Collection, Black, 16-Pen Set (1272521-705) You will also need: Pencils (#2H and #2) Erasers (pencil and ink) Rulers Masking tape Optional: Tracing paper Light box Resources: Newspaper comics from the past and present Comic books from the past and present Manga Madness, Book (405716-705) Manga Mania, Book (403626-705) Blitz Cartooning Library, Set of 2 DVDs (409678-705) Perspective for Comic Book Artists, Book (409434-705) How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way, Book (459977-705) How to Draw Hip-Hop, Book (409421-705) Anime Mania, Book (403625-705) How to Draw Dynamic Comics, Book (409420-705) Note: Check the Sax Full-Line Catalog for all of the Canson products for Comics and Manga. You will find Make Your Own Pocket Novel, Comic Book Concept Sketch Pages, Create Your Own Comic Book, Comic Strip Board Pads, Manga Drawing Pad Plus Stencils, and more.

Directions: 1. Students will collect comic pages from local newspapers. When available, the teacher will bring in comics from the past. Class will discuss the subject of the story line. Does it reflect politics, community, or daily-life? How do the characters, the style, the title and the sequence of images relate to the effectiveness of the comic? Relate to writing a story with a beginning, middle and end. Also review vocabulary and parts of speech. 2. Comic idea development: The students will use a written and visual journal, Canson Comic Book Concept Sketch Pages, to observe happenings in and around their environment (school, home, community, TV news). Each day of a school week can be a certain subject goal if desired. For instance, Monday can be happenings at school. A class discussion should wrap up the class each day of the week to see what story line the students are developing in their journals to use in their comics.

3. Story and character(s) development: The students will develop a story and character(s) for a three or four- picture cartoon. The dialog is dependent on the story line. Class discussion should point out how certain comics need no dialog in their presentation. The comic idea should be roughed out on Canson Comic Story Paper using a #2H pencil. A light approach is needed here. Again, the story must have a sequence with a beginning, middle, and end. 4. Final comic: After the student has roughed out the cartoon on the Canson story paper, he or she should finish by using the Sakura Pigma Micron collection of 16 black pens. This is the process of outlining and filling in any dark areas in the character(s) and background. The student may also use colored pens if desired. The color approach should be discussed. Color is a strong element and should be used with care. How effective the cartoon is depends on all of its elements. 5. Assessment: Students will discuss their own comics and each of the elements used. The students should emphasize the source of their subject matter, the steps they took to develop their comic and why they took them, the lessons learned and their response to the process of comic strip development.

National Standards: Content Standard #1: Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes. Content Standard #2: Using knowledge of structures and functions. Content Standard #3: Choosing and evaluation of a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas. Content Standard #4: Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures. Content Standard #6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.