In my younger years, the first section of the newspaper I would go for was the comics…especially the Sunday paper as they were in color! Even now, when I get the chance to read an actual newspaper, I enjoy reading the comics (although it’s not the first section I go to). Why did I like them so much? Well, they were fun, humorous, interesting, thought provoking and left me curious with anticipation to see what the next strip would divulge if there was an ongoing storyline. As a teacher, I have used Comics in the FACS Classroom on numerous occasions, in many ways, to excite, engage and assess my students. Read on to learn how.
Educational Value of Comics in the Classroom
Materials
- iPads or Laptops
- Projector & Screen
- Colored Markers, Pencils, Paint
- Ink Pads (affiliate link)
Existing Comic Strips
Use existing comic strips to introduce topics, make predictions, apply learning via dialogue and visual observation. A few of my favorite comic strips include:
- Funky Winkerbean ( great series on dating violence)
- For Better or Worse (great series on types of learning & a one single storyline about temper tantrums)
Note: Due to copyright laws I can’t share these on the website, however, you can email (kim@familyconsumersciences.com) me for more information if interested.
Create Your Own Comic Strips
Create your own comics using premade comic strip templates which can be made:
- By hand using original illustrations
- By hand using premade character images such as Fine Motor Drawing Fun with Eggies (TPT Freebie) Cute Monsters Family (TPT Freebie), etc. (These are great for students who think they can’t draw!)
- By hand using thumbprint characters
- Digitally using Storyboard That website
- Digitally using Canva
- Digitally using Pixton
- Digitally using MakeBeliefsComics
- On Google Slides with Ditch That Textbook–Comics in the Classroom
Assignments
- Kitchen Hazard Cartoon
- Superfoods
- Dietary Villains: Fat, Sugar & Salt
- Junk Food & Sinister Science
- Conflict Resolution Storyboard & Scenarios
- Family Life Cycle
- Insurance Claims Project
- The Mini-Book Project