With this elementary graphic novel lesson plan, you can introduce elementary students to graphic novels through books and activities.
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Introduce Graphic Novels
Explain that graphic novels have three features:
- Boxes (panels)
- Pictures (illustrations)
- Speech bubbles.
Use Bunbun and Bonbon: Fancy Friends by Jess Keating to show the boxes, pictures, and speech bubbles.
Project and draw your own graphic novel page with the kids’ help, using panels, illustrations, and speech bubbles.
For extra practice, students can label the three parts of a graphic novel on a handout or on the board in front of the class.
Information for the Teacher
- After teaching the students about the three features of graphic novels, read them a graphic novel. My favorite introductory graphic novel to read aloud is Bunbun and Bonbon: Fancy Friends by Jess Keating.
- Depending on the students’ ages have them draw a panel or two (or provide a handout with a panel already drawn). Then, have them use the handouts provided on Jess Keating’s website for drawing Bunbun. The students can put the characters in the panels and add speech bubbles.
- You can also show the students the video Jess Keating made about making comics.
More Elementary Graphic Novel Lesson Plan Resources
Scholastic
Scholastic has a lot of great graphic novel resources. They also do a yearly Graphix week usually in October. They offer interviews with Graphix creators, activity sheets, guides, etc. The resources are fun all year, but keep an eye out each October for updated/live information!
- Graphix Got Me Reading
- Your Story Activity Sheet
- A Guide to Using Graphic Novels with Children and Teens by Scholastic
Comic-Con International
Comic-Con International posted a 44-minute video on YouTube called Show Me History™: How to Create a Successful Nonfiction Graphic Series. Check it out here.
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets assembled an excellent graphic novel guide with tons of links to book lists, creator interviews, reluctant reader tips, etc. I highly recommend checking it out.
Save this post, by pinning the image below on Pinterest, to refer back to later, so your kids can make their own graphic novels.
