Lesson Plan Example

Comic Book Freedom

Intended Audience Art, Grades 11-12, Approx. 8-12 Students, 2D Art Classroom

Estimated Time Frame: 10 - 1 hour-long class periods.

Curriculum frameworks 

1. Create works of visual art that demonstrate a connection between personal expression and the intentional use of art materials, techniques, and processes, by writing a short story and choosing the best materials to express the mood of the story in comic form

1. Demonstrate a more complex understanding of the elements of art and principles of design to accomplish commercial, personal, communal, or other purposes of art, by being able to communicate the story through the visuals before the words are read

1. Describe the origins of specific images and ideas, and explain their significance, as well as evaluate the validity of sources for content and the manner in which subject matter, symbols, and images are used in the students’ work and the work of others, by critiquing each other’s works and being able to understand why a student chose certain visuals to express different and similar ideas

1. Investigate career opportunities and professional options related to one’s own strengths, by researching job opportunities for visual artists and how to go about acquiring said jobs, e.g., college, internships, etc.

Objectives: By the end of this lesson, all students will know how to lay out a multi-piece spread and how to write a narrative. They will display knowledge of how to lay out a booklet by the piece they design and be able to express the story they want to share through their chosen visuals.”

Assessment

Knowledge – Student expresses an understanding in communicating ideas and thoughts using visuals and shares an understanding of how to become an illustrator/artist, should they choose that path.

Skill – Student produces a visually telling story in the format of a comic book. The student also produces a completed application for either a college or an internship related to the art field.

Sponge activity: Have students continue the story or produce a poster announcing the release of the comic book, either on the computer or with paint, etc.

Alternate plan: Have the students illustrate a series of 3 movie or video game release posters, planning the layout, images, and text before creating them.

Modifications for diverse learners: If a student needs assistance, I will either spend extra time with them or have another student who is more advanced work with them. If a student finishes early, they can produce one or more of the sponge activity items.

Teaching

• Step/Activity 1 anticipated time: 3 Mins

Anticipatory set. As the students enter the room, they will need to grab the assignment handout and a comic book sample from the table by the door. I will have dramatic action theme music playing as they come into the room to get their creativity going before they get to their seats. Paper and pencil will be set up at each desk for sketching.

• Step/Activity 2 anticipated time: 57 Mins 

Introduction. Once the students are seated, I will show a PowerPoint with other examples of comic books, graphic novels, and comic strips. I will also show examples of various types of jobs associated with illustration, including animation. Next, I will explain both assignments: create an original multi-panel visual story (text may be included, but doesn’t have to be, and the story should read fluidly without words) and researching what type of job each student would want and how to achieve that job. For the rest of the class, students will be tasked with writing down ideas for the kind of story they want to tell and the style and materials they intend to use. If the students have time, they will also start sketching today.

• Step/Activity 3-? anticipated time: 8 Hrs

The second class will be devoted to sketching out ideas, choosing the layout, and selecting the color scheme to work with. Once they have decided on everything and sketched out a complete design they will begin work on their piece to hand in for grading and work on that for the next 7 consecutive classes. I will work with each student on both the color and layout selections and continue to work with them on their projects as the classes go along. Helping with spacing, proportion and perspective as needed.

• Next to last Step/Activity anticipated time: 1 Hr

Guided practice 

The last step will be for the class to present their stories to the class for group critique. The rest of the class should be able to tell what the story is about without reading the content if there is any and be able to identify various items or symbols used to express certain actions and feelings in the story. Students will be graded on involvement in the group critique as well as the quality of their work and completion of the homework assigned.

• Final Step/Activity anticipated time: 2-3 Hrs  

Homework/Independent practice/Assessment 

For homework the students need to research how to become an artist of their chosen profession (i.e. comic book artist, animator for Disney, etc.) and determine the steps necessary to get to that point after high school. If there is an internship available they must create a resume and put together a portfolio or if college is required they must choose a college to apply to and follow through with the process.