Teaching writing for comics and graphic novels in the third grade

[Gilbert Grimmett]

I am going to be starting an extra writing/art  session with a few of my students and was wondering if anyone had any ideas for a comic book writing curriculum suitable for third graders that could be done over a three week period. My plan is to use the writers' workshop model to guide my students through the writing process, moving through the stages of immersion, brainstorming ideas, choosing an idea (developing characters, setting, plot), drafting, revising, editing and publishing. The children in my class are familiar with this process having completed feature articles, historical fiction writing and personal narrative essays.

Due to time constraints, I can only use some time before and after school to complete this project, which I will start the week after next with a group of children who have expressed interest in comics and graphic novels and who have volunteered for this writing study. I have four weeks to complete this project and I am looking for suggestions for any and all of these stages that other teachers have found to be useful and exciting.

 

[Gilbert Grimmett]

correction: "I am going to be starting an extra curricular writing/art session..."

[Melissa Marquart]

You might want to check out Andy Runton's page; he's created a curriculum using his character, Owly.