Comic Creation: What's your story?
Using comics to build literacy and critical thinking skills!
In his 1993 book Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud gives his definition of the word "comics":
comics (kom'iks) n. plural in form, used with a singular verb. Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or produce an aesthetic response in the viewer. (p. 9)
Creating comics engages students as they build literacy and communication skills.
“All educators are desperately looking for ways to encourage youngsters to read and write and have discovered that comics, with their glorious drawings and the wonderful talk balloons that help move stories along, provide a vital resource to engage young people. We live in a very graphic society where children constantly see moving, comic images – sometimes on television and movies, sometimes on computer games. Kids feel very comfortable with these comic images and are hungry for more. ” — Bill Zimmerman, Make Beliefs Comics
Comic story telling requires critical thinking.
“Making a comic is not simple. You need to figure out the visual composition of each panel, the sequencing and pacing of your story, the body language and facial expression of each character in each shot. It’s a synthesis of so many different things, and for most kids, these are elements they haven’t had to think about before. Suddenly they find themselves in the role of comic auteur, responsible for considering and communicating every detail of a story.” — Shahan Panth, Bitstrips for Schools
Comic Creation APPS
Toontastic – ($14.99)
Making cartoons is as easy as putting on a puppet show with Tootastic! A simple press the button, move your characters onscreen, and tell your stories through play.
Comic Life APP (Free)
by plasq.com A powerful Photo Comic Creation App. Everything you need at your fingertips: speech ballons, photo filters, comic lettering, templates, shapes, shadows and effects.
PuppetPals (Free)
Create your own animated stories. PuppetPals let you simply pick out the characters, drag them onstage and tap record. Movements and audio is recorded for your performance.
Comic Creation Web Tool - Bitstripsforschools.com
Story Starter Apps
Brainstormer APP ($1.99)
A new twist on a tactile tool to randomly combine a plot, a subject and a setting or style, Brainstormer has three spinning wheels featuring plot/conflict, theme/setting and subject/location.
StoryWheel APP ($2.99)
Storymaking begins by spinning the virtual wheel for an image that stimulates narrating a portion of the story. StoryWheelallows up to 4 players to collaboratively evolve their skills and imagination with impromptu storytelling.
StoryDice APP (Free)
Story Dice is a creative tool to prompt ideas for plot, character, and setting. Use from K-12.
Publishing Apps
eBook Creator APP (Free)
Creative easy and simple audio ebook maker now possible! Its interface is designed for all ages and skill levels so that young kids are able to make ebooks using the app.
Demibooks APP (FREE)
Easy-to-use authoring software for designing your own interactive book apps with realistic physics (complex behaviors with simple clicks), animations, audio – music, effects and speech and visual effects.
Scribble Press APP (Free)
Here is an ebook creation platform that allows kids to imagine, create and share their own stories with great drawing and writing tools. Download books instantly to iBooks library!
App description source:
More Resources
Your ITRT Team
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http://intranet.peelschools.org/21stCentury/Teaching/Pages/default.aspx
Look in the FAQs to find out who is your ITRT and check out the #Peel21st hashtag on Twitter.
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