Cartoons and Comics

Kids love cartoons and comics.  The rise and popularity of graphic novels in the last few years shows just how much kids gravitate to them.  Many educators have seen graphic novels and cartoons as a way to motivate reluctant readers into a genre they might enjoy.  But, graphic novels, cartoons, and comics are loved by both avid and reluctant readers.  The popularity of Dog Man, Lunch Lady, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Baby Mouse, and many others show that this is a genre that is here to stay!

Why not turn that love into a teaching and a creative writing tool for students?  Students love being able to create and here are a few places they can create there own comics and cartoons.

1. ToonDoo

This website is very easy to use and create comic strips.  You can create a free account with an email address.  There are several backgrounds, characters, pictures, objects, and text boxes to use to create your comic.   After brainstorming an idea,  start by choosing either a horizontal or vertical layout.  Then, choose a background, characters, add in extra props or objects, and then text.  You can even change the emotions of a character.  You can also draw your own images if you want.  There is lots of variety to create almost any topic of comic.   It is simple to use, save, and share by email.   Students would be able to easily create comics and share them with others through email.  This is easy enough for elementary through high school to use.

Here is my comic strip I made about a recent Comal River trip.
Click on the comic to enlarge.

2. Pixton

This is another easy and free  website to create comics. The program walks you through each panel to create your own comic strip.  You create one panel at a time, you can duplicate the panel, then edit to create the next panel.  There are many background, characters, and objects to use for you comic.  There are also a variety of templates for students to use.  This is another easy website for students to use for creative writing or just for fun.  Once a comic is made, it can be saved, emailed, printed, embed with an URL, or post to Twitter.

3. Make Beliefs Comix

You can start creating right away without even making an account.  You can choose from many characters, backgrounds, and objects to place into your comic.  There are also many speech balloons to choose from.   Your comic can be up to 9 panels.  It is very easy to add the characters and objects as well.  To type in text, just simply click into the speech balloon.  When you are through, you can print, save, or email your comic to yourself or a friend.  This would be easy for students to use for creative writing pieces.

Click on the comic to enlarge.

4. Chatterpix

Chatterpix is a fun way for students to record a 30 second message with either a photo they took with an iPad or smartphone, or a drawing, and making it "talk".  First, they take a photo, swipe a line for the "mouth", then record their message.  Students can give book talks, share something about the photo or drawing, or simply be creative.  Students can then share their 30 second Chatterpix by email or onto YouTube.  Chatterpix is also free.

Here is my book talk over Laugh Out Loud by James Patterson using Chatterpix. 

Ways to Use Comics/Cartoons with Students

There are many ways that comics can be used in the classroom with students.  Here are just a few:

• students can create a comic about themselves to share with classmates at the beginning of the year
• use to teach digital citizenship or online etiquette
• for creative writing assignments
• students can create an on-going comic strip throughout the year
• it can be used to recreate an important historical event
• use it to practice vocabulary words 
• use it to tell steps on a science experiment
• use as a writing diary

At Make Beliefs Comix, there are several ideas, writing prompts, as well as lesson plans to help teachers use comics in the classroom.