Task:
A well known
book publisher wishes to create a comic strip book of fables that will provide
people with 'life lessons'. They wish to get a 'kid's perspective' on what should
go in this book and that is where you come in.
Part
One - You must research fables and find the best one that you think could
be a good life lesson for someone in our class.
Part
Two - Create a 5 panel comic strip of the story. The comic strip must: use
only capital letters for the writing, show evidence that you have tried to 'move
outside' the way you normally draw, use a variety of framing in the panels eg
close up, really close up, torso shots etc. Each frame is to be 6cm by 6cm.
Extension
- create the comic strip in black felt tip pen. Scan it, colour it in your
favourite graphics editor and load it to your blog.
Possible
Discussion Topics - These stories as indoctrination. These stories as completely
out of touch with modern reality. These stories as wisdom passed through the generations.
Tips
and Tricks -
-
Show some comic strips and examine their layout. Pay particular attention to the
variety of compositions of each frame ie close up, long shot, 3/4 shot, tight
cropping etc. You are actually teaching the conventions of this text.
-
Encourage the children to emulate the style of a comic strip and not just have
a series on panels all looking the same with a bit of writing in them. Examine
the features of the text.
-
Grab some cartooning books and experiment yourself with different head shapes,
eyes, noses, body shapes etc.
-
Demonstrate this experimentation to your class and encourage the children to do
the same.
- Discuss
the use of vocabulary for audience. Enough 'new words' to get some learning happening
but not too many that the meaning is lost. Make it 'child friendly' but don't
'dumb it down'.
Link
- Just some of Aesop's
Fables
