Super Adventures

Drawing cartoons is a great way to encourage young writers and illustrators.

1. Study the styles of distinguished cartoonists. Examine the relationships among illustration style, character development, and story line.

2. Imagine a story about a dreamer, inventor, or explorer. Where might they go? What might they do? Imagine a scary, silly, or serious situation. List the scenes to help plan how many cartoon frames are needed to tell the story.

3. With a ruler and Crayola® Colored Pencils, measure and draw a cardboard or oak tag cartoon frame template. Make a square or rectangle shape in a cartoon-like size. Cut out the center of the frame with Crayola Scissors.

4. On construction paper, trace around the template as many times as needed with colored pencils. If desired, leave space between frames to draw dialogue lines.

5. Sketch the story characters and background with light lines. Write dialogue and draw balloons around the words.

6. Complete the figures and background with Crayola Fine Tip and Washable Markers. Outline words and dialogue balloons.

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.

Small Parts— WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.

• Create a class adventure strip, adding a new frame every day so everyone has an opportunity to participate. Post each day's frame in the hallway so other students can follow the adventure. Be sure to date the frames, just as famous cartoonists do.
• Children, especially those with less writing experience, may benefit from jotting down their story and outlining what will appear in each scene before beginning to draw. Or focus only on the beginning, middle, and end scenes.
• Publish a book of all the cartoons, making color copies for everyone. Design a cover, title page, any borders, and adjust the margins or cartoon sizes so everything fits.

All About Antarctica

Ecosystem in Danger: Brazilian Rainforest

Splash & Splatter

Lesson Plans

crayola supplies

• Fine Line Markers
• Colored Pencils
• Markers
• Pointed Tip Scissors
• Construction Paper

household supplies

• ruler
• cardboard or oak tag

grades

• Grades 1 to 3
• Grades 4 to 6
• Special Needs

subjects

• Language Arts
• Math
• Visual Arts

time

• 30 to 60 minutes
• Multiple Sessions

benefits

• Children grow in their awareness of distinguished cartoonists' illustration and writing styles.


• Children measure and cut a square or rectangular cartoon frame template.


• Students increase their ability to select an imaginative theme and then write and illustrate a story sequence with this theme that includes settings, characters, plot, and dialogue balloons.

Research Canada Standards
Research UK Standards
Research U.S. Standards