Comics are awesome. I might be speaking from my point of view, but it is true that studies have proven the validity of incorporating comics into lessons involving writing traits, reading strategies, and creativity within other content areas. So let's go a step further and let our students become the authors. It is a great way to engage them in retelling, sequencing, summarizing, and creating! Think of the difference in a student's reaction when they are asked instead of summarizing a passage in a few sentences to create a comic strip that allows them to summarize the information in a creative way. Especially when they are using a program that allows them to have a digital copy of their work along with a print copy. It could even encourage them to continue being creative when not given an assignment, but for their own enjoyment. Since playing with some of the comic strip creators listed below, I know that I have found myself going back and creating comics for myself because it is fun and easy. They are very easy to use, and they are a great way for students to use creativity to communicate through a new medium. Have them create an instruction manual, explain a process, or re-create a historic moment. There are plenty of ways to use them - a few of them have been described here in a short presentation. Give it a shot. For a quick sheet on comic creators, click here. The following are three easy-to-use sites that have been designed to create comic strips (there are more out there, but these are three of my favorites):
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
http://superherosquad.marvel.com/create_your_own_comic
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/
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