Environment+with+cartoons+and+comics

=Lesson Title: Teaching others how to save energy through comics and cartoons=


 * Environmental education objective:** To investigate how can we save power in our own homes to reduce strain on the national grid.
 * Visual English objective:** To understand and effectively use features of cartoons and comics to convey a message
 * ICT Integration:** Making comics in online tools such as Pixton, Belief Comics, and comic creator in Read,Write,Think and also investigate making them in offline tools such as Powerpoint and Comic Life (where available).
 * Age Level:** middle to upper primary.
 * Time Frame**: Children will get a chance to use each ICT tool over the course of two 1.5hr sessions to explore this topic (2 tools each session)

Introduction:
Explain that they will be producing a cartoon/ comic that helps teach people about being energy concsious in their own homes. Discussion on energy use in homes - why is this important? What steps can be taken that the children know of already?

Use this comic from [|Russel the Leaf] as part of the discussions

Immersion:
Children can look at discussion and ideas on the following websites to further explore this topic: http://www.smarterhomes.org.nz/energy/ http://www.sustainability.govt.nz/energy http://www.nzs.com/new-zealand-articles/lifestyle/power-saving.html http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentPage____32073.aspx [|Genesis Energy - energy saving tips] [|The Energy Story - everything you need to know about energy] [|Saving energy and energy conservation (from the Energy story)]

They can also read an information sheet on energy saving tips downloadable from here http://www.energywise.govt.nz/action-sheets/documents/energywise-factsheet-10_000.pdf

Following this read through, children are asked to discuss their findings with another pair and then decide which 'tip' they are going to focus on for their cartoon/ comic.

Features of Comic/ Cartoons
The children will be shown a couple of examples of comics/ cartoons and asked to try and answer the following questions.
 * How is emotion shown in comics and cartoons? Look at the way expressions are drawn to show each of the emotions.
 * How do types of speech bubbles convey information about the way things are said?
 * How is movement shown in a cartoon or comic?

Resources for features of comics/ cartoons Screenshots from the Pixton website: Speech bubble sheet (made in Comic Life - you can download full copy by clicking link below) Large picture of speech bubble sheet [|Speech_bubble_pic.jpg]
 * [[image:Express1.png width="202" height="204"]] || [[image:Express2.png width="202" height="204"]] || [[image:Express3.png width="204" height="204"]] || [[image:Express4.png width="202" height="203"]] ||
 * [[image:Express5.png width="195" height="195"]] || [[image:Express6.png width="193" height="195"]] || [[image:Express7.png width="191" height="194"]] || [[image:Express9.png width="187" height="190"]] ||
 * [[image:Move.png width="199" height="184"]] || [[image:Smell.png width="171" height="188"]] || [[image:Spin.png width="166" height="192"]] || [[image:Dazed.png width="183" height="187"]] ||

Here is a Voicethread with all of these features for kids to comment on. media type="custom" key="2669173"

While I didn't use the ideas exactly as written here as I was working with younger children, the [|Creating Comic unit from English Online] is helpful and has good templates.

This [|Read Write Think lesson plan on the comic genre] also has a number of very helpful resources.

The children and I will make a rubric from all of this on both features of comics we would expect to see and clarity of the environmental message. I will post this after we make it.

Making the comics
Children then start experimenting with a variety of tools to create their comic using the following tools:

Children will use a pre-prepared template with three panels to create their comic using characters from the cartoon image set available on the [|Comic Life Website]
 * Powerpoint**

Click below to download a template with pictures from around the home.

Children will make a comic using this tool and again the cartoon image set available on the [|Comic Life Website.] (or could make their own photo comics with their own photos)
 * Comic Life**

[|Pixton] Children will make a scene from scratch with three panels using this online tool.

[|Make Beliefs Comix] Other children will use this online comic tool to make their comics.

Kids will also be asked to create their own comic from scratch using pen and paper using the lesson ideas and templages from this [|lesson on the National Association of Comics Art Educators website.]
 * Pen and Paper Comic**

Assessment
At the end of the two sessions, children will be asked to share what they have come up with and will assess their comics against the rubric that we developed together. We will also make a display from all the comics to displayed.