Save your funny papers from the Sunday newspaper and take them to share with your class. (All of them will not be appropriate, so select the ones you think your children will enjoy.) Explain how cartoonists use “bubbles” to let you know what the characters are saying. Tell the children that they will get to draw their own cartoons and they can use bubbles to let their characters talk.
Next, let them think of a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Finally, challenge them to create a story with 4 sections.
*Use cartoon frames to recall the sequence of a story.
*Use cartoon frames for the life cycle of a butterfly, the water cycle, plant growth, and so forth.
*Let them draw a picture of you and make a bubble with something you frequently say coming out of your mouth. You might be surprised!!!!
Here's a link so you can download the blank cartoon frames:
Would you like to learn how to make cartoons that move? It’s easy peasy, but you’ll surely impress your students (and parents) when you teach them how to do this.
Hint! I would demonstrate this with kindergarteners, but the primary grade children could do this with some guidance.
Materials: white copy paper, stapler, black pen or pencil
Directions:
1. Fold the paper into fourths and cut on the creased lines.
2. Take two sheets and staple them at the top.
3. Lift the top layer and draw a simple shape on the bottom. Keep your drawing on the bottom half of the page.
4. Now, place the top sheet over the bottom and trace over the lines. Vary one or two features, such as arms, ears, mouth, etc.
5. Take a pencil and roll the top sheet up around the pencil.
6. Quickly move the pencil up and down to bring life to your cartoon. Waalaa!
*Connect this activity to literature, science themes, or social studies.
