Webinar:
Social Studies
Intro
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Best Practice #1 — If-Then
Select a historical era or event and use the comic maker to summarize key moments leading to an alternative decision point. Guide students to complete the next panel(s) by exploring the consequences of different choices, ensuring characters, backgrounds, and props accurately reflect the historical context. See the handout for instructions, activity variations, and differentiation strategies.
Best Practice #2 — Choose Your Own Bubble
Develop a CYOB (Choose Your Own Bubble) activity by designing a comic with blank speech bubbles and multiple-choice dialogue options. Provide completed strips with various outcomes, set clear expectations, and guide students in filling blanks. Lead a discussion on dialogue choices and historical context. See the handout for instructions, activity variations, and differentiation strategies.
Best Practice #3 — Build in a Bunch
Select a passage from a historical source and divide the class into small groups, each assigned a unique topic aspect. Set democratic guidelines with absolute vetoes to ensure every student contributes. Have groups create a comic, voting on every element and exercising at least one veto. See the handout for instructions, activity variations, and differentiation strategies.
Recap
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Associated Research
Graham, S., Harris, K. R., & Santangelo, T. (2015). Research-based writing practices and the common core: Meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. The Elementary School Journal, 115(4), 498–522.
Merç, A. (2013). The effect of comic strips on EFL reading comprehension. International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications, 4(1), 54–64.
Schnotz, W. & Bannert, M. (2003). Construction and interference in learning from multiple representation. Learning and Instruction, 13(2), 141–156.
Zimmerman, B. (2008). Creating comics fosters reading, writing, and creativity. Education Digest, 74(4), 55–57.
