Subject: ELA (English Language Arts)

Lesson Length: 45 mins

Topic: Descriptive Writing

Grade Level: 3, 4, 5

Standards / Framework:

Brief Description: Introduce a special family - from "a day in the life," to cherished memories. Have your students add characters that look like relatives for a uniquely personalized experience.

Know Before You Start: Be aware that family life might be difficult or traumatic for some students. Approach this activity with sensitivity. 

Hook:

  • Begin by projecting a personal childhood family photo and identifying the members of your own family.  Share some of your favorite family memories.

Activity:

  • Ask students to think about their own families and identify a favorite memory, (e.g., a special vacation, a new pet, a holiday celebration, a favorite meal, a family tradition, etc.) 
  • Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a three-to-five-panel comic describing this favorite memory using sensory language.

Closure:

  • Have students share their comics in pairs or small groups.
  • Showcase finished comics in a Gallery Walk.

Differentiation:

  • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
  • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
  • Provide a list of ideas for a favorite memory, e.g., the day I learned to ride a bike, the day our new pet came to live with us, etc.

Resources:

  • Comic to print or display: Comic.

Suggested Story Starters: