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Grades level iconsGrades 4–6
Genre information iconNarrative
Resource type iconSparks

The Human Comic Strip

by Bryan Wilson, Educator Leader, Bureau of Fearless Ideas
In this lesson students will work together to revise a scene from a first draft by adding descriptive details.
About the Author

Bryan Wilson is a writer/educator in Seattle. He is a Program Manager at the Bureau of Fearless Ideas, and serves on the board of Seattle City of Literature, part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.

What Your Students Will Learn

Students will revise a scene from a first draft by slowing it down into frames or “comic panels” that they will have to work collaboratively to embody for an audience. The audience will help to add descriptive details to the scene to support their fellow author to make revisions.

Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3 Common Core Standards Icon
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.A Common Core Standards Icon
Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.B Common Core Standards Icon
Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.C Common Core Standards Icon
Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.D Common Core Standards Icon
Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5 Common Core Standards Icon
With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grade 4 here.)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3 Common Core Standards Icon
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.A Common Core Standards Icon
Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.B Common Core Standards Icon
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.C Common Core Standards Icon
Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.D Common Core Standards Icon
Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5 Common Core Standards Icon
With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3 Common Core Standards Icon
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.A Common Core Standards Icon
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.B Common Core Standards Icon
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.C Common Core Standards Icon
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.D Common Core Standards Icon
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5 Common Core Standards Icon
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
What You Will Do

Before You Start: There are a couple of very important props you’ll have to create for this activity: 3-4 giant comic panels (cut frames out of black foam board) Speech and thought bubble shapes cut out of thick paper or foam board.   You will need these in STEP 2. Choose a sentence to model in STEP 3.  It can come from a piece of student writing (with permission) or you can make up your own STEP 1 (5 minutes) Introduce the goal for the day — to use revision to make our stories even more awesome.  Ask students what words...

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