---
title: Tools of Storytelling
description: Students will learn about some of the storytelling tools a cartoonist uses. Then they’ll use these tools to create a comic of their own.
image: https://learn.pixton.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-13%20at%202.59.07%20PM.png
---

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**Pixton Lesson 2:**

# Tools of Storytelling

![](https://learn.pixton.com/hubfs/Images/comic%20school/Leopard200h_new.png)

**Learning Objective: To understand the basic storytelling tools a comic creator uses to tell a story.**

**Overview: ** Comics tell a story. In this lesson, students will learn about some of the storytelling tools a cartoonist uses. Then they’ll use these tools to create a comic of their own.

**Success Criteria: **

- I can identify the storytelling tools a comic creator uses in a comic.
- I can use these storytelling tools to make my own comic.

**Materials Needed: **

- A copy of the Google Slides for this lesson (see below).
- Markers.
- [Comic Worksheet](https://learn.pixton.com/hubfs/Comic%20School%20Documents/Pixton%20Storytelling%20Elements%20of%20a%20Comic.pdf) or newspaper comics.
- Pixton.

[Copy to my Google Slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yO10O9nDSiy7EILlGTDxTkLh8MT-S1LxVfClQH_qyyE/copy)

## Lesson Plan

### Minds-On:

- Open the [Elements of a Comic](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1J2U8ncujkYNw8hk2fFcAzliBi4juAi6woL5GlYsuIzg/edit#slide=id.p) Slides presentation.
- **Slide 2**: Ask students: 
    - What they know about comics?
    - How is a comic different from a chapter or picture book?
    - Brainstorm their ideas on the clipboard. 
- **Slide 3**: Read the comic as a class. 
    - What do they notice about the way the comic is written?
    - Are there any paragraphs or chapters?
    - How did the writer tell the story? 
- **Slides 3-13**: Using the Slides presentation, teach the primary storytelling tools used to create a comic e.g., caption, speech bubble, thought bubble, whisper bubble, shout bubble.

### Inquiry:

- **Slides 17-18**: Distribute the newspaper comics or [Comic Worksheet](https://learn.pixton.com/hubfs/Comic%20School%20Documents/Pixton%20Storytelling%20Elements%20of%20a%20Comic.pdf) to students.
- In pairs, have students highlight and label the storytelling tools used in a comic.
- They can then fill in the storytelling bubbles with what they think is missing from the story.
- You may ask some of the following questions as students are learning:  
    - What do they notice about each panel?
    - What do the speech bubbles show us?
    - Can you tell me why you think they used this bubble here?
    - What is the difference between narration and speech bubbles?
    - Why do you think they have some words in bold text like WHOOOSH?
- Perform a gallery walk around the class to view what their peers found.
- See **Slide 19** for answers.

### Activity:

- Using Pixton, create a three-panel comic about your best day ever.
  
    - Did you win a million dollars?
    - Did your puppy start talking to you? It doesn’t have to be true, of course.
- Teachers, feel free to link to a theme you are already doing at school!
- Remember to use at least three of the five storytelling tools.
- You can share student comics online or by printing them out.