My Superhero
Grades: 3-6
My Superhero
Students explore and analyze familiar heroes and villains, develop their own superheroes, and introduce this new hero to the world through an ID card and comic or graphic novel.
Engage
Ask students to name their favorite superheroes and their superpowers. Capture this list in a 3 column organizer.
Bring up superheroes like Batman, Green Arrow, and Hawkeye who do not have inherent superpowers. Are they still superheroes? Why?
Identify each superhero’s weakness. Are the weaknesses from an object, like kryptonite, or from something else?
Have students turn and talk with a classmate to share which superhero they would like to be and why.
Create
Design the Superhero
Tell your students that they are going to design their own superhero and comic. Assign an idea cluster or character traits organizer to help students get started identifying the traits they want for their hero.
When students get a general idea of traits, have them create details on the Super Hero ID Card activity. Students can use the paint tools to draw a picture of their superhero’s costume and special features and abilities in the image area of the ID card.
Have students present their superheroes to the class. You might print the ID cards as trading cards so they can print and share to inspire others or simply project each ID card where the entire class can see as each student explains.
Write a Story about the Superhero
Once the character has been designed, it’s time to write a story about one of their adventures. Have students map out the events using the panels in a storyboard.
Assign a comic or graphic novel template or have students create multipage projects and print multiple pages to a single sheet of paper.
Give students time to create their comics, edit, and adjust text, scenes, and colors.
Students can convert the image of their superhero from the ID card into a sticker or use the images in Wixie's Stickers>Cartoon library. Choose the Bubble option to convert it into a conversation or thought bubble.
Share
Print the projects. Bind the printed sheets with the cover to share in class or in the school library, or collect the digital versions into a collection on your school or classroom web site.
Celebrate with an author signing or reading event. Host a comic convention where students can dress up and read their comics to younger students.
Standards
Anchor Standards for English Language Arts
Writing Theme
3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.