This project is the perfect way for middle school students to summarize the plot of a graphic novel that they have read, transfer their knowledge of another piece of literature into graphic novel form or use their imaginations and write their own graphic novel! Many popular novels have been turned into graphic novels to meet a broader audience and introduce students of all abilities to rich content.
Some examples of popular literature turned into graphic novels that are perfect for middle schoolers are:
Some examples of graphic novels that middle school students love are:
Check out our many more versatile Graphic Novel Templates! Remember, when giving your students an assignment in Storyboard That, you can add as many templates as you like!
For more ideas and inspiration, check out our Graphic Novel Projects in the Classroom!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a Graphic Novel Poster for a book you have read, or write your own!
Student Instructions:
Ask the students to list the major developments in the plot in order to understand what they want to include in their graphic novel. The important events are the ones that advance the story or significantly affect the characters. Students can categorize the events according to their significance, connection, and overall contribution to the story.
Pay notice to any repeating symbols or images connected to the occurrences. How do these symbols deepen the story's context? Students can always include the events that have a hidden meaning or any form of symbolism as these events enhance the overall meaning of the story and play an important role in creating a perception for the readers.
Examine the connections between the events. Are there similarities or differences between various events? How do they add to the story's overall structure? There are many events in the story that would not make make without each other. For instance, Sara’s hardships would not make much sense if the readers were not aware of her smooth and happy life before the Holocaust.
Guide the students to discuss with each other the significance of events present in the story. The discussion would give the students a chance to learn new things from their class fellows and open new possibilities to look at things. The discussion can involve understanding the sequence of events, what events should be included in the graphic novel, and the connection between events.
Once the students are done with the discussion, ask them to summarize the main points of the conversation and what they learned. Ask the students to finalize the events they want to be a part of the graphic novel.
Students can convey the central message of kindness, resilience, facing challenges, and fighting against evil forces. These messages can be emphasized by focusing on events that conveyed these specific themes and show the readers how the characters portrayed these traits.
The development of character profiles, the visual exploration of important topics, the visual adaptation of a particular chapter or scene, or even the creation of a graphic book that elaborates on a certain plot point are some project possibilities. Students can further use their imagination to add to the story and create their own version of White Bird while keeping the central themes the same.