ARTFUL LEARNING@HOMEPOWER OF POSITIVITY Making a Comic with Reneé M. Weissenburger An exercise exploring how we think. Create a comic to demon-strate how positive thinking can impact a person’s feelings and actions.

The following project was designed to complement Sanford Harmony’s 5th/6th grade SEL lesson, Thought Bubbles.

online.sanfordharmony.org/courses/sfwd-grades-Grades-5-and-6-Unit-2-Empathy-and-Critical-Thinking/cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/documents/eldstndspublication14.pdf

WHAT YOU’LL NEED• large piece of paper• scissors• markers, crayons, or colored pencils

You may also use a ChromeBook or tablet, or a comic app or program

Step 1: Create the character by drawing a person.It can be you, someone you know, or a fictional character. Cut out your character at the end of this step.

www.cotaprogram.org

Step 2: Pick a Background.Place him or her on a background of your choice. It could be the floor, colored construction paper, fabric, or something outside. Take a picture. If you prefer, you can glue your character on another piece of paper. Leave space for the comic bubbles.

ARTFUL LEARNING@HOME page 2

www.cotaprogram.org

Step 7: Create a comic. Write out thought bubbles and text boxes, cut them out, and glue them around your character. Or, if you have a Chromebook, you probably have a comic app like ComicLife. Either way, create your comic and don’t forget to add a title!

See the next page for my finished comic!

Step 3: Create a situation.

Think of a situation where your thoughts held you back.

For example: my character, much like me as a kid, is having difficulty with math.

Step 5: Help your character with their problem-solving skills.

Think of a way for your character to overcome their negative thoughts. My character remembered that she is good at many other things. She also recalls helping her friends with subjects they struggled with.

Step 4: Write down the terrible things you think about when you’re in a situation that makes you worry.

I had my character think: I will never get it. I should just give up. Maybe I should just ask for help. But it’s so embarrassing.

Step 6: Write down the positive things you can think of when you’re trying to change your mindset.

I had my character think: Matilda was not embarrassed to ask me for help with science. . .Nathan was better at soccer after I gave him some pointers. Breathe, everyone needs help.It’s going to be okay.

Connections and reflections.• Describe a time at school when you had negative thoughts and how it impacted your behavior?

• Describe a time when you had positive thoughts about an activity or event at school. What was the outcome?

• How can positive thoughts change the way we feel about a situation?

www.cota.org