Introduction to Visual Literacy Through Graphic Novels

Wondering why this blog is more quiet? It’s because I am much more regularly sharing and creating in my Patreon community. And right now, you can get a free trial. What might you find there? Units such as the one I just posted below.

Giving students, and ourselves, further tools for how to navigate visual literacy is a must in today’s society. After all, most impressions that we get these days are not just from words alone but are accompanied by one or more images.

So why not approach the teaching of visual literacy through one of the most beloved formats of texts; graphic novels? After all, I see many teachers who are not quite sure how to teach this or even how to fully read graphic novels in order to sink into their depths, surely there are students who have the same gaps.

So I spent some time pulling together a 10-day unit plan for this concept, where students are invited to read their own graphic novels and go on a journey of exploration.

In this plan, we’ll not only unravel the mysteries of graphic novels but also nurture critical reading, visual analysis, and creative skills.

So what is in this unit?

Day-by-Day Lesson Plans: The unit offers a structured 10-day plan, complete with detailed activities, guiding questions, and vocabulary. You can follow this plan as-is or adapt it to fit your classroom needs.Flexible Assessment Framework: The unit includes optional assessment frameworks, such as peer feedback and visual narrative presentations. You can choose which assessments align best with your learning objectives.Diverse Mentor Texts: The unit utilizes inclusive mentor texts, including “New Kid” by Jerry Craft and “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang. However, there are so many other graphic novels you can use.  Make sure you choose mentor texts that resonate with your students’ interests and backgrounds.Promoting Cultural Awareness: The unit places a strong emphasis on exploring cultural themes and perspectives within graphic novels, fostering cultural awareness and inclusivity.Creative Expression: Through activities like creating visual narratives, students are encouraged to express their creativity and develop visual storytelling skills.Reflection and Celebration: The unit concludes with a reflection on key takeaways and a celebration of students’ achievements, reinforcing the value of graphic novels and visual storytelling.

As always, this is meant to be a helpful tool that you can make your own. I would love to know if you can use this, and also if there are things I can change. I have broken it into pages so that you can print them for easy reference if you want.

To access the unit-plan, become a member of my Patreon community by going here. Like I said, a free trial is available to access resources.