Comic Book Characters
Level: Grades 5 to 7
Author: Adapted with permission from Snakes and Snails, by the Toronto Board of Education.
This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & ENGAGE: A Digital Media Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.
Overview
In this lesson, students look at how male and female characters are depicted in comic books. Using a Comic Book Analysis sheet, students will record the attributes of male and female comic book characters. As a class, students will record common attributes on a master sheet and discuss what messages about men and women are reinforced. In groups, students will be asked to design and create a non-stereotypical comic book character.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- recognize that the media construct reality
- understand that the representations made by the media are not always accurate
- understand how their own gender perceptions are affected by the media
This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) is available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.