Spice up your point of view lessons with a fun comic strip activity for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. Below, find project ideas as well as a video that explains how upper elementary students can use an online comic strip maker for their project.
Point of View Comic Strip Project Ideas
1. Have Students Debate A Topic By Creating a Comic Strip
Some students can create a comic strip supporting one side of an argument, while other students can support the opposing point of view. Or, students could discuss both points of view in one comic strip, with each box presenting a different viewpoint.
Some possible "debate" topics:
- Should schools require uniforms?
- Should teachers assign homework?
- Should teachers allow gum chewing during class?
- Is it better to read a book or watch the movie?
- Is it better to take vacation to the beach or mountains?
2. Have Students Create a Comic Strip That Explains Different Characters' Point of View
After reading a fiction story, upper elementary students can create a comic strip about the viewpoints presented in the story.
For example, after reading the book Those Shoes, students could create a comic strip that shows the point of view of the narrator Jeremy, his grandma, and his classmate Antonio.
3. Have Students Create a Comic Strip That Explains (or Challenges) The Author's Point of View
Read aloud one of these nonfiction books for teaching point of view, and then have your students create a comic strip showing the author's point of view. Or, have students challenge the author's point of view in a different comic strip.
My children's book What Do You Think About Reptiles would make a perfect addition to this type of point of view comic strip. It's not really a book about reptiles...it's a book about an author's point of view. For each reptile discussed, the book shares and defends 2 different, contrasting opinions. Then it asks students to think about their own perspective.
Have students pick one of the reptiles and create a comic strip for each point of view, and then create a comic strip explaining their own point of view!
4. Have Students Create Demonstrating Multiple Points of View About an Event & 3rd Person POV
Need some ideas? Have students think about how these events impact people differently:
- a winning home run at a baseball game
- a park being torn down to build new homes
- getting a new baby brother or sister
- a dog barking at a loud noise at night
5. Have Students Create a Comic Strip From Both 1st & 3rd Person POV
In the 1st person POV comic strip, the drawings could be seen through the main character's eyes. In the 3rd person POV comic strip, the drawings could be from a birds-eye view. This is a fun way to have 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students consider the differences between 1st and 3rd person point of view.
Find more point of view ideas, including a free point of view activity, POV mini lesson ideas, and higher order thinking questions to incorporate into your point of view lessons!
Using MakeBeliefsComix With 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students
You can use printable comic strip templates for these activities, or have students create their comic strips using the free website MakeBeliefsComix. This website offers a variety of characters, backgrounds, objects, and speech bubbles that students can use to create their own comics. With a click of a mouse, students can choose characters and rearrange objects.
It is very intuitive, so even 3rd grade students will have no problem with this website. Students will not be able to save the comics that they have created, but they can print the comic or email it to you if you want to take a grade.
MakeBeliefsComix also has a variety of printable resources that 3rd grade, 4th grade, or 5th grade teachers might find useful. There are blank templates, writing prompts, and more.
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Comments 2
I can’t wait to try this! It will be a wonderful change from my usual sub plans.
Awesome!
Denise
Thank you so much for sharing this fabulous resource!