Historical Fun with
the Funnies
Heather Dollins
Secondary Curriculum Coordinator
Granbury ISD
Objectives
• Provide research-based strategies that
will increase TAKS achievement for
struggling learners, including ESL and
SPED students.
• Look at examples of graphic novels and
how they can help students grasp
historical concepts.
• Review and create examples of handson strategies that help reinforce the
learning of those concepts.
This presentation won’t be . . .
What do we know?
• Find the colored sticker on the front of
your folder.
• Go to the corresponding blank chart
paper on the walls.
• With your “team,” brainstorm everything
you know about graphic novels.
What is a “Graphic Novel?”
Graphic novels “include fiction as
well as nonfiction text with pictures
– ‘comics’ in book format.”
(Schwarz, 2002)
Did you know?
• A graphic novel has won the
Pulitzer Prize!
– 1992 – Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art
Spiegelman
• In this story, the mice are the Jews and
the cats are the Nazis. They live out the
story of the author’s father as he
survived Auschwitz.
Trading Cards
TEKS Reference: World History 5.A,B
The student understands causes and effects of European expansion beginning in
the 16th century.
51 Wacky We-Search Reports: Face the Facts with Fun! by Barry Lane; Discover
Writing Press, 2003.
Summary of Facts
TEKS Reference: 5th Grade 2.A
The student is expected to identify the contributions of significant individuals
during the revolutionary war, including George Washington.
51 Wacky We-Search Reports: Face the Facts with Fun! by Barry Lane; Discover
Writing Press, 2003.
TEKS Reference: U.S. History (11th grade) 6.A, H
The student is expected to identify reasons for U.S. involvement in WWII,
including the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The student is expected to identify the origins of major domestic and foreign
policy issues currently facing the U.S.
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor by Elizabeth Hudson-Goff and Michael V. Uschan; World Almanac
Library, 2006.
TEKS Reference: 8th Grade 8.B
The student is expected to explain the issues surrounding significant
events of the Civil War, including the battle of Gettysburg.
The Battle of Gettysburg by Kerri O-Hern and Dale Anderson; World Almanac Library, 2006.
Where can I get graphic
novels?
• Places to contact:
– World Almanac Library
– Rosen Classroom Books
– Capstone Press
– School Specialty Publishing
– Follett
References
Crawford, P. (2003). Thought Bubbles: Beyond Maus: Using Graphic Novels to
Support Social Studies Standards. Knowledge Quest, 31(31).
Hibbing, A, & Rankin-Erickson, J. (2003, May). A Picture is Worth a Thousand
Words: Using Visual Images to Improve Comprehension for Middle School
Struggling Readers. The Reading Teacher, 758.
Lane, Barry (2003). 51 Wacky We-Search Reports: Face the Facts with Fun!
Discover Writing Press.
Lavin, M.R. (1998). Comic Books and Graphic Novels for Libraries: What to Buy.
Serials Review, 24(2).
Lyga, Allyson (2004). Graphic Novels in your Media Center. Libraries Unlimited.
Schwarz, G.E. (2002, November). Graphic Novels for Multiple Literacies. Journal of
Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 46(3).
Weiner, Stephen (2005). The 101 Best Graphic Novels. NBM Publishing, Inc.
Zike, Dinah (2001). Dinah Zike’s Foldables: 3-D, Interactive Graphic Organizers.
Macmillan/Mc-Graw Hill.