Gabby Solves The "You Can't Play" Problem

Features of graphic novels

Social awareness: Demonstrating empathy and compassion

Watch the Video (10 minutes)

“What’s in a Comic?”

• This video teaches kids about the features of a comic.
• Before watching, tell kids to look out for four features they might find in a comic.
• After watching, ask for kids’ help to fill out a list of comic features on chart paper. The features mentioned in the video are: panels, speech bubbles, thought bubbles, and onomatopoeia.
• Tell kids to look for those features in the mini graphic novel. They can fill in our “Comic Features Hunt” skills sheet after reading. 

Set a Purpose for Reading (5 minutes)

• Open your magazines to “Gabby Solves: The ‘You Can’t Play’ Problem.” Ask kids: What kind of story is this? (a comic, or a mini graphic novel)
• Next, read the Think and Read prompt on page 13: “As you read, think about: How would you feel if other kids said you couldn’t play with them?” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

• Kids can read this story individually, in small groups, or as a class.
• As they read, ask kids to note who is being a good friend and when.

• Kids can “finish” the story with the “What Happens Next?” printable. They’ll fill in the voice bubbles for the characters and create their own comic panel.
• This activity helps develop the skill of making inferences.

Assessment: Quiz (10 minutes)

• Pass out the quiz to assess comprehension of the story.
• We also offer a lower-level quiz.
• Both quizzes are now available in multiple-choice and written-answer formats.

ELA/SEL Focus: Dear Gabby

• Kids can write Gabby a letter about a question they would like her advice about. Then they can pretend to be Gabby and write the solution!

ELA Focus: Comic Feature Hunt (10 minutes)

• Pass out the Comic Feature Hunt printable.
• Kids can use the mini graphic novel to fill it out and learn about the different features of comics/graphic novels.

Indepdendent Learning: Slide Deck Lesson Plan (30-40 minutes)

• Our Slide Deck Lesson Plan can be done by students independently at home or during center time.
  
• Look in your Resources section for the “Slide Lesson.” It’s a self-contained group of slides that guide your students through the Mini Graphic Novel.
  
• This easy-to-use group of Google Slides walks your students through reading the story independently, answering three questions after reading, and then recording the features of a comic they found.
  
• It’s a simple way to take the resources we have already created and put them in one place so you don’t have to create anything new!