Gabby Solves The "Just Kidding" Problem

Features of graphic novels

Relationship skills: Resolving conflicts constructively, communicating effectively

“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 ‘Just Kidding’ 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 what Mia says that the other kids don’t like. What could she have said instead?” 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.

Extend the Story With an Activity (20 minutes)

• 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 article.
• 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 Features 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.

NEW! Special Lesson for Independent Learning While Remote (30-40 minutes)

• We created a brand-new resource to make it easy for your students to do an independent remote lesson with the Mini Graphic Novel.
• Look in your Resources section for the “Slide Lesson.” It’s a self-contained group of slides that walk 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 doing our “What Happens Next?” inference page.
  
• 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!