Education Standards
History of Comic Books
Newsela
SIRS Issues Researcher
Top 10 Superheroes of All Time
Wakelet
Wonderopolis
Create a Superhero For Today's Learner
Overview
This remix was modified to include the most recent AASL standards, an updated image and updated language.
Create a Superhero is a five-part lesson plan asking students to research a current global issue which impacts them, their family or their community. Based on their research they create a superhero to help solve the issue. The project follows an adapted inquiry model and uses the online tools of G Suite for Education.
Wonder
Additional Resources:
Superheroes Wakelet https://wke.lt/w/s/crmJSB
Comic books are both literature and art. They reflect pop culture and the human experience. Throughout America history, comic book superheroes such as Captain America have emerged during times of great turmoil in the world. Watch the video the History of Comic Books to learn about the ages of the comic book.
What is a current global issue that impacts you, your family, or your community? Imagine if there were a superhero who could help you solve this issue. Let's create one!
First, take a closer look at a few superheroes in the video Top 10 Superheroes of All Time
Small Group Discussion:
- What do these superheros have in common?
- Do these superheros have a mission, a special power, tools or ability, a secret identity, a unique costume, a sidekick, etc.?
As you discuss these questions with your group, ask one group member to create a chart in Google Docs, share it with each group member, and use it to record your ideas and responses.
Investigate
The second step in creating your own superhero is to brainstorm possible global issues to investigate with your group. Think about issues that impact you, your family, or your community.
Browse and search current issues in Newsela or Wonderopolis. Check with your school library about other online resources that may be helpful, such as SIRS Issues Researcher.
After a general discussion with your group members, select an issue that you would like to investigate further. Email your decision to your teacher with any questions you may have so far.
Synthesize
For step three, create a Wakelet of three to five resources about your topic. Resources may be in any format (website, article, video, etc.) Go back to the resources linked in Section 2: Investigate to search for details and do a Google search for additional information if needed.
Include notes for each resource to help you remember basic facts about the issue.
Also, begin planning your superhero in your notes. How does your superhero help to solve the issue you have selected? You'll need a name, mission, secret identity, costume, powers, tools...what else?
Express
Now, on to step four, create a splash page for your superhero using Google Slides, Google Drawings, or on paper.* A splash page is the first page of a comic book. It is used to introduce the reader to the superhero's name, mission, costume, secret identity, powers, tools, and the setting of the story.
Share your splash page with each member of your group when it is complete. Peer edit by using the comment feature on each other's files. When every group member has seen your work and commented, make edits as needed. When your edits are complete share your file with your teacher.
*(To make a file of your work on paper take a photo and insert it into either Slides or Drawings.)
Reflect
Lastly, open a Google Doc and share it with your teacher. Reflect on your work in this project by answering the following questions in a paragraph or two:
About Yourself:
What is the most important thing you learned in this project?
What do you wish you had spent more time on or done diﬀerently?
What part of the project did you do your best work on?
About the Project:
What was the most enjoyable part of this project?
What was the least enjoyable part of this project?
How could your teacher change this project to make it better next time?
Other comments?