How to make a comic - with Beano

��tv Teach > Primary Resources > KS2 English > Beano - How to create a comic

Three classroom videos produced in partnership with in which Mike Stirling (Beano's 'Director of Mischief') and his team of comic creatives offer primary pupils their expert tips and advice on comic creation.

From visualising characters in 'stick' form to structuring a plot using a story mountain, the team behind the world's longest-running weekly comic have plenty of creative insights.

These three classrooms videos and accompanying resources (including a story mountain template and comic frame layout - links below), provide powerful opportunities to combine literacy with art and design through a 'create a comic' class project.

The videos below were created in order, with progression building throughout, but will also work in any order or on their own, if you only wish to focus on one area. There is a comprehensive 'teacher guide' document below to support classroom use.

Classroom videos

Learning objectives covered in the films and accompanying resources include:

create a story using a story mountain structure
explore narrative development, characters and setting
use direct speech and explore inference (speech and thought bubbles)
explore how to use similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia and alliteration to make writing more interesting
identify how language, structure and presentation contribute to meaning
plan writing in narratives, creating settings, characters and plot
write in narratives, describing settings, characters and atmosphere and integrating dialogue to convey character and advance the action
tell, retell and interpret stories based on memories, personal experiences, literature, imagination and the content of the curriculum
make a sketch map of an imaginary place
take individual thoughts and ideas as the inspiration for visual work
consider the impact that layout and presentation will have and combine lettering, graphics and other features

This series is suitable for teaching English and Art and Design/Expressive Arts at Key Stage 2, 2nd Level, and Progression steps 2 and 3 across the UK.’

Accompanying resources

Click the links below to download supporting resources for the videos.

(PDF, 722KB) Suggestions for how to use the videos in the classroom.
(PDF 1.1MB) A blank template of a stick person that children can add further detail to.
(PDF 1.1MB) A blank thought balloon template that children can add further detail to.
(PDF 1.2MB) A series of basic head shapes that children can add further detail to.
(PDF 1.8MB) A blank story mountain template that children can add further detail to.
(PDF 2.2MB) A written example of a three-act story structure.
(PDF 1.2MB) These blank comic book pages feature a number of different panel layouts that can be used by children to create their own comics.