
Basic materials for CONSTITUTION COMICS WORKSHOPS.
JUMP TO: Cartooning | Founding Docs | Supreme Court Cases | Featured Comics
PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH: MegMott.com >>
Basic Cartooning Resources:
2023 Comics Workshop Handbook (Work In Progress)
“Big Picture” ideas PLUS fun comics-making activities & drawing games…
Comics Workshop Tools Overview
Especially for students, families, & hosts of my online programs…
P*I.E. PROCESS: Pencil + Ink + Erase
PENCIL+INK+ERASE: A simple process for creating & sharing your best work!
Founding Documents:
“Why do we even have a government, anyways?”
D.I.Y. Declaration of Independence / Preamble
The preamble of the Declaration of Independence explains WHY people make governments… What do these reasons look like when YOU cartoon them?
SOURCE TEXT: Declaration of Independence (1776)
“What do we want THIS government to accomplish?”
What IS This Thing, the ‘U.S. Constitution’?
Here are a few open questions as we explore & debate the founding documents of US government & law!
D.I.Y. US Constitution / Preamble
The Preamble of the US Constitution lays out the collective goals of the US government. What do they look like when YOU cartoon ’em in comics form?
SOURCE TEXT: Constitution of the United States (1787)
“What are our RIGHTS as citizens? What can (& can’t) our government do?”
“Bill of Rights” Comics Activity
A quick comics-making project to dig into (& understand) the text of the Constitution…
SOURCE: Bill of Rights (1791)
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution establish fundamental rights of citizens, & dramatically limit the government’s powers. (It’s especially fun to cartoon Supreme Court cases that “wrangle” with these rights.)
US Supreme Court Cases:
“What do all those words in the Constitution even MEAN?”
Cases argued before the Supreme Court give a detailed look at the reasoning & evolution of US laws. Each case tells a story, and each decision shapes our lives & society!
TEMPLATE: Supreme Court Case Comics
This template provides a basic approach to exploring & explaining any case. To cartoon the law, we have to decide which facts & quotes are most important, & represent them clearly to readers. Grab your favorite court decision, & give it a try!
SOURCE: OYEZ.org = Supreme Court info & case summaries!
1st AMENDMENT:
1st AMENDMENT MINI: Tinker V. Des Moines (1969)
Can a public school PROHIBIT armbands (a.k.a. symbolic speech)?
1st AMENDMENT MINI: West Virginia V. Barnette (1943)
Can a public school COMPEL students to salute the flag?
4th AMENDMENT:
4th AMENDMENT MINI: Safford V. Redding (2009)
Does the 4th Amendment prohibit school officials from strip searching students?
New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)
Vernonia v. Acton (1995)
MORE SUPREME COURT CASE COMICS:
SUPREME COURT MINI: United States V. Sioux Nation of Indians (1980)
The US Government broke a treaty — What happens now?!
Supreme Court Case Comics (8p Template)
Create comics about your favorite landmark Supreme Court decisions…
More Featured Comics:
NH State COMICStitution: Bill of Rights (Articles #1-12)
Comics adaptations of each article & more, in printable poster format.
NH Constitution / Article 83: Encouragement of Literature…
The role of public schools, & the essential subjects they teach.
Justice David Souter: “Civic Ignorance”
A warning & a call to action.
Wooley V. Maynard (1977)
In this early Live Free and Draw episode, “freedom” takes an unexpected turn…