Civics Comics / Clayton County, GA (2023)

2025 WORKSHOP PAGE👉

JUMP TO: Standards | Activity 1: Cartooning | Activity 2: Primary Source | Activity 3: Mini-Comics Etc. | Unit Planning | …

ACTIVITY: Basic (Extreme!) Cartooning

CHALLENGE: Create iconic images of specific concepts from the Georgia State Constitution (& other civic elements).

TIME: 10-20 minutes (penciling & sharing)

RESULT: Cartooning experience + visual gallery/glossary of important civics concepts

LIST 1
freedom
wisdom
justice
moderation
peace
happiness
life
equality

LIST 2
guidance
government
right
responsibility
property

LIST 3
person
inhabitant
citizen
family
community
the people
society

DEMOS: NH State COMICStitution

ACTIVITY: Drawing from Primary Sources

Drawing a multi-panel page based on a source text:

CHALLENGE: Draw a 3-panel page featuring 3 key words or concepts from the Georgia state Flag

TIME = 5-10 minutes

RESULT: 1-page personal reaction/reflection to flag symbols

EXTENSION: Draw a 1-page story sharing something interesting or surprising about the history of the state flag.

Concepts: CONSTITUTION, WISDOM, JUSTICE, MODERATION, “In God we trust”

CHALLENGE: Draw a 3-panel page interpreting 1 item (paragraph) from the Georgia state constitution.

TIME = 5-10 minutes (choose article & pencil a page) + 5-10 minutes (peer conference & fix)

RESULT: 1-page personal interpretation of specific Article/Paragraph.

EXTENSION: Combine multiple pages into “graphic novel” adaptation (by groups or class-wide).

RESOURCES: Georgia State Constitution

SAMPLE TEXTS (from ARTICLE 1):

Sample projects from primary source TEXTS and VISUALS:

ACTIVITY: 1-Sheet (8-page) Mini-Comics Interpretation

How to fold a 1-Sheet Mini

Turn a blank paper into an 8-page mini (without glue or staples)!

CHALLENGE: Draw the Georgia State Constitution PREAMBLE as a mini-comic (or 1-page comic).

TIME: 30-45 minutes (P*I.E.)

RESULT: Graphic interpretation of Preamble text & concepts.

EXTENSION: Compare to the Preambles of the Declaration of Independence & the US Constitution

Preamble:

Marked up:

SAMPLE TEMPLATE: See “US CONTITUTION Preamble” >>

Supreme Court Case Template:

Interpret your favorite US Supreme Court case in mini-comics format…

CASE OF INTEREST: Chisholm v. Georgia (1793)

(As in many other cases, it will work best to select & highlight key quotes, summaries, & concepts for students’ reference.)

CHALLENGE: Draw a passage from a favorite speech or text as an 8-page mini…

ACTIVITY: Unit Planning

Considerations when designing a comics activity for your classroom…:

SOURCES: Primary sources & other info students can use to research & create their projects. (Also, possible subtopics &c. …)

FORMATS: What shape(s) might student projects take? (SEE BELOW)

Also consider possible models (books, artists, &c.).

GOALS: Expectations & points for assessment; What will students learn? What will they demonstrate? How will they know they’re successful?

COMICS FORMATS

D.I.Y. formats for self-publishing your work:

More Mini-Comics TEMPLATES:

OTHER APPROACHES & IDEAS…