A COMIC DAY

Hello again everyone again!

Talking about what we did in the third class I can say that the issue we dealt with was the comics and graphic novels and I have to say I'm not addicted to them… but after this class my opinion changed.

During the first part of the lesson, the teacher introduced us to a list of examples of comics and graphic novels. 

Among them, he showed us "A dog of Flanders", one of the most popular comics in Japan, also one of the most well-known nations by the hobby of its citizens to comics. This comic has been so famous for them that even have been adapted to the version of the television version and cartoons. It is a story with a dramatic argument where the protagonist Nello has to win his life selling milk with his faithful companion, a dog named Patrasche, because he is an orphan and his grandfather is sick. During the story falls in love with Aloise, the daughter of a man in good economic position who is opposed in that they want to meet each other. Nello is good at drawing and tries to present his picture works in a competition, but ultimately didn’t win. In addition, he is accused of setting fire to his own home where his grandfather died, so he has to travel to Antwerp, where he died frozen inside the cathedral.

In my opinion the ending is a little sad and dramatic, but the storyline looks good. 

Often, people who watch the cartoon version think that the clothes are of Netherlands origin but they are of Dutch origin. This is an example of how other cultures see the Belgian culture and exists confusion by the stereotypes.

Moreover, I would like to suggest a Spanish comic: "Mortadelo and Filemón"
Mortadelo and his boss Philemon are the clumsiest secret agents of the Universe. They work for T.I.A. (Technical Research Aeroterráquea), a clear parody of the CIA, under the command of Superintendent Vincent ("Super") and will be assisted by Dr. Bacterio inventions, which always will be a disaster.

Also other regular characters later appear as Super secretary, Miss Ophelia, or Bestiajez agent ...

The "Super" always gives to them the most unlikely cases because are too dangerous to risk to staff or other cases because he has no one else to who give. The "Super" does not have very good concept of Mortadelo and Filemón as they always end up in a shoving mess.

The teacher also taught us several illustrated novels. I really loved "Elsie in Mairi". I am a person who likes war stories or acclimated in wartime but not in the aggressive sense, in the sense that I like action and tension. So when I opened the first page and saw the pictures I knew I would love it. And to my surprise, was also acclimated in the city where we live, Ghent. I recognized the cathedral and it caught my attention. 

So, my opinion on comics or illustrated novels has changed and probably I will read "Elsie in Mairi".

During the second part, the teacher organized the class into 5 places / groups. He proposed an activity to work comics. This activity was worked by steps, which reminded me of the feeling that children have:" I cannot draw". It is the same situation than, for example, our teacher requires us during the examination that we have to write one full page in Dutch without to be studied it. I think it is really right, you cannot require a child to design for example in this case, a comic. 

As teachers we need to guide them and help them through the process and in this way lighten the feeling of "I cannot draw" while they work. Furthermore, this method forces students to think and be creative, to create new designs, new ideas and relate them to others, so also works cognitively and therefore learning gets.

So, these are the parts or steps that we have made the do the final task to make our own comic: 

1. Choose small dolls, toys, magnets ... Everyone has to have its own character.

2. Draw on the big paper a zone or ambient for our own character.

3. Changing group and do the same, but with the character of the neighboring group.

4. Changing group and crop a photo of a newspaper to place it next to something related to the comic of the new group.

5. Changing group and write a short text next to the area / neighbor comic drawing.

6. Changing group and break a piece of paper with text and place it in relation to any image.

7. Changing group and use newsprint to complement any shape or form neighbor comic.

8. Back to our group / table and see who created your peers during their visit to our corner. From new creations, we have to create a story to make a comic of three or more cartoons and with text. 

 Here are some photos of the work we did during this activity...

 You can see how each step is done...

 
And this is the end result of my own comic. It is about a king who lost his treasure and was looking for him, fighting with half the world, until finally discover who the thief was and after answer a trick question, he get the treasure.

I think it was a very dynamic lesson. We were constantly in movement and thinking. I think this way of working encourages creativity and motivation in children. Sure when I will be teacher will use this way of working. 

Now I also would like to share with you and suggest you some crafts or tasks that could be done. This suggestions are from my experience during my teaching practice and as a monitor of "Free time", that is a course about make activities, trips, games, crafts, animations... with the little children when is vacations time or when the parents can take over their children.

For example, one time I was one of the Three Kings (concretly I am the middle one). I love to see the enthusiasm in the kids while I'm working as a monitor.







Here there go some suggestions...

WAX BURN DRAWINGS
 

 It is a fun and attractive activities for students. It consist burning crayons made ​​of wax with a lighter and when they are melted, blows quickly before dripping. The effect is a large number of small scattered drops on paper, like graffiti. 

 






 


Additionally, you can use different colors or even before burning wax and blow, students can design a mold with geometric figures or what they want. So when you blows the wax on the mold and then removed it, the shape of the mold remain in the white paper. 

Another option is juts burn the wax and draw.

I think it may be a good idea to work, but you have to be very careful due to fire and burning wax, so this activity should be taught from 9-10 years.

GOODBYE HANDS

This activity was suggested by my teacher during my teaching practice. Last week I finished my training at school and my students gave me a gift. It's a nice way to have a detail with a person you're going to say goodbye while you are working in Art Class. 

It is a mural done with the hands of every student in the class where I have been in practice. Each student goes with a pencil over the edge of his hand to draw the shape. Then cut it and finally they color and decorate as they want. Some have even put phrases like "I'll miss you." 

It was exciting for me to see that my class had that nice detail to me.

VASE FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Few days’ a go was the mother’s day. A good way to thank all that mothers do for us is to get her something as a symbolic as thanks.

So as a teacher, I propose to make a vase. The activity consist collecting bottles of water or any other beverage, but must be with transparent glass. 

These are the steps:

1. Students have to paint the bottles with tempera paint or color they want and let it dry.

2. Then they have to will create a flower by using a special origami paper called tissue paper (they can also choose the color they want).

3. Then join the flower with a straw and they shall put into the bottle.

4. Finally, they will have to wrap the bottle with plastic wrap and tie at the neck of the bottle with a cord.

5. Tantatachán ! We have a gift for Mother's Day!

 

As I always say, I hope that these suggestions and my reflections will be useful and someday when you will give lessons in your own class can put it in practice.

Soon… Design Museum!

TO BE CONTINUED...