Teacher guide · Creative Lab · Medium · about 32 min

💥 Comic Strip Maker

Pupils practise creativity through "Comic Strip Maker": Plan a 4-panel comic with a hero, a problem and a twist.

Lesson guide

  1. 1. Hook · 5 min

    Show the 💥 mission title and read the opening: "Pick your hero.". Take three quick guesses.

  2. 2. Model · 5 min

    Think aloud through the first step together. Use Pixel the Fox's line as your prompt: "Nice! That's an idea nobody else had."

  3. 3. Do · 10 min

    Pairs work through the 5 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"

  4. 4. Discuss · 10 min

    Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.

  5. 5. Reflect · 5 min

    Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used creativity today.

Discussion questions

  • What was the hardest choice in "Comic Strip Maker", and why?
  • Pick your hero — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • Panel 1: describe where your hero is — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • Panel 2: what problem appears — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • Where could you use creativity outside school this week?
  • If you did this again, what would you change?

Adapting it

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

Curriculum links

  • National Curriculum: English: composition — planning and drafting ideas (KS1/KS2)
  • National Curriculum: Design & Technology: generate, develop and communicate ideas
  • PSHE: Health & wellbeing: self-concept, strengths and interests

Pupil sheet

💥 Comic Strip Maker

Name: ____________________   Date: __________

  1. 1. Pick your hero.

    ☐ A cat with a jetpack

    ☐ A kid who can talk to plants

    ☐ A very small superhero

  2. 2. Panel 1: describe where your hero is.

  3. 3. Panel 2: what problem appears?

  4. 4. Pick a sound effect for panel 3.

    ☐ KA-BOOM!

    ☐ SPLAT!

    ☐ ZZZWOOP!

  5. 5. Panel 4: how does it end — with a twist?