Activity Description: Scouts use a labeled comic to learn how images and words work together, then read a cartoon and write a funny caption.
- Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Cadette Comic Artist badge requirements.
Info Needed: Explore how comics are created and understood by looking closely at characters, emotions, and storytelling techniques used in comic strips.
Items Needed:
- (Optional) Phone or computer with internet access
- (Optional) Printed comic books, graphic novels, or links to web comics
- Comic Anatomy sheet
Before the Meeting:
- Print copies of the Comic Anatomy sheet for each Scout or small scout group.
- Choose and print of bring at least one comic strip that clearly shows panels, gutters, speech bubbles, thought bubbles, captions, manpu, and/or facial expressions.
- Use GoComics Archive or Comic Book Plus for older examples.
- Use USA Today or a local newspaper for current examples.
- Visit the Library of Congress Comic section.
- (Optional) Ask Scouts to bring a favorite comic or web comic link to share during the activity.
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 10–20 min):
- Use the Comic Anatomy sheet to identify comic parts. (5 min)
- Scouts point to and name panels, gutters, speech bubbles, thought bubbles, manpu, and facial expressions on the printed comic strip.
- Read and enjoy the pre-printed or brought comic(s) together. (5–10 min)
- Scouts talk about what’s funny or interesting in the comic(s).
- Leader prompts with questions like “What emotion do you see?” or “What do the symbols mean?”
- (Optional) Visit the New Yorker caption contest and write a one-liner. (10 min)
- Scouts read the cartoon and come up with a short, funny caption.
- Scouts share their captions with the group.
This Activity is a Part of the Following Meeting Plan(s)
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The Badge Archive 