youthspeakoutint.orgCreate Your Own Screen Time Comic
Comic book pages can tell a story using both images and words. In this activity, you’ll tell a story about one or more characters who find a way to spend less time using their screen device. How do they unplug? Is there anything (or anyone) that helps them put away their smartphone or turn off their laptop? A hero perhaps? What does the character do instead?
Starting with a blank comic book page, draw characters and scenes and add words to show what the characters are saying or thinking. You can also add words to narrate your story. If you post your comic on social media, please use the hashtag #unpluggedcomics.
Here’s an example from one of our Unplug to Connect kids (click to enlarge):
Begin by choosing the appropriate grade level for the child or children in your family:
What You Will Need
- Unplug to Connect Screen Time Comic activity sheet or blank sheet of paper
- Pen or pencil
Activity
- Parents or guardians, download our UTC Screen Time Comic activity sheet or create one by drawing rectangles on a sheet of paper.
- Ask your child to think of a time when they were using a screen device (like a smartphone, laptop, or video game console), and they needed to unplug. How did they unplug? What helped them stop? What did they do instead?
- Help your child illustrate their scene using the blank comic panels, like a scene in a comic book.
- If you post your child’s comic on social media, please use the hashtag #unpluggedcomics.
Talk About It
Here are some things your family can talk about as make your own comic:
- What can you do to make your comic funny?
- Is one of your characters like a superhero?
- How did you come up with your idea?
What You Will Need
- Unplug to Connect Screen Time Comic activity sheet or blank sheet of paper
- Pen or pencil
Activity
- Download our UTC Screen Time Comic activity sheet or create your own by drawing rectangles on a sheet of paper.
- Think of a time when you (or someone in your family) were using a screen device (like a smartphone, laptop, or video game console), and you needed to unplug. How did you unplug? What helped you stop? What did you do instead?
- Illustrate your scene using the blank comic panels, like a scene in a comic book.
- If you post your comic on social media, use the hashtag #unpluggedcomics.
Talk About It
Here are some things your family can talk about as you make your comic:
- Do you consider any of your characters to be like a hero or villain?
- What thoughts or feelings are depicted in your comic?
- Did you tell a story that happened to you personally?
What You Will Need
- Unplug to Connect Screen Time Comic activity sheet or blank sheet of paper
- Pen or pencil
Activity
- Download our UTC Screen Time Comic activity sheet or create your own by drawing rectangles on a sheet of paper.
- Think of a time when you (or someone in your family) were using a screen device (like a smartphone, laptop, or video game console), and you needed to unplug. How did you unplug? What helped you stop? What did you do instead?
- Illustrate your scene using the blank comic panels, like a scene in a comic book.
- If you post your comic on social media, use the hashtag #unpluggedcomics.
Talk About It
Here are some things your family can talk about as you make your comic:
- Was there a turning point in your story where things could have happened differently?
- What would your comic be like if your characters stayed “plugged in” and kept using screen devices?
- What thoughts or emotions are expressed in your comic?
Leave a Reply