Using cartoons in the class

Here is an idea I've been doing for years. I originally found it in Using Newspapers in the Classroom by Paul Sanderson (Cambridge University Press 1999).

1 If you decide to take the cartoons from a newspaper you'll need two or three day's worth from the same strip (see here for Calvin and Hobbes). Alternatively, you can use a longer strip taken from a comic.

2 Make a photocopy of the originals in the correct order (that will be your answer sheet so to speak).

3 Make another photocopy, cut the strip into individual frames and stick them on a blank sheet on paper, all mixed up.Just make sure that they are divided as evenly as possible into two groups.(see picture below for an example). Make enough photocopies for your students. Remember you'll need just one photocopy for every two students. Cut the photocopies in half along the line.



4 Divide the class into pairs (if you think that they'll have trouble with this exercise, create bigger groups) and give each person one half of the photocopy tou have made.

5 Explain what each strip consists of, and deal with any vocabulary or grammar issues.

6 Tell your students that they have to put the pictures in the correct order. To add an extra challenge I usually say that they cannot show the picture to each other but instead have to describe them to their partner. It's a good idea to set a time limit for this, say five to ten minutes.

7 The pairs (or groups) then check their answers with each other.

8 Go through the answers as a class and ask students to discuss what visual or linguistic clues helped them to find their answers.Also explain any humour they may not understand.