Welcome students to the Comic Panel Basics session. Explain that today they’ll learn the building blocks of comic storytelling and how panels guide readers through a story.

Define a comic panel as one frame or “snapshot” in a comic strip or page. Emphasize that panels work together to tell a complete story.

Show examples of thick vs. thin borders. Explain gutters as the blank space between panels that helps separate moments in the story.

Discuss how readers’ eyes move from panel to panel (left to right, top to bottom). Mention use of arrows or art direction clues to guide flow.

Illustrate how facial expressions and body poses convey emotion. Encourage students to exaggerate expressions in comics for clarity.

Explain the difference between speech bubbles, thought bubbles, and narrative captions. Stress legibility and placement so text doesn’t obscure important art.

Introduce onomatopoeia and motion lines to show sound and movement. Show examples like “BAM!” with jagged letters or speed lines behind a running character.

Display a simple four-panel comic. Walk through how each panel connects to the next, pointing out sequencing, dialogue placement, and visual cues.

Summarize key takeaways and transition into the hands-on activity. Prompt students to refer to their worksheets and start planning their own storyboards.