Visual Narrative Planning Peer Review and Workshop

In this lesson, students will ensure that their peers’ Visual Narrative Planning Worksheet accurately portrays their chosen testimonies and adheres to the Guidelines for the Respectful Retelling of Survivor Testimonies. Additionally, students will be allotted time to work on their visual narratives.

Lesson aim: To help students refine their visual narrative plans through peer feedback and begin constructing their comics.

Guiding Questions

• Why is it important to collaborate and review each other’s work when dealing with sensitive historical narratives?
• What does it look like to transform a written testimony into a respectful visual narrative? How can it differ from artist to artist?

Materials

• blank paper
• fine-liners and/or Sharpies
• school computers, if necessary

Preparation

Prepare a list of peer review partners and ensure that students have access to computers or their smartphones. Additionally, bring enough fine-liners, Sharpies, and blank paper for your students.

Lesson Activities

Introduction

Have students take out their completed Visual Narrative Planning Worksheet ((VisualNarrativePlanningWorksheet) and their Guidelines for the Respectful Retelling of Survivor Testimonies. Explain that they will be reading and peer reviewing each other’s worksheets to ensure that they have followed the guidelines and to offer feedback where necessary.

Visual Narrative Planning Peer Review

Ensure students have access to the internet; they may use their smartphones or school computers. Assign students a random partner and have them read/listen to their partner’s chosen testimony. Afterward, have students exchange their Visual Narrative Planning Worksheets and review each other’s work using the Guidelines for the Respectful Retelling of Survivor Testimonies to ensure it aligns with the expectations for accuracy, empathy, and respect. Encourage them to make notes and leave comments on their partner’s worksheet. Finally, have them share their feedback with their partner and make the recommended changes.

Possible extension, have students complete an “I like, I wish, I wonder” activity based on their partner’s worksheet.

Visual Narrative Workshop

Once students have completed their peer reviews and made the recommended changes, ask them to take out their pencils and rulers and provide them with blank paper, fine-liners, and Sharpies. For the rest of the class, students will begin working on their visual narratives. Ensure that students are consulting their Visual Narrative Planning Worksheets, Testimonial Visual Narrative Assignment Instructions, and Testimonial Visual Narrative Assignment Rubrics. While students are working, circulate around the classroom and offer guidance where necessary.

You may ask your students to complete the Testimonial Visual Narrative Assignment at home, or you can allocate time in class for them to work on it. Regardless, their visual narratives must be completed before the next lesson.

Conclusion

Five minutes before the end of class, ask students to complete an exit slip where they identify one challenge they anticipate facing as they begin creating their comics and briefly explain how they plan to address or overcome it.

Encourage students to continue working on their assignments outside of class. Additionally, remind students that they will be sharing their work with their peers next class and must bring in three photocopied versions of their comic along with their original copy and reflection. If they cannot access a photocopier, have them send you a clear picture of their work and print it out for them next class.