Take a Peek at NTC’s Educational Graphic Novels
The National Theatre for Children prides itself on incorporating the newest and most innovative educational tools into the programs that we bring to schools. From live in-school performances to digital games that challenge students in fun and memorable ways, we’re devoted to engaging a wide variety of students (and teachers!) through dynamic art forms that tell creative, informative stories.
One of the newest educational tools that we’ve been developing is a line of graphic novels that teach about various real world topics, including energy efficiency, electrical and natural gas safety, financial literacy, STEM, and health and wellness. There are a number of reasons why graphic novels have been embraced by educators as a powerful tool for the classroom. According to an Edudemic article, graphic novels can help build non-visual reading skills, engage non-traditional learners through an exciting mixed medium, and increase student enthusiasm and retention by telling stories in a visually dynamic way. The online educator forum We Are Teachers concurs, citing graphic novels’ ability to encourage struggling readers and provide an accessible “entry point” to complex topics.
Beautifully illustrated by professional artists and designed to align with national and regional educational standards, our graphic novels are a perfect complement to the live shows and additional multimedia materials included with our programs. Stay tuned for upcoming NTC graphic novels, with titles including The Knights of STEMalot, Mad About Money, All’s Well That Eats Well and more. Also, feel free to check out Electrana, a graphic novel adventure about energy efficiency, and have your students read it and discuss in your classroom.
As always, leave a comment below if you’re interested in hearing more about our graphic novels. Have you used educational graphic novels in your classroom before? What advice would you give to other educators interested in this resource? What subjects do you think could benefit from being taught in a graphic novel format?