Hi, in my previous post I shared with you a lesson plan in which students use Makebeliefscomix. If you don`t know how to use it you can find a tutorial here:
Make Beliefs Comix is an in-browser comic creator that allows you to illustrate such things as
instructions or conflicting ideas; really, your imagination is the limit. It doesn’t require any downloading
or installing which makes it easy to use anywhere, and you don't even have to log in!
instructions or conflicting ideas; really, your imagination is the limit. It doesn’t require any downloading
or installing which makes it easy to use anywhere, and you don't even have to log in!
1. To get started, go to Make Beliefs Comix.
2. If you would like to view a demo, click the bird-man to the left of the sample comic.
3. Otherwise, click “Enter Here!” under the sample comic.
5. Scroll down and use the red diamond to look at the range of characters. Click on your choice. When
you click on your choice, it will appear in the side box. Use the red arrows to choose the pose you
want, then click on your character in the center of this box.
you click on your choice, it will appear in the side box. Use the red arrows to choose the pose you
want, then click on your character in the center of this box.
6. Now your character appears in the first white box. In the bottom right, you'll click on the white pile
of objects and move back to the red arrows until you see a prop you like in the selection
window . Click on that object, and it will appear in the panel we are working on. Click on the
prop that appears in the panel and drag to move it to where you want it. You can do this again if
you want to have multiple copies of the prop.
of objects and move back to the red arrows until you see a prop you like in the selection
window . Click on that object, and it will appear in the panel we are working on. Click on the
prop that appears in the panel and drag to move it to where you want it. You can do this again if
you want to have multiple copies of the prop.
7. Now click on the rain in the bottom right (#1). This will show you the backgrounds you can choose
from. Click the red arrows (#2) to find the background you want to use. Click on it (#3).
from. Click the red arrows (#2) to find the background you want to use. Click on it (#3).
8. Now click on the second panel and follow steps 4 through 7 to create the second scene in your
comic. You can add your character with a different pose or expression and add a different prop.
comic. You can add your character with a different pose or expression and add a different prop.
9.Click back to the first panel and then click "panel prompts" . Click on the red arrows under to find the
"type your own" option, and then click on that box. It will appear at the top of your first panel.
Click on it and then type in a caption, something short that explains the scene
"type your own" option, and then click on that box. It will appear at the top of your first panel.
Click on it and then type in a caption, something short that explains the scene
10.Now use what you've learned so far to complete the third panel. Choose your character, add a
background, add props, and add panel prompts.
background, add props, and add panel prompts.
11.Let's go back and change the character so we can try a few things we didn't do. Click on the
"delete" button on the far left, then click on your character. You must click delete first each time
because the cursor defaults to moving items rather than deleting them.
"delete" button on the far left, then click on your character. You must click delete first each time
because the cursor defaults to moving items rather than deleting them.
12.Now you can add a different character in their place. First click on the panel you're putting the
character into, then use the slider to find your new character and use the red arrows to choose their
expression. Then click them into the scene. Changing the character works well if you need an
expression your character doesn't have, because each character only has four expressions.
character into, then use the slider to find your new character and use the red arrows to choose their
expression. Then click them into the scene. Changing the character works well if you need an
expression your character doesn't have, because each character only has four expressions.
13.If props and characters are stacked awkwardly, you can organize by bringing something to the front.
Click on the "Bring to Front" icon on the far left and then click on the object that you want to be in the
front.
Click on the "Bring to Front" icon on the far left and then click on the object that you want to be in the
front.
14.You can also make an object fit better in the scene by using the "Flip" button. Below, we made the
ice cream cone fit more naturally by clicking "Flip" and then clicking the ice cream cone. Once you are
satisfied with the direction, click the "Move" button on the side to stop flipping things.
ice cream cone fit more naturally by clicking "Flip" and then clicking the ice cream cone. Once you are
satisfied with the direction, click the "Move" button on the side to stop flipping things.
15.To change the size of an object or person, click on the panel you want to work in, then add the
object if you haven't already. Next, click the "scale" button on the left, click the object you want to
resize, and use the slider that appears to change the size. Here, we added a fairy and shrank it down.
object if you haven't already. Next, click the "scale" button on the left, click the object you want to
resize, and use the slider that appears to change the size. Here, we added a fairy and shrank it down.
16.To add speech bubbles or thought bubbles, click on the "talk balloons" or "thought balloons" at the
bottom and then use the red arrows to choose a size and direction of speech. Once you click on the
blank bubble in the selection window, it will appear in your selected panel. Click on it to add text and
then grab the edge of it to move it around. With the largest bubble, you can hit enter at the beginning
of your text in order to move your text lower and put the upper edge of the bubble out of sight. This is
useful if you don't quite fill the bubble because it defaults to more text at the top than the bottom.
bottom and then use the red arrows to choose a size and direction of speech. Once you click on the
blank bubble in the selection window, it will appear in your selected panel. Click on it to add text and
then grab the edge of it to move it around. With the largest bubble, you can hit enter at the beginning
of your text in order to move your text lower and put the upper edge of the bubble out of sight. This is
useful if you don't quite fill the bubble because it defaults to more text at the top than the bottom.
17.Now admire your completed comic!
Let's save your comic. Go to the top left corner of the yellow box and click "Print/Email.” . On this
screen, you can click "save image to disk" which is useful if you are at home, or you can fill in your
email address twice under number 3 in order to email yourself a copy (great if you want to use it
somewhere other than the computer that you're currently using).
screen, you can click "save image to disk" which is useful if you are at home, or you can fill in your
email address twice under number 3 in order to email yourself a copy (great if you want to use it
somewhere other than the computer that you're currently using).
Some people´s opinion on the webpage:
KARIN DRAPER, MIDDLE SCHOOL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
– Common Sense Media (March 2016): “Make Beliefs Comix can help kids build creative and narrative comic strips. They choose characters, objects, background colors, and other elements; the main site design is a little simplistic, but the well-explained tool is so user-friendly that even art-averse kids can use it to practice storytelling, writing, and imagination skills. Make Beliefs Comix provides a number of other valuable resources for parents and kids that stress having a positive attitude. Activities encourage kids to respect others and be confident. The Printables section features several thought-provoking exercises that can help kids identify feelings and make good decisions. Other writing activities encourage them to appreciate the world around them and learn from mistakes; site content also can introduce kids to subjects like 9/11's effect and women's rights. The comic characters are diverse, featuring people of color, animals, and a kid in a wheelchair ... Make Beliefs Comix brings something else to the table: a valuable focus on positivity, awareness, and self-acceptance.”
– Good Housekeeping (February 2009): "MAKE A FUNNY PAGE. Created by children's book author Bill Zimmerman, colorful MakeBeliefsComix.com lets kids (ages 4 and up) design comic strips using pre-drawn characters. Kids fill in text bubbles, then print or e-mail the cartoons for friends for free."
– TESOL Essential Teacher Magazine (June 2008): "Imagine a computer lab full of adult ESOL students where not a word is heard, where every head is bent in concentration, where smiles erupt spontaneously, and where fingers are clicking away on the keyboards. This is precisely what occurs when my students work with journalist and author Bill Zimmerman's web site, MakeBeliefsComix.com.
