Hey there! Today, we’re going to explore a super cool tool called Pixton. It’s a fun platform where you can create your own comics and let your creativity shine. Let’s dive in and see what Pixton is all about!
Pixton is a comic-making platform that lets you create awesome stories using comics and graphic arts. It’s not just about drawing; it’s also a great way to learn about different subjects like math and history. You can use Pixton to show off your artistic skills and improve your literacy at the same time!
When you start using Pixton, you can create your own avatar, which is like a cartoon version of yourself. There’s a comic maker and an avatar maker to help you get started. You can even create your own classroom and customize the content to fit your needs.
The comic maker is the main feature of Pixton. You can start from scratch and choose different scenes, weather types, and characters to make your comic unique. You can add speech bubbles, captions, and special effects to bring your story to life. There are also inclusive features like options for different genders and accessibility tools like wheelchairs and hearing aids.
If you’re not sure where to start, Pixton offers pre-made prompts based on themes like siblings or favorite shows. You can also choose learning objectives, such as building an argument or creating a narrative, to guide your comic-making process.
Pixton has a section full of lesson ideas to help teachers use comics in the classroom. You can find detailed lesson plans with descriptions, time estimates, and standards covered. There are also extension activities that you can do outside of the program to show what you’ve learned through comics.
When making comics about subjects like history, it’s important to provide background information to avoid misunderstandings. Pixton offers resources like a crash course on creating comics, covering elements like setting and characters. There are also interactive rubrics to help you assess your own work.
Pixton offers a free trial for the first seven days. After that, a teacher account costs about ten dollars a month, or you can get a subscription for student access. You can create classrooms and share your finished comics to get feedback from others. There are options to highlight strong examples and assess student work using the interactive rubric.
That’s all about Pixton! It’s a fantastic tool for creating comics and learning in a fun way. If you want to explore more tools like this, visit commonsense.org/education. Have fun creating your comics!
Start by creating a cartoon version of yourself using Pixton’s avatar maker. Think about what features represent you best and have fun customizing your avatar with different hairstyles, outfits, and accessories. This will be your character in the comics you create!
Use Pixton’s comic maker to design a short comic strip. Choose a theme or topic you’re interested in, like a day in the life of your avatar or a funny adventure. Experiment with different scenes, characters, and speech bubbles to tell your story.
Create a comic that illustrates a historical event you’ve learned about in class. Use Pixton’s resources to add accurate settings and characters. Make sure to include key facts and details to help your classmates understand the event better.
Choose a writing prompt from Pixton, such as “What if you had a superpower?” or “Describe your favorite show.” Use the prompt to guide your comic creation, focusing on building a narrative and developing your storytelling skills.
After finishing your comic, share it with your classmates or teacher. Use the feedback you receive to reflect on your work. Consider what you did well and what you could improve next time. This will help you become a better storyteller!
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Hello everyone! It is Chrissy and Bianca from Common Sense Education, and we are here, as we are every Tuesday, to tell you about cool tools you can use in your classroom. Of course, you can always visit us at commonsense.org/education to get a ton of other reviews and resources because we’re here for you.
Today, Bianca has a title for all of you. Bianca, what is it today?
We have a tool called Pixton! I’m excited to dive into this one. It’s actually a comic-creating platform that showcases students’ creativity.
So, Pixton uses comics and graphic arts to highlight students’ artistic skills, but it also emphasizes literacy in various subjects, including math and history. Let’s take a look!
You can create an avatar when you join, and there’s a comic maker and avatar maker. You can create your own classroom and customize content. The comic maker is the main function here. You can create a comic from scratch with different scenes, weather types, and characters. This option allows students to create freely or work from a structured prompt.
Students can add speech, captions, effects, and customize their avatars. There are inclusive features, such as options for different genders and accessibility features like wheelchairs and hearing aids.
Instead of starting from scratch, you can browse through pre-made prompts based on various themes, such as siblings or favorite shows. You can also select the learning objectives for students, like building an argument or creating a narrative.
While you can’t assign work or give grades directly through the platform, you can provide prompts for students to work on independently.
One of my favorite parts of the site is the lesson ideas section, which helps teachers understand the value of teaching with comics. You can select grade levels, objectives, and subjects, and find detailed lesson plans that include descriptions, time estimates, and standards covered.
There are also extension activities that students can do outside of the program, which is a great way to demonstrate their learning through comics.
It’s important to approach subjects like history with care and provide additional context, as jumping into a comic without background information might lead to misunderstandings.
The resources section includes a crash course for students on how to create comics, covering elements like setting and characters. There are also interactive rubrics that allow students to assess their own work based on specific categories.
While the platform offers a free trial for the first seven days, after that, a teacher account costs about ten dollars a month, or you can get a subscription for student access.
Pixton has many features that can be used for various classroom activities, and if you plan to use it regularly, it might be worth the investment.
You can create classrooms and have students share their finished comics for real-world feedback. There are also options to highlight strong examples and assess student work using the interactive rubric.
Thanks, Bianca! And again, come back next Tuesday for another tool. Visit us at commonsense.org/education. We are here for you, and don’t forget to like and subscribe. We’ll see you again!
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This version removes any informal language, filler words, and repetitive phrases while maintaining the core content and structure.
Pixton – A digital tool used to create comics and graphic stories. – In art class, we used Pixton to make our own comics about superheroes.
Comics – A series of drawings that tell a story, often with dialogue and captions. – My favorite comics are the ones that make me laugh and think at the same time.
Creativity – The ability to use imagination to create something new or original. – The art teacher encouraged us to use our creativity to design unique posters.
Stories – Narratives or accounts of events that can be real or imagined. – We wrote stories about our summer adventures and shared them with the class.
Literacy – The ability to read and write effectively. – Reading comics can help improve literacy by making reading fun and engaging.
Characters – The people, animals, or beings in a story. – The characters in the comic were so well-drawn that they seemed to come to life.
Classroom – A room where students learn and teachers teach. – Our classroom has a special corner filled with art supplies for creative projects.
Prompts – Suggestions or ideas that inspire writing or drawing. – The teacher gave us prompts to help us start our comic strip stories.
Activities – Tasks or actions that are done for a specific purpose, often for learning or fun. – We did several art activities to explore different styles of drawing.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – We learned about the history of comics and how they have changed over time.
