Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

Middle School Advice for Jordan

After reading Jerry Craft’s graphic novel about Jordan’s journey to become more confident in his new middle school, students create their own brief graphic narratives offering Jordan advice about how to feel happier and more confident in middle school.

Throughout New Kid, Jordan struggles to adjust to his new middle school. He must overcome several obstacles. Along the way, he learns about other people and himself. But what if instead of figuring all of this out on his own, he had a friend to offer him smart advice about how to adjust? Create your own graphic narrative in which Jordan receives some advice about how to feel happier and find confidence in middle school.

1. Before you start, make sure that you understand the basics of how graphic narratives are put together so that the art conveys messages to the reader just like the words do. You can use the resources below to make sure you know how to do this.

• This 3-minute video from the Bespectacled Librarian covers the basic elements of a graphic narrative.