The Femur Is the Biggest One: Using Graphic Novels to Teach Science

• In Event: Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: New Directions in Literacy Research

Abstract

This study explores the possibilities of learning content from a scientifically-accurate graphic novel.  During a six-day unit, 32 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students engaged in graphic novels in ways that support comprehension, both in the context of a graphic novel text set and a specific novel, Human Body Theater (Wicks, 2015). Through qualitative analysis, we evaluated student learning of both the reading process and content explored in the text. Results indicate that engaging students in instruction about how to read graphic novel fostered understanding of how to read graphic novels, learning of the scientific content, as well as student validation of the format.

Authors

• Carla K Meyer, Duquesne University

• Elizabeth M Hughes, The Pennsylvania State University

• Laura M. Jimenez, Boston University

• Dawnmarie Ezzo, Duquesne University