◷ 25 minutes◎ Ages 7–12✦ Drawing
Quick start

Make one picture for the beginning, one for the surprise and one for the ending. Clear facial expressions help tell the story.

Finished example for Create a funny three-panel comic
Inspiration image: one possible finished result. Your artwork should be your own.
Your creative mission

What you will learn

Three pictures can create a short story with a clear ending.

Skills: Sequential art, expressions and visual humor

Jump to picture steps ↓

What you’ll need

  • A4 paper
  • Pencil
  • Black pen
  • Colours

Get ready: Fold or draw three panels, leaving space for one character.

Six-frame visual journey for Create a funny three-panel comic, ending in a colourful creative variation
Visual journey: use the numbered guide below for complete instructions. The final inspiration image is one imaginative variation, not a required result.
Follow along

Make it, one picture at a time.

Look at the picture, try that step on your paper, then move to the next. Follow the numbered stages, then choose your own colours and details.

  1. Stage 1 of 5: Fold a piece of paper into three equal sections and open it again.
    STEP 01

    Fold a piece of paper into three equal sections and open it again.

  2. Stage 2 of 5: Choose a simple character: a pencil, a robot or a cat.
    STEP 02

    Choose a simple character: a pencil, a robot or a cat.

  3. Stage 3 of 5: Draw what the character wants in the first panel.
    STEP 03

    Draw what the character wants in the first panel.

  4. Stage 4 of 5: Add a small surprise in the middle panel, such as an unexpected visitor.
    STEP 04

    Add a small surprise in the middle panel, such as an unexpected visitor.

  5. Stage 5 of 5: Use the last panel to show a funny response. Add speech bubbles only if they help the joke.
    STEP 05

    Use the last panel to show a funny response. Add speech bubbles only if they help the joke.

Make it your own

Check whether someone understands the comic without an explanation. If not, add a clearer action rather than more text.

Talk about it: Can the reader understand your comic without extra explanation?

Help a young artist learn

These practical notes are for parents, carers and teachers. Children can follow the picture steps above.

For parents and carers — teach together

Start together

Fold or draw three panels, leaving space for one character.

During the activity

Help the child make a surprising middle moment.

Afterwards

Ask: Can the reader understand your comic without extra explanation?

For teachers — classroom adaptation

Learning focus

Sequential art, expressions and visual humor

Demonstrate and guide

Invite students to swap comics and explain what they understood.

Observe, do not grade the artwork

Ask learners to describe one choice they made and one thing they would try differently.

Make it easier or take it further

Make it easier

Draw only facial expressions in three boxes.

Extra challenge

Use consistent character poses and speech balloons.

Keep creating

Storyboard a tiny three-scene story

Plan a short animation before drawing lots of frames.

Draw a friendly monster from simple shapes

Turn three basic shapes into a funny character with a personality of its own.

Activities are suggestions, not assessments. Adapt materials and supervise as needed.