Superhero Art Lesson Plan

This is a fun art lesson I completed with my 6th grade students every year with great success! The lesson requires the students to study superheroes throughout history, develop their own superhero and create the setting for a heroic event. Lettering and drawing handouts will make each student feel successful!

1. As an introduction to the superheroes, we would discuss what was popular at the time (to date myself, I taught this when the Ninja Turtles were popular). There might have been a new movie released they are familiar with or some students may collect superhero figurines. What ever you can find that gets them locked in on what we are studying.

2. I made this handout to use in the introduction of superheroes so that the students could see how superheroes have impacted us throughout history. The definition gives the students a basis to begin their thoughts to develop their own superhero.

The Fun Facts gives a little history of how long superheroes have been around and what services they provided.

3.The handout My Superhero Story! is provided to encourage students to reflect on the use of superheros in our culture and how they have influenced our lives. They are asked to think about what's going on in our world today and to decide on their own superhero to fight some injustice. It doesn't have to be serious and life changing. It can be fun...something like people taking all the art classroom pencils!

4. To get the proportion correct for the figure of the superhero I have the students use the handout on the left and cut out the small pieces of the figure then use tape to put them together in any pose. Arms over their head, arms outstretched in front of them, etc. Below is an example of what that should look like. If you use a small amount of tape, you can reposition the arms and legs multiple times until the student gets the pose they want.

5. Then trace the figure on to a white piece of drawing paper.

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6. At this point, students should round off the pointed edges from the tracing of the figure and start to shape up the superhero. Think of clothing, emblems, capes, etc that will distinguish their superhero.

7. Decide on a name for your hero. Super Art Teacher, Super Bubble Girl, Lightening Bolt Avenger, etc. I used this simple lettering practice sheet so that even beginning letterers could make the letters nice and effective. Simply print out a letter, then trace around it to make a bubble letter.

8. On the white paper with the figure, add some light lines for the top and bottom of the title so that the letters will remain even and straight. Print letters lightly in case of mess ups so they can be easily erased. 

9. Plan background and draw in important elements that will help tell the story. Is it happening outside? In a classroom? In a plane? Plan background accordingly.

10. Finish with markers or colored pencils.

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