Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really good.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling really pleased about that because we are looking at a graphic novel today, and I love graphic novels.

Also this one is particularly special, it's called "Frizzy," and our lesson is called Analyzing a scene and exploring themes in "Frizzy." Our lesson comes from the unit of work, "No Country" and "Frizzy": graphic novels exploring identity and belonging.

I hope those are themes that sound interesting to you.

You'll need your copy of "Frizzy" for this lesson, and hopefully you've got some focus, energy, and enthusiasm.

If you have all of that, then we're all set to begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is: I can analyze a scene in detail and ask questions to develop understanding.

I hope that sounds interesting to you.

We have some keywords in our lesson, and I'd like us to go through them one at a time, saying them out loud.

My turn, your turn.

Scene.

Visuals.

Narrative.

Context.

Theme.

Good to hear those words out loud.

Let's find out what they mean.

Scene: this is a sequence of continuous action in a text.

Visuals: the artistic elements used to tell the story.

Narrative: a spoken or written account of connected events, a story.

Context: the surrounding details that help you understand what you're reading.

And theme: a big idea, topic, or message that recurs within a text.

These are our keywords: scene, visuals, narrative, context, and theme.

Pause here and share with someone, had you heard of any of these keywords before, and did you have an idea of what they mean? Thanks for sharing.

Let's be on the lookout for these keywords.

Let's listen out for them.

Let's think very carefully about them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called Analyzing a scene and exploring themes in "Frizzy," and it has three learning cycles: analyzing a scene, asking questions about a scene, and exploring themes.

Let's begin by analyzing a scene.

"Frizzy" is a fictional graphic novel text written by Claribel A.

Ortega and illustrated by Rose Bousamra.

The text follows Marlene, a young Dominican American girl coming to terms with growing up.

What we know so far: Marlene gets into trouble at school after bullies tease her because of her hair.

After mentioning her father, who had passed away several years before, Marlene pushes Ramon, and she ends up in detention.

After explaining what happened to her mother, Marlene discusses her troubles and the two have a chance to share their emotions, page 129 to 131.

Her mom suggests a weekend with her auntie, Ruby.

In the section titled "A Special Wash Day," Marlene spends some time with her auntie, Ruby.

I'd like you to read and explore pages 140 to 145 and afterwards discuss, what do you think Marlene and Ruby bond over? So pause here while you read those pages and discuss what you think Marlene and Ruby bond over.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Izzy.

"Marlene and her auntie bond over their shared dislike of the salon." Marlene might also look up to Ruby as she has embraced her natural curls.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following are true? And refer to pages 140 to 145 to support.

A, Marlene dislikes helping her auntie.

B, Ruby grows fruits and vegetables on her rooftop garden.

C, Ruby empathizes with her niece.

D, Ruby had to visit the salon until she was 16.

Pause here while you decide which of these statements are true, and refer to pages 140 to 145 to support.

Statements B and C are true.

Indeed, Ruby grows fruits and vegetables on her rooftop garden, and Ruby empathizes with her niece.

Well done if you selected these statements.

We can analyze a scene in a graphic novel by exploring the following: visuals: how the panels are presented on the page, the illustration style, how characters are portrayed; narrative: how dialogue and text develop the plot and action; and context: what do the characters learn? Do the characters change? How does the scene fit within the overall plot? These are just a few ways we can analyze a scene.

There are many more.

I'd like you to refer to page 143.

Let's explore the visual, narrative, and contextual elements in the novel.

Visuals: panels are closed.

Marlene glances at her auntie dejectedly.

Ruby's response, in a jagged speech bubble, is accentuated by lines appearing around her face and Cantinflas, the chicken, jumping up in fright.

Narrative: Ruby empathizes with her niece.

She sounds confident in the final panel on the page.

Context: the bond between Ruby and Marlene is deepened.

Ruby notices lots of similarities between her younger self and Marlene.

So these are the visual, narrative, and contextual elements of page 143.

Now let's refer to page 144 and explore the visual, narrative, and contextual elements in the novel.

Visuals: a plain pink background highlights important aspects of the conversation.

A small sound effect of laughter appears in the third panel.

Emboldened text highlights the term never, no, and obsessed.

Narrative: readers find out that Ruby shared similar experiences with Marlene when she was 14.

Ruby says she was able to get away with a lot more as she had an older sister.

And context: Marlene begins to understand how Ruby was able to avoid the salon.

So these are the visual, narrative, and contextual elements of page 144.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Match the following keywords to their descriptions.

Here are the keywords: visuals, narrative, and context.

And their descriptions: how dialogue and text develop the plot and action; what the characters learn and how they change; how the scene fits within the overall plot; how the panels are presented on the page; the illustration style; how characters are portrayed.

So pause here while you match the keywords to their descriptions.

Did you match the keywords and descriptions in this way? Visuals: how the panels are presented on the page.

The illustration style: how characters are portrayed.

Narrative: how dialogue and text develop the plot and action.

And context: what the characters learn and how they change, how the scene fits within the overall plot.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to read and explore pages 146 to 149, and refer to 148 and 149.

I'd like you to note down the visual, narrative, and contextual elements in the novel.

Visuals: how the panels are presented on the page, the illustration style, how characters are portrayed.

Narrative: how dialogue and text develop the plot and action.

And context: what do the characters learn? Do the characters change? How does the scene fit within the overall plot? So pause here while you note down the visual, narrative, and contextual elements on pages 148 and 149.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with noting down the visual, narrative, and contextual elements of these pages? Let's hear from Jun.

Visuals: there are several panels with closeups of Marlene and Ruby.

There is a sequence of panels at the top of page 149 that shows Marlene's family over generations.

Speech bubbles are connected to show the link between families.

Narrative: readers find out alongside Marlene that some things can be ingrained from a young age.

And context: Ruby explains to Marlene about self-worth and how it shouldn't be tied to appearance.

This is part of the journey that Marlene is going on throughout the text.

Were your responses similar or different to Jun's? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing and for having a go at that task.

And now we're on to our next learning cycle, asking questions about a scene.

We can ask questions about scenes to develop our understanding of the text.

This involves looking closely at details and making connections between illustrations, words, and meaning.

Here's Jacob: "I wonder why Marlene is able to share so much with Ruby but not her mom." Really great question.

Questions that we ask about a scene can be based on the visual, narrative, and contextual elements in the novel.

Questions can also be based on your own experience.

You can use the following question and sentence stems to support.

I wonder if.

Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? And in what way? Some of these questions may be answered in the text, others may not.

Asking questions in this way develops our understanding and engagement with the text.

Here are some questions I have based on pages 143 and 144.

How long has Ruby had the chicken Cantinflas? Does his name symbolize someone or something? What does Ruby do with all the food she grows? I wonder what happened to Ruby at 14.

Is the action of planting connected to Marlene growing as a character? Is Paola obsessed with her due to her own experiences? These are some of my questions.

I wonder if these questions spark curiosity in you.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? We can ask questions about a scene to deepen our understanding.

Pause here while you decide if this statement is true or false.

Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these two statements.

A, questions can be based on your own experience, or B, asking questions about scenes deepens our understanding of the visual, narrative, and contextual elements in the novel.

Pause here while you decide which of these statements justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected statement B.

Indeed, asking questions about scenes deepens our understanding of the visual, narrative, and contextual elements in the novel.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to note some questions that you have based on pages 148 and 149.

A copy of these pages can be found in the additional materials.

You can use the following sentence and question stems to support.

I wonder if.

Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? In what way? Some of these questions may be answered in the text, others may not.

Asking in questions in this way develops our understanding and engagement with the text.

So pause here while you have a go at this task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on with that task? Noting some questions that you have based on pages 148 and 149.

Let's see what Andeep came up with.

"I wonder why Ruby and Paola's family discussed good and bad hair every single day." "How do people unlearn values and beliefs?" "What will Marlene do next? Will Ruby help her grow in confidence?" Some great questions there from Andeep.

I wonder if your questions were similar, maybe different.

Well done for having a go at this task.

And now we're on to our final learning cycle, exploring themes.

A theme is a big idea, topic, or message that recurs within a story.

Identifying themes within a text involves inference.

Themes are not explicitly stated within a text.

There are a few ways to identify themes: considering actions and characteristics of the characters; identifying repetition, actions, emotions, traits; searching for deeper meaning using inference; considering the overall message of the text.

One of the most prominent themes in the text is identity.

Marlene's journey is about understanding and embracing her identity, which includes accepting her natural hair as a part of who she is.

I'd like you to discuss, what themes do you think are shown within the text? Pause here while you have this discussion.

Thanks for discussing what themes you think are shown within the text.

From exploring the graphic novel "Frizzy," themes might include, I wonder if you came up with any of these, family, self-acceptance, empowerment, bullying, and friendship.

There are many possible themes that can be drawn out from the graphic novel.

Readers may interpret themes and their importance differently.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Match each theme to how it is conveyed in the graphic novel.

So here are the themes: self-acceptance, family, and bullying.

And how it's conveyed in the graphic novel: Marlene learns to embrace herself through deepening her relationships with her auntie, Ruby, and her mother, Paola.

Marlene begins to feel proud of her hair and who she is.

Classmates at her high school tease Marlene based on characteristics that she cannot change.

Pause here while you match each theme to how it's conveyed in the graphic novel.

Did you match the themes and how they're conveyed in this way? Self-acceptance: Marlene begins to feel proud of her hair and who she is.

Family: Marlene learns to embrace herself through deepening her relationships with her auntie, Ruby, and her mother, Paola.

And bullying: classmates at her high school tease Marlene based on characteristics that she cannot change.

Well done if you matched the themes and how they're conveyed in this way.

And now it's time for our next task.

A take-away idea within a graphic novel may link to themes that are explored and developed in it.

It may include a key message, insight, or perspective that the author or illustrator has communicated to the reader.

I'd like you to have a discussion.

What are your take-away ideas from reading "Frizzy?" Let's take a look at some examples.

Here's Lucas.

"You should always try to be your true self and celebrate who you are." And Laura: "Recognizing and valuing your cultural background is an important part of your identity." Such wonderful take-away ideas, which is why I think "Frizzy" is such a fantastic graphic novel.

So pause here while you share your take-away ideas from reading "Frizzy." Thanks for having a go at that task.

And here are some take-away ideas that you might have mentioned.

We should question stereotypes that tell us what beauty should look like.

Just because everyone else thinks something is beautiful doesn't mean you have to.

Beauty is what you make it.

You should try to find a balance between honoring traditions and pursuing your own path.

Surround yourself with people who support and affirm your identity.

I love these so much, especially that last one.

As our reading experiences are unique, your ideas will be too.

You may wish to finish reading the text in your independent reading time.

Thanks for having a go at this task, everyone, and for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore this wonderful graphic novel, "Frizzy," together.

In our lesson, Analyzing a scene and exploring themes in "Frizzy," we've covered the following.

We can analyze a scene in a graphic novel by exploring the visual, narrative, and contextual elements.

We can ask questions about scenes to develop our understanding of the text.

Some of these questions may be answered in the text, others may not.

One of the most important themes in the text is identity.

Marlene's journey is about understanding and embracing her identity, which includes accepting her natural hair as a part of who she is.

Take-away ideas within a graphic novel may link to themes that are explored and developed in it.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

It was so great to explore themes, to analyze scenes, to get into this theme of identity.

Let's all embrace who we are, embrace our identities, embrace our precious selves.

I really enjoyed teaching you, and I hope you enjoyed this lesson too.

I look forward to seeing you at another lesson soon.

Bye for now.