CS 21, Crispus Attucks School, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, District 16

Alex Simmons, Archie World Tour:

Visit 1: January 12, 2010
Visit 2: January 26, 2010
Visit 3: February 2, 2010
Visit 4: February 9, 2010

A class of fifth grade boys read a four issue mini-series of Archie and Friends by Alex Simmons. Each issue describes the adventures of the group of friends as they travel to four countries around the world. Mr. Simmons led four workshops throughout two months on comic book creation. During the program, this fifth grade classroom became the Men of Character Comic Studio (MoC), a place where 23 young artists wrote and lettered scripts, and created, drew, inked and colored characters to create their own adventure stories. As part of the program, the student took a trip with Mr. Simmons to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MOCCA) in Soho, where he co-curates an exhibit celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Archie Comics.

By the end of the program, each student completed a comic strip and experienced the process that professional comic writers and artists (like Mr. Simmons) go through to create and publish comic books. After the Behind the Book Program ended, the teacher decided to capitalize on the momentum built by Archie Comics and changed her curriculum so that the class could make the leap to read a challenging graphic novel.

Alex Simmons helps students draw their comic books.		A boy smiles as he begins sketching. .............................
Impressive art pieces emerge from the Men of Character Comic Studio.		Plot diagrams are important tools for any writer. ........
Students pose in front of an Archie Comics exhibit at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art.		The class smiles together at the end of their exciting field trip.

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