Science Lesson Comic Script

Recently I was given to opportunity to write a sample comic book script for Purun New York Inc., who were looking for freelance comic book writers to do science, social studies, and math comic book strips for 3rd and 4th graders. I opted to write a sample science strip. Unfortunately, the company wanted to go with someone with a public school teaching background. They wanted someone with more knowledge of the science standards and NYC science curriculum. But I wrote a cool script and I see no reason why it should go unprinted. So here it is...

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Science Lesson--Grade 3-4
What are Living Things?

Key Words:

Organism – (n) a living person, animal, or plant

Nutrient - (n) 1. of food; nourishing 2. nutritive substance or ingredient.

Inorganic - (adj) 1. being composed of matter of other than plant or animal origin : 2. MINERAL

Organic – (adj) 1. of, relating to, or arising in a bodily organ 2. ORGANIZED 3. of, relating to, or derived from living things.

PANEL 1.
(We are in a laboratory. In the background we see beakers, Bunsen burners, etc. In the foreground we see a man with horn rimmed glasses wearing a rumpled lab coat and a towheaded girl blowing a pink bubble-gum bubble and wearing a backwards baseball cap. The man addresses the readers).

Man: Welcome friends! I am Dr. Science and this is my assistant, Hannah Banana. Together we unlock the mysteries of science.

Girl: Yo

PANEL 2.
(Suddenly, a clunky looking robot that might have escaped from a 1950s Buck Rogers serial comes smashing through the wall of the lab. He has lobster like metal pincers for hands and a glass bubble dome for a head. Through the glass head we can see cogs and vacuum tubes. Dr. Science and Hannah cringe in shock and surprise).

Robot: I am Tobor the living robot! Halt or be destroyed!

Dr. Science: Newton’s apple!

Hannah: Yikes!

PANEL 3.
(Tobor is waving his mechanical pincers in a menacing fashion. The good doctor and Hannah have composed themselves somewhat and are facing their guest).

Tobor: Now humans, cower before a superior life form, or face the fury of Tobor the living robot! (buzzzzzzz) BWA-HA-HA!!!

Hannah: Hey, who does this goon think he is?

Dr Science: Indeed. How can you call yourself a living robot? That’s just silly.

PANEL 4.
(Tobor is now scratching his bubble like head in confusion. Dr. Science has placed a fatherly arm around his metal shoulders. Hannah is opening a door in the lab which leads to a lush, green, park outside).

Tobor: Tobor... Is not alive?

Dr. Science: Ha ha ha... Of course not. Follow me outside and I’ll explain.

Hannah: Lets use the door this time.

PANEL 5.
(The three are not outside, standing by a pond in the park. It is a sunny day and there are trees in the background. We see birds and dragonflies in the sky, fish and frogs in the pond and a cat is licking her paws under one of the trees).

Dr Science: There are certain things that all organisms have in common.

Tobor: Organisms?

Hannah: That’s just another way of saying "living things."

PANEL 6.
(Dr. Science is now gesturing towards the pond where we can see a mother duck and several of her ducklings swimming in the water along with the frogs and fish. One of the frogs is sitting on a lily pad catching a dragonfly with it’s tongue. In the background, we can see that the cat is now standing in a litter box with her tail up).

Dr. Science: Organisms, like animals, need air, water and food in order to live and thrive.

Hannah: Living things also have babies, produce waste and eventually die.

Tobor: Then Tobor is not a living thing? Tobor is like a tree?

PANEL 7.
(Now the three are standing by a tree. Flowers grow at their feet).

Dr Science: Wrong again, my metal friend. Plants are organic, which means living.

Hannah: Plants need air, water, light and nutrients in order to live. Nutrient is another way of saying "food," by the way.

Tobor: Tobor is so confused. What is Tobor?

PANEL 8.
(The three are still outside, but now they are standing in front of a table. On the table is a rock, a glass of water, a baseball bat, and a toaster).

Dr. Science: You, my friend, are inorganic, or non-living. Inorganic things do not live and thrive. They can be naturally occurring like this rock and water.

Hannah: Or human-created, like the baseball bat and the toaster.

Tobor: Tobor is a toaster?!

PANEL 9.
(Tobor is now standing between Hannah and Dr. Science. Smoke is shooting out of what passes for his ears and sparks are shooting out of his head like a tiny fireworks display).

Hannah: Yeah, you’re more like a toaster than a man. Now you’ve got it, rusty!

Tobor: (choke) Tobor is not alive. Tobor is just a machine. Activate self-destruct device in 5... 4... 3...

Dr. Science: Well, we’ve all had a lot of fun today and I’d like to think we’ve learned a little something along the way. Now lets get out of here before this crazy robot explodes!

Sources: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai October 15, 2005

This is an original John Michael Decker comic book script. Please be aware that this is copyrighted material and not to be used for sale or publication without my express written permission.

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"And I'd have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for those meddling kids!"

John Michael Decker