Discussion storyboards are a great way to get your students talking about their ideas in science! They allow students to critique and evaluate different viewpoints in a respectful and cooperative manner. This activity can be used at the start of the topic to identify what students already know about the topic, what questions they have and dispel any misconceptions students may have. The discussion storyboard can be downloaded as a Power Point presentation, printed or displayed digitally and serve as a visual guide that students can refer to as they progress through the unit.
Teachers may wish for students to work together on the discussion storyboard which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
Teachers can begin by showing students the example discussion storyboard and ask them to look at the problem presented in the first cell. The following cells show four students who all have an idea about the problem in front of them. Students should think about whom they think is the most correct and be prepared to explain why that person is correct. In the collaborative storyboard, students can find a character within the Creator that looks like themselves, add it to a cell along with their name in the bottom text box and their argument in the speech bubble.
After students have created their storyboard, they can further discuss their ideas. This discussion can be carried out in a range of different formats. Students could discuss in pairs, small groups, or even in a teacher-led, entire class setting. It is important to agree on a list of discussion rules with students before they start so everybody gets a chance to participate. Students will also be able to practice adapting their speech to a formal debating context and can demonstrate their grasp of formal English.
Here are some other ideas to use these discussion storyboards in your lessons.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
After previewing the example discussion storyboard that shows four students who all have an idea about the problem in front of them, you will create your own discussion storyboard with your peers.
Student Instructions:
Establishing clear expectations helps students feel safe and respected during discussions. Review rules like listening, taking turns, and responding respectfully to build a positive classroom environment.
Demonstrate specific phrases students can use, such as "I agree because…" or "Have you considered…?". Show examples and non-examples to clarify what respectful feedback looks like.
Designate roles like facilitator, note-taker, and timekeeper to keep conversations focused and inclusive. Rotate roles so every student practices leadership and listening skills.
Provide sentence starters such as "I think… because…" or "Can you explain…?". These prompts help all students—especially English learners—participate confidently and stay on topic.
Invite students to share what strategies helped them understand others’ viewpoints. Discuss how collaboration improved their ideas and what they might do differently next time.
An electricity discussion storyboard is a visual activity where students share and critique ideas about electricity concepts, fostering collaborative discussion and clarifying misconceptions in a structured and engaging way.
To use discussion storyboards for teaching electrical circuits, present a problem, let students add their viewpoints in storyboard cells, and facilitate respectful debate. This method helps students express ideas, correct misunderstandings, and deepen their understanding of circuits.
Collaboration on discussion storyboards enhances student communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Working together encourages deeper engagement and allows students to learn from each other's perspectives.
To enable real-time collaboration, go to the assignment's "Edit Assignment" tab and turn on collaboration. This lets multiple students work on the same storyboard simultaneously, making group activities seamless.
Creative uses include having students add cells explaining who they think is correct and why, construct storyboards teaching a concept, or design their own discussion prompts. These activities boost engagement and critical thinking in science lessons.