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:
Reinforce learning by having students individually write a short reflection on the discussion, summarizing key ideas and their personal takeaways. This helps solidify understanding and encourages deeper thinking about global warming.
Share a reflection prompt such as, “What did you learn from your peers about global warming? Did your opinion change?” Clarify that students should use examples from the discussion and explain any new insights gained.
Allow 5–10 minutes of quiet writing time after the discussion. This ensures all students have a chance to process the conversation and organize their thoughts without distractions.
Invite students to share their reflections with a partner or small group. This further develops communication skills and lets students see different perspectives on the global warming topic.
Facilitate a brief class discussion where volunteers can share important takeaways from their reflection activity. Celebrate thoughtful contributions and highlight common themes or new understandings.
A discussion storyboard activity for global warming is a collaborative lesson tool where students visually present, critique, and discuss different viewpoints about global warming. Using a storyboard template, students add characters, arguments, and explanations to analyze the topic and practice respectful debate.
To use discussion storyboards for teaching global warming, start by presenting a problem or question. Let students use the storyboard template to visually add their opinions and reasoning. Encourage collaboration and discussion, either in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class, to deepen understanding and address misconceptions.
Collaborative storyboards boost student engagement, promote critical thinking, improve communication skills, and allow for peer learning. They also help students organize their ideas visually, support respectful debates, and make it easier to identify knowledge gaps or misconceptions.
To enable real-time collaboration on Storyboard That, go to the "Edit Assignment" tab and select the collaboration option. This allows multiple students to work on the same storyboard simultaneously, making group work more interactive and efficient.
You can have students add extra cells to explain which viewpoint they think is correct, create storyboards to correct misconceptions, or design their own discussion prompts about global warming. These activities foster deeper understanding and make science lessons more interactive.