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:
Prepare students to brainstorm and visually map out their existing knowledge about energy. This step helps students organize thoughts and identify gaps or misconceptions before diving into the discussion storyboard activity.
Lead a whole-class brainstorm on what students already know or wonder about energy. Write ideas on the board or chart paper to make student thinking visible and encourage participation from all learners.
Ask each student to make their own energy concept map using paper or digital tools. Encourage them to connect related ideas and highlight questions they have. This personalizes learning and sets up meaningful discussion.
Organize students into small groups to share and compare their concept maps. This promotes collaborative learning and helps students clarify their understanding before working on the storyboard.
Explain how their ideas from the concept maps can inform their storyboard arguments. Encourage students to refer back to their maps as they create their storyboard cells, ensuring their contributions are thoughtful and evidence-based.
An energy discussion storyboard is a visual tool used in science lessons to help students share, debate, and evaluate different ideas about energy. It encourages respectful discussion, critical thinking, and helps uncover misconceptions early in a topic.
Discussion storyboards allow students to present their understanding and viewpoints. By analyzing their responses, teachers can spot misconceptions and address them in future lessons, ensuring students build accurate science knowledge from the start.
To set up a collaborative discussion storyboard, enable Real Time Collaboration in the assignment settings, show students an example, assign roles, and guide them to create and discuss their ideas together. Remind students to follow agreed-upon discussion rules.
Using storyboards in group work boosts communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. It fosters deeper understanding, encourages respectful debate, and helps students explain their reasoning visually and verbally.
To enable collaboration, go to the "Edit Assignment" tab in Storyboard That and turn on the collaboration feature. This lets multiple students work on the same storyboard in real time for group activities.