“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
Use a storyboard to tell a story to your mother in the second person. The “story” can be a simple message, as shown in the example below, or a more complex narrative with a beginning, middle, and end.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Grade Level --- N/A ---
Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)
Type of Assignment Individual or Partner
Type of Activity: Use Storyboard That All Year Long
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visualizations | Images show creativity and care. | Scenes, characters, and items are appropriate for this purpose. | Images are confusing or do not make sense for this purpose. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas may be disorganized or misplaced. Lack of control over grammar, mechanics, and spelling reflect a lack of proofreading. |
Use a storyboard to tell a story to your mother in the second person. The “story” can be a simple message, as shown in the example below, or a more complex narrative with a beginning, middle, and end.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Grade Level --- N/A ---
Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)
Type of Assignment Individual or Partner
Type of Activity: Use Storyboard That All Year Long
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visualizations | Images show creativity and care. | Scenes, characters, and items are appropriate for this purpose. | Images are confusing or do not make sense for this purpose. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas may be disorganized or misplaced. Lack of control over grammar, mechanics, and spelling reflect a lack of proofreading. |
Encourage students to brainstorm story ideas together, fostering teamwork and creativity. Working as a group can inspire unique narratives and help students learn from each other.
Divide tasks such as writing, drawing, and dialogue creation among students. Clear roles ensure everyone contributes and feels included in the project.
Help students organize their narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Logical sequencing improves storytelling skills and makes the story easier to follow.
Demonstrate how to include specific memories or feelings, making the narrative more meaningful. Personal touches create a stronger emotional connection in the story.
Display students’ work on a bulletin board or in a digital gallery. Public recognition boosts confidence and allows students to appreciate each other’s efforts.
A Mother’s Day narrative activity is a creative writing exercise where students use a storyboard to tell a story or share a message with their mother, often in the second person. This helps students practice storytelling skills and express appreciation in a personal way.
Have students create a storyboard by dividing their story into sections, each with a short description and an image. Guide them to write a heartfelt message or a narrative for their mother, illustrating each scene with drawings or digital images.
Simple prompts include: How did you know how to…?, Mom, I am sorry for…, It meant so much to me that you…, If we were animals…, or Even though you make me clean my room…. These encourage students to reflect and write creatively.
The Mother’s Day storyboard activity is flexible and works well for a range of grade levels, especially in elementary and early middle school. Instructions can be adjusted for younger or older students as needed.
Storyboards combine written and visual storytelling, making it easier for students to organize their thoughts and engage creatively. This method supports different learning styles and makes Mother’s Day lessons more meaningful and memorable.
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher