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:
Use assessment rubrics to evaluate student contributions on the storyboard, focusing on accuracy, reasoning, and communication skills. This helps you identify learning gaps and recognize student strengths in real time.
Monitor student discussions as they create storyboards. Take notes on how students explain their thinking, respond to peers, and use scientific language to support their opinions.
Give specific, positive feedback on students' reasoning and argumentation when they present their storyboard ideas. This encourages deeper thinking and growth in future discussions.
Ask students to write a quick reflection about what they learned and which viewpoint they found most convincing. These short responses help you assess individual comprehension beyond group work.
Have students rate their own participation and understanding after the activity using a simple checklist or rubric. This promotes metacognition and responsibility for learning.
A discussion storyboard activity for specialized cells is a visual lesson tool where students use storyboards to share, critique, and evaluate ideas about specialized cell functions. It encourages collaborative discussion and helps students identify prior knowledge and misconceptions at the start of a unit.
Teachers can introduce the topic by showing an example storyboard, prompting students to analyze different viewpoints about specialized cells, and guiding them to create or edit their own panels to express their understanding and reasoning.
Collaborative storyboard activities boost communication, deepen critical thinking, and enhance problem-solving skills. They also help students learn from peers and complete tasks more efficiently while practicing respectful discussion.
To enable real-time collaboration, teachers should access the "Edit Assignment" tab in Storyboard That and turn on collaboration, allowing multiple students to work on the same storyboard simultaneously.
Teachers can have students add new cells to justify their answers, create storyboards explaining why an answer is incorrect, or design entirely new discussion scenarios to share and debate with classmates.