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:
Establish and communicate discussion guidelines before starting. This helps students feel safe sharing ideas and ensures everyone participates respectfully and stays on topic.
Demonstrate giving specific, helpful comments on peers’ storyboard ideas. Use examples like "I like how you explained evaporation, but can you tell me more about condensation?" to show positive, growth-focused feedback.
Assign roles such as discussion leader, timekeeper, or note-taker for each session. Rotating roles helps all students build leadership and communication skills.
Provide sentence starters like "I agree with... because..." or "I see it differently, since...". This scaffolds student discussions and encourages deeper thinking about the water cycle.
Pause after the activity and ask students to share what went well and what could improve next time. This builds self-awareness and collaborative skills for future discussions.
A water cycle discussion storyboard is a visual and collaborative activity where students share and debate ideas about the water cycle. It helps students express their thinking, critique different viewpoints, and clear up misconceptions through guided discussion and visual storytelling.
To use a discussion storyboard for the water cycle, show students an example storyboard, have them represent their ideas in cells with characters and speech bubbles, and encourage respectful debate. Allow students to collaborate and discuss who is most correct and why, fostering deeper understanding.
Real-time collaboration lets students work together on the same storyboard, boosting communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. It also saves time and makes science learning more interactive and engaging.
To enable collaboration in Storyboard That, go to the "Edit Assignment" tab and turn on collaboration for the activity. This allows students to work in groups on the same storyboard in real time.
You can have students add extra cells to justify their answers, create storyboards to teach classmates about misconceptions, or design their own discussion scenarios on current science topics. This keeps lessons fresh and encourages peer learning.