Before diving into how we can leverage technology for curriculum storyboards, let’s review some basics.
Curriculum storyboards are like visual roadmaps; providing teachers, students, and families a high-level view of the learning journey ahead. They add a storytelling approach to the traditional curriculum map by presenting an engaging story of how the curriculum progresses and builds throughout the school year.
At their core, curriculum storyboards are written with learners in mind. They utilize clear, compelling titles, engaging visuals, and a narrative of why each unit matters to evoke curiosity and connection.
Other storyboard elements may include student learning targets, national or state standards, authentic demonstrations of learning, and connections parents can make to extend the learning at home.
Storyboards aren’t just for teachers—they’re designed to be a resource for everyone involved in the learning process—students, parents, board members, and the list goes on!
The magic of curriculum storyboards is their ability to transform a curriculum into a compelling story that students can follow. Imagine students showing their storyboard to their families and explaining, "First, we’re going to work on multiplication because we will need it when we work on fractions later in the year!"
Storyboards also help teachers and curriculum writers stay organized and on track. By laying out the curriculum visually, it is easy to ensure that lessons are scaffolded properly - with each unit building logically on the previous one.
According to Stanford researchers, “Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone.”
The titles of each unit you craft should spark curiosity, help create connection, and paint the vision for the learning journey ahead.
Choose images that are familiar and relevant to your students. Visuals should make the storyboard more relatable and memorable, and should reinforce the big ideas of the unit. Consider using photos, icons, or having students create images that could represent your units. GIFS are also a common visual for Storyboards, especially when you are displaying them online using Eduplanet21’s Curriculum Blueprint.
Write in a way that’s accessible to your students and their families. Make it personal by swapping out phrases such as “The student will…” with phrases like “We will…”
Let your students help create or add to the storyboard. When they have a say in how the curriculum is presented, they’re more invested and excited about learning. It becomes their story, not just yours.
Pay attention to font sizes, color contrasts, and the use of white space to ensure digital accessibility.
With Eduplanet21’s Curriculum Planner, you can drag and drop units, add visuals, and update your storyboard as often as needed. It is a great way to keep your storyboard flexible and structured at the same time.
Eduplanet21 allows you to directly align your curriculum storyboards with state or national learning standards. This empowers your classroom community to understand the goals each unit is working towards.
Eduplanet21 also makes it easy to collaborate with your colleagues and/or students. Work together in real-time to build the storyboard and then share it with colleagues, students, or even families, giving them access to the storyboard, additional resources, and any updates as the year progresses.
Add videos, links, or other multimedia resources directly into your curriculum storyboard!
With Eduplanet21, your curriculum storyboards become more than just a plan—they’re a tool for storytelling, collaboration, and engagement for everyone involved in your K-12 classroom. You’ll keep your students on track, help families feel connected, and ensure your curriculum is clear, accessible, relevant, and engaging.
Want to see a demo or learn more about interactive storyboarding with Eduplanet21? Connect with us today!