- Definition
A storyboard is like a comic strip that helps someone plan out a video, movie, or story by drawing pictures of each scene in order. It helps them figure out what will happen and what each shot will look like before they start creating.
A storyboard for a cartoon might show a character looking sad in the first box, finding a toy in the second, and smiling in the third.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A storyboard is like a comic strip that plans out a movie before you film it.
Ask your child: How would you draw the three most important parts of your favorite story?
Common mix-up: Kids might think a storyboard is just a collection of drawings. It’s actually a plan that shows the story's sequence, like a map for a movie or comic.
Examples
- Drawing three simple squares to plan a video: 1. You get a new puppy. 2. The puppy makes a mess. 3. You give the puppy a bath.
- Sketching out the panels for a comic strip before adding the final details and speech bubbles.
storyboard is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
