Deliverable

✏️ Team PSA Storyboard Plan

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Collaboration Content Expertise Effective Communication Product Assessment Reflection Core Content Essential Question Critique and Revision Submission Required Grading Required

In teams, students use their research notebooks and earlier idea sketches to choose one audience, one marine pollution problem, and one PSA format for their campaign. They complete a storyboard or layout plan with labeled boxes for headline, fact(s), image ideas, and call to action. Teams also assign short roles such as writer, illustrator, fact-checker, and materials manager.

Plan day

Day 9

Duration

45 min

Grouping

Small Group

Steps

5 steps

Lesson plan

5 steps · 45 min

#	What teachers do
1	Launch the task by reminding teams of the two essential questions and showing a simple storyboard example with labeled parts: headline, fact, image idea, and call to action. Define audience as the group you want to reach and call to action as the step you want people to take, then have teams quickly name one marine pollution problem they care about. (5 min)
2	Guide teams to review their research notebooks and earlier sketches to choose one audience, one marine pollution problem, and one PSA format such as poster, brochure, story, or video. Ask each team to make shared decisions and assign short roles: writer, illustrator, fact-checker, and materials manager. (8 min)
3	Have teams complete their storyboard or layout plan using a graphic organizer with labeled boxes. Students add a strong headline, 1-2 accurate facts, image ideas, and a clear call to action that tells citizens how to reduce marine pollution and protect ocean animals or local water. (15 min)
4	Pair teams to share their storyboard drawings and explain their choices for audience, message, and format. Partners give 'Glows and Grows' feedback, with one glow naming something clear or effective and one grow suggesting a change to improve facts, visuals, or persuasion. (8 min)
5	Give teams time to revise their storyboard based on feedback and check that every section is complete and easy to understand. Close with a quick team check-in where students confirm their next step for building the PSA prototype. (9 min)

Preparation (8 items)

Prepare one storyboard or layout planning sheet per team with labeled spaces for audience, pollution problem, format, headline, facts, image ideas, and call to action.
Gather student research notebooks, earlier idea sketches, pencils, crayons or markers, clipboards or hard writing surfaces, and any reference materials about marine pollution facts.
Create or select a grade-appropriate sample storyboard that models clear labeling, a simple persuasive message, and a citizen action step.
Post the essential questions where all students can see them during team planning and discussion.
Prepare a short role card or role list for writer, illustrator, fact-checker, and materials manager so teams can divide responsibilities quickly.
Set up partner feedback pairings in advance so each team has another team to share with during the reflection step.
Prepare sentence starters for students who need language support, such as 'Our audience is...', 'People should care because...', 'One fact we learned is...', and 'You can help by...'.
Review materials for readability and provide visual supports or simplified fact sheets for students with varying reading levels.

Student-facing instructions

You will work with your team to plan your marine conservation PSA before you build the first prototype. Use your research notebook, earlier sketches, and the storyboard sheet. First, decide who your audience is, which marine pollution problem you want to focus on, and what format will work best for your message, such as a poster, brochure, story, or video. Next, fill in each part of your storyboard: write a headline, choose 1-2 true facts, sketch image ideas, and write a call to action, which is the step you want people to take. Each team member should help in a role such as writer, illustrator, fact-checker, or materials manager. Then you will share your plan with another team, listen carefully, and give 'Glows and Grows' feedback. Your goal is to create a clear plan for a PSA that teaches people how to protect ocean animals and keep water and beaches clean.

Success criteria

Your team is done when you have chosen one audience, one marine pollution problem, and one PSA format; completed every part of the storyboard; included at least 1-2 accurate facts from your research; created a headline and image ideas that match your message; written a clear call to action for citizens; participated in team roles and shared decision-making; given and received one 'Glow' and one 'Grow'; and revised at least one part of your storyboard after feedback. You can also say what your team did well and one thing you still want to improve before making the prototype.

Facilitator notes

Keep the pace brisk by modeling the storyboard structure clearly at the start and posting a visible checklist for teams to follow. Because students are in 3rd grade, keep vocabulary brief and concrete, and remind them that facts must be true and easy to understand. Support varying reading levels by offering picture-supported fact sheets, pre-highlighted notebook pages, and sentence starters for discussion and writing. Encourage balanced participation by checking that roles are active but flexible, so one student does not take over all decisions. A common pitfall is choosing too broad a topic or too many messages; redirect teams to one problem, one audience, and one main action. Another common pitfall is writing a call to action that is vague, so prompt students to use specific actions such as reducing single-use plastic, cleaning up litter, or protecting storm drains. During feedback, model respectful language for 'Glows and Grows' and remind partners to comment on message clarity, factual accuracy, and persuasive impact. If teams finish early, ask them to add labels, strengthen their headline, or check whether their visuals clearly connect pollution to effects on marine life and humans.

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