Students investigate a high school science concept and translate it into an accurate, engaging comic and presentation for a 5th grade audience, using research, discussion, and digital media to make complex ideas clear. Across the 11 weeks, they build skills in public speaking, collaboration, critique, and revision through rubric-based feedback, self-assessment, and reflection every fifth session. The work launches with a studio showcase and mini presentations, is strengthened through feedback from Hawken US faculty and peers, and culminates in a public showcase of learning for faculty, staff, families, and peers. The purpose is to help students communicate science with clarity, creativity, and audience awareness while demonstrating growth in both academic research and real-world communication.

Students will research a focused science concept, synthesize information from multiple credible sources, and translate it into an accurate, age-appropriate comic for a 5th grade audience. They will strengthen public speaking and communication by presenting their process and findings through oral and written formats, using digital media and visual design choices to improve clarity and engagement for varied audiences. Students will practice productive collaboration by discussing ideas, seeking and applying feedback, using rubrics and self-assessment tools to revise their work, and reflecting on growth every fifth session. They will also build artistic expression and audience awareness by creating a polished showcase product for faculty, staff, families, and peers in partnership with Hawken US faculty.

Students will create research notes, audience-analysis plans for 5th graders, comic storyboards, draft pages, and short mini-presentations during the project launch phase. Through critique and revision cycles using rubrics and self-assessment tools, they will refine a scientific comic and a companion oral presentation that explains the science clearly to a younger audience. The final showcase of learning will include polished scientific comics, digital or printed visual displays, and oral presentations for faculty, staff, family, and peers. Reflection entries completed every fifth session will also serve as products that document growth in collaboration, communication, and revision.

Begin with a studio showcase featuring several short mentor examples of scientific comics, infographics, and mini presentations that translate complex science ideas for younger learners. Then have student teams rotate through a rapid challenge: choose a high school science concept and sketch a one-page comic explanation for a 5th grade audience in 15 minutes, followed by a brief share-out and peer feedback using a simple rubric focused on clarity, accuracy, and audience appeal. Invite Hawken US faculty to respond as the target-user panel, naming what would make the science more accessible and memorable. Close by introducing the driving question and the final public showcase for faculty, staff, families, and peers.

Host a science comics showcase where students present their finished comics and brief oral explanations to faculty, staff, families, and peers in a gallery-style event. Include a read-aloud station or digital slideshow so visitors can experience how students used visual storytelling and scientific research to make complex concepts clear for a 5th grade audience. Invite Hawken US faculty to serve as audience members and feedback partners, and have students use presentation boards or QR codes to display drafts, revisions, and evidence of growth. End with a short celebration in which students reflect on how their communication choices helped make science more accessible.