Activity Overview
In the book A Letter From Your Teacher On the First Day of School by Shannon Olsen, a teacher writes a heart-warming letter to her students sharing all of the things she is looking forward to in the upcoming school year. Students will use the StoryboardThat Creator to illustrate "Three Thrilling Things" that they are looking forward to this year! For example: making new friends, a book or project they're excited about, a school play, or a game they love to play in P.E. Student storyboards can be shown on a screen and shared with their classmates as well as printed and hung around the room!
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map of Three Thrilling Things that you are looking forward to this year!
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Create an illustration in each cell using scenes, characters, and items to describe three different things that you are looking forward to learning and doing in school this year!
- Write a short title for each cell.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrations | The illustrations use appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the assignment. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Activity Overview
In the book A Letter From Your Teacher On the First Day of School by Shannon Olsen, a teacher writes a heart-warming letter to her students sharing all of the things she is looking forward to in the upcoming school year. Students will use the StoryboardThat Creator to illustrate "Three Thrilling Things" that they are looking forward to this year! For example: making new friends, a book or project they're excited about, a school play, or a game they love to play in P.E. Student storyboards can be shown on a screen and shared with their classmates as well as printed and hung around the room!
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map of Three Thrilling Things that you are looking forward to this year!
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Create an illustration in each cell using scenes, characters, and items to describe three different things that you are looking forward to learning and doing in school this year!
- Write a short title for each cell.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrations | The illustrations use appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the assignment. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
How Tos about Three Thrilling Things I\'m Excited About This Year!
How to facilitate meaningful class discussions about students’ thrilling things
Invite students to share their storyboards with the class in small groups or as a whole. Create a safe and encouraging space by modeling active listening and positive feedback. This helps students feel valued and builds classroom community.
Encourage respectful listening among classmates
Set expectations for active listening by having students look at the speaker, keep hands still, and wait their turn. Use visual reminders or hand signals to reinforce positive listening behaviors.
Guide students to ask thoughtful follow-up questions
Model how to ask questions that show curiosity, such as “What are you most excited about?” or “How did you choose that activity?” Encourage students to practice with sentence starters to deepen their engagement.
Display and celebrate students’ work throughout the year
Hang student storyboards in the classroom or hallway to recognize each child’s interests. Refer back to these throughout the year to connect learning to students’ personal goals and build excitement for upcoming activities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Three Thrilling Things I\'m Excited About This Year!
What is the 'Three Thrilling Things I'm Excited About This Year' lesson?
The 'Three Thrilling Things I'm Excited About This Year' lesson is a back-to-school activity where students illustrate three things they're looking forward to using StoryboardThat, inspired by the book A Letter From Your Teacher On the First Day of School.
How do I use StoryboardThat to illustrate students' school year goals?
To use StoryboardThat, have students create a spider map with three cells, each featuring an illustration and short title about something they're excited to learn or do in school this year.
What are some examples of thrilling things students can include in their storyboards?
Examples include making new friends, participating in a school play, working on a favorite project, reading a new book, or playing a game in P.E.
Why is it important for students to share what they're excited about at the start of the school year?
Sharing what excites them helps build classroom community, foster positive relationships, and set a welcoming tone for the year.
Can this lesson be adapted for group or individual work?
Yes, this activity is flexible and can be done individually or in groups, allowing teachers to adapt it for different classroom needs.
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