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Art

Step by Step: Creating a Visual Sequence

Overview

Students explore how breaking a story into steps helps communicate events clearly through images.

Learning Objective
Students understand how a sequence of images can show change over time and communicate a story.

Resources needed

  • Paper
  • Pencils
  • Optional: coloured pencils or markers

Lesson stages

0 / 10 done
  1. 1 Discuss how stories have a beginning, middle, and end.
  2. 2 Introduce visual sequence (like comics or storyboards).
  3. 3 Students choose a simple story or action.
  4. 4 Divide the page into 3–4 sections.
  5. 5 Draw each stage of the story in order.
  6. 6 Encourage clarity and consistency between panels.
  7. 7 Midway check: does the sequence make sense?
  8. 8 Students refine drawings.
  9. 9 In pairs, students explain their story using only images.
  10. 10 Discuss: which sequences were easiest to understand and why?

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Create longer sequences.
  • Add captions or speech bubbles.
  • Focus on one action changing over time.
More information

Teach: sequence, order, first, next, then, finally. Use frames: 'First… then…'.

Provide story prompts or templates. Allow verbal storytelling.

Can students show a clear sequence? Can others understand the story?

Draw sequences in sand or act them out physically.

Students may create unrelated images instead of a clear sequence.

Visual sequencing is important in comics, animation, and storytelling.

Activity details
Primary Medium 30 minutes no prep Pairs, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Sequence Visual Narrative Storytelling Composition