Guide · Schools & Tutoring · By the AutoScribble Team · Published 22 September 2026
How to create whiteboard science explainers for classroom lessons
Short answer
Take the core explanation from your lesson plan, tell AutoScribble the year group and the one idea pupils must grasp, and ask for a two-minute landscape whiteboard video with labelled diagrams and an everyday comparison. Check the science against your specification, then play it in class as a hook or recap and share it for homework.
Who this guide is for
Primary and secondary science teachers and science tutors. It's part of our schools & tutoring resources.
What you'll need
- Your lesson plan or scheme-of-work extract
- The key vocabulary pupils must use
- A misconception you want to tackle
Step by step
- 1
Pick one idea
‘Particles in solids, liquids and gases’ — not the whole states of matter unit.
- 2
Name the misconception
Ask the video to address it directly, e.g. ‘particles in a solid are not still’.
- 3
Ask for labelled diagrams
Pupils copy what they see; make sure it's correct and labelled.
- 4
End with a question
Give pupils something to answer in their books.
- 5
Check against the specification
Make sure vocabulary matches what the exam board expects.
Illustrative storyboard: particles in solids, liquids and gases (Year 7)
| Scene | Drawing | Narration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ice cube, glass of water, steam | Water can be a solid, a liquid or a gas. What changes? The particles. |
| 2 | Tight grid of vibrating circles | In a solid, particles are packed tightly and vibrate on the spot — they're never completely still. |
| 3 | Circles touching but sliding past | In a liquid, particles still touch but can move past each other, so liquids flow. |
| 4 | Circles spread out with arrows | In a gas, particles are far apart and move quickly in all directions. |
| 5 | Three boxes side by side | Question: why can you squash a gas but not a solid? |
Illustrative example written for this guide.
Copy the AutoScribble prompt
Complete prompt
Make a 2-minute landscape whiteboard video explaining [topic] for Year [X] pupils (age [X]). Use short sentences, one everyday comparison, and clearly labelled diagrams. Directly correct this misconception: [misconception]. Use these key words: [vocabulary]. Finish with a three-point recap and this question for pupils: [question].
Common mistakes
- Too much vocabulary for the age group
- Unlabelled diagrams
- Replacing a practical with a video
Review before publishing
- Science is correct and matches the specification
- Vocabulary suits the year group
- Diagrams are labelled
- Misconception is corrected, not reinforced
Questions
Can a teacher create whiteboard videos without animation skills?
Yes. You write or paste the explanation and AutoScribble draws and narrates it — no drawing or editing needed.
Should videos replace practicals?
No. Use videos to explain the concept; pupils still need to observe or carry out the practical.