It's Time For a Refill
J2 Training - Janet Corder and Joan Gore
Copyright Free Images
Photos for Class - This site from Storyboard that includes age-appropriate images and automatically includes a citation for each image. Type a topic in the search field and download the image. The citation will be embedded in the picture.
Pixabay - Over 1 million+ high quality stock images and videos. All contents are released under the Pixabay License, which makes them safe to use without asking for permission or giving credit to the artist.
UnSplash - beautiful, artistic images and photos.
Metropolitan Museum of Art - 375,000 images from the Met Museum free. Some may not be appropriate for all ages. Type Copyright Free Images in the search box.
Remove Image Background - remove background on your images, plus you can add a new background in just a click.
AutoDraw by Google
View Pure
View Pure - Viewpure.com
Create a link to YouTube videos without ads and links to other videos using this site.
- Copy the URL (web address) of the YouTube video.
- Paste the URL into blank and click the Purify button.
The new link contains the YouTube video without ads.
Note: An alternative to View Pure is Tube (tube.com). Type in your topic, select the YouTube video you want to watch and you will only see the video. It does not remove the ads.
Kiddle
Padlet
Padlet is a virtual wall/bulletin board that allows students to create a sticky note to express their thoughts on a common topic. Padlet allows us to post text, links, images, and a wide variety of files including video.
Note: Padlet recently began charging $99 a year for unlimited Walls. The free account allows new users to have up to 3 walls. If you already have Walls in your account, you may add 3 more Walls for free.
New from Padlet:
Padlet has added new formats:
Shelf - Posts can be sorted into a series of labeled columns
- Canvas - Move posts around free-form style
Collaborate and assess with Reactions. Grade, star, upvote, or like posts - a simple way to give quantitative feedback. Read more about Reactions here.
You can now highlight text in your posts.
Categorize posts with Colors. Customize your posts one of five colors. Learn more about Colors here.
Seamlessly link your pages to an LMS. Learn more here.
Video Recording on a Padlet
Snap feature - allows you to take photos and selfies from within Padlet and post them to your pages
iPhone and iPad app users: Padlet just launched a new, experimental feature called Catscan. You can take a picture of a wall with post-it notes and Catscan will create a Padlet with those notes on it.
Examples:
Elementary and Middle School YouTube Channels
Flipgrid
Flipgrid is a video response tool that is used to create discussions among all students within your classroom. Teachers post a topic or question via text or video and the students respond to the prompt. Flipgrid also gives students the ability to comment on their classmates' responses.
Key Features:
- All of your videos are located in one location.
- You can Freeze a Topic to continue sharing the videos but prevent new recordings.
- Student comments can be turned on or off.
Flipgrid Examples:
Flipgrid Certified Grid (password is Flipgrid)
Ideas/Tutorials/Blog Posts:
- Have students draw pictures of characters in a book or story then create a talking picture of their character in ChatterPix. Upload the ChatterPix file to Flipgrid.
- Use the filters in Snapchat to create a video to upload into Flipgrid.
- Explain a Science experiment.
- Tell how to solve a math equation step-by-step.
- Have teachers create a video introducing themselves and their class to new students.
- Have students welcome new students to their school.
- Exit Tickets
- Book Talks
- Padlet of Flipgrid ideas
- 15+ Ways to Use Flipgrid in Your Class
- Tony Vincent's Review of Flipgrid - with helpful tips
- Flipgrid Unplugged #2: AppSmashing with Jornea Erwin
- Using @Flipgrid in Online #APCalculus to Allow Students to Verbalize Their Thinking Process
- Teacher and Student Guides
- Searchable Help Center
- Flipgrid Blog
- Flipgrid on Twitter
- Flipgrid on Facebook
- Flipgrid help for Students & Parents
- Flipgrid YouTube Channel
- Flipgrid Response Cheat Sheet
Create a QR Code
Create a QR Code that links to your Grid or Topic! Click the Share option and choose QR Code.
Gridpals
Connect your classroom with students of your fellow Flipgrid educators around the world! Explore connections by Grid, age or subject area and check out the educator’s goal. You can find this section under Connections in the Menu Bar. GridPals is, as you may have deduced, Flipgrid’s version of pen pals. It’s a super easy way to connect with other educators and enthusiasts to further learning and improve education. Begin by clicking on the #GridPals link at the top of your Flipgrid screen on your computer. Change your status from Hidden to Active so that you and others can find each other and connect. A window will pop up allowing you to edit your profile and add the location where you are. Click the Next button to continue. You are now able to give permission for other GridPals to contact you. Plus, Flipgrid never shares your contact email with them until you reply, so you have complete control.
Disco Library
Share and find Topic templates that have been submitted by educators from around the world. All subject areas and grade levels are included.
Flipgrid Best Practices
See our Do's and Don'ts for best practices and make sure to collect Consent forms from all students before onboarding them to the platform.
Shorts
Shorts are brief videos - no longer than 3 minutes - that can be created by the teacher to share how-to's, introduce a less, provide a video note to parents or just share an update.
Need a Recording "Studio"
Check out the Giga Pop-Up Pod from Amazon! It can also be used for a green screen!
Quizizz
Quizizz is very similar to Kahoot, except the questions appear on the students' devices.
Let's try it out!
- On your device or laptop, open quizizz.com.
- Click Join a Game.
- Enter the Game Code the teacher provides and click Go.
- Type in your name and click Join Game.
- Wait for the teacher to begin the game.
Good Luck!
Take a look at some of my favorite Quizizz features:
- Easily create a quiz by using questions from multiple public quizzes
- Math symbols
- Highlight keywords with red, green or blue text
- Make your own Memes
- NEW! You can now use images for your answer choices.
The Quizizz App
Vocaroo
Vocaroo allows you to create voice recordings and send them through email. No need to install any software!!
- Click to record.
- Click to stop recording.
- Record again or listen to the recording.
- Students can email their recording to parents or the teacher. Click QR Code to create a code that links to your recording!
Great Idea
Record the class singing Jingle Bells or other Christmas carol. Students color a Christmas ornament (click here for some templates). Create a QR code from Vocaroo and glue on each ornament. Send the ornament home to the parents along with directions on how to download a QR code reader. The students can show their parents how to scan QR codes!
Other Ideas:
- Students record their original story or poetry and email to the parents.
- ELL/ESL students enhance reading/listening skills by listening or emailing their video to the teacher or their parents.
- Students in foreign language classes record themselves and listen or email to the teacher.
- Speech students record their speeches and email to the teacher instead of having every student give their speech in class.
Trading Cards by Read Write Think
Trading Cards by Read Write Think allows students to share their understanding of various topics. Available on the Web and as an app for IOS and Android.
Create trading cards for any number of categories, including:
- Fictional person
- Real person
- Fictional place
- Real place
- Object
- Event
- Vocabulary word
The Read Write Think website includes over 50 student interactives to be used on computers. Here are a few favorites:
Cube Creator - helps students to learn the skill of summarizing
Timeline - create a graphical representation of an event or process by displaying items sequentially along a lineLetter Generator - use the template to write a friendly or business letter
Google Slides Backgrounds
Bitmoji in Chrome
- Open chrome.google.com/webstore to access the Chrome Webstore.
- Type Bitmoji into the search box to find the Bitmoji extension.
- Click Add to Chrome.
- The green & white Bitmoji icon button will be at the top-right corner of Chrome
- If you have a Bitmoji account, log in. If you do not have an account, click Sign Up with Email and complete the registration.
- Select your Bitmoji features, click Save Avatar
- Click on the Bitmoji Chrome extension. A window will open that allows you to Edit your Emoji, search by keyword or browse the categories
- When you click on the Bitmoji avatar that you want to use, drag & drop it where you want it to be placed or right-click to save it or copy & paste it.
Bingo Baker
Classroom Screen
You can…
- Choose a background
- Type your instructions in the text area and zoom
- Choose a work symbol
- Set a timer
- Show the clock & calendar
- Use the traffic light
- Pick a random name
- Use the calculator
- Draw in-screen or full-screen
- Generate a QR-code
- Drag and drop the icons in the right place
- Select a language
Creative Ideas for Using Classroom Screen
Click on the menu bar (3 lines in the top left corner) and click on Tips & Tricks for directions and ideas.
Webcam option for your background:
- Open the Background widget.
- Click on the Camera icon.
- You will probably need to give Classroom Screen access to your webcam.
Upload an image as your background:
- Open the Background widget.
- Click on the Camera icon.
- Find your image and click Open.
Add an Animated Emoji to your Classroom Screen:
- Use the Emoji Me Face Maker app to create your animated Emoji. Customize your emoji and email it to yourself.
- In Classroom Screen, open the Drawing widget.
- Add your animated Emoji using the upload button in the bottom right corner.
Hint: Since Classroom Screen does not save your drawings, keep a folder of your animated Emojis in Drive or on your computer.
Add a Bitmoji to Your Classroom Screen
- You will need the Bitmoji Chrome Extension added to your Toolbar.
- Find the Bitmoji you want to add to your Classroom Screen and drag it into a Text widget.
Add an Animated Image to Your Classroom Screen
- Search images.google.com for a topic.
- Click Tools under the search box to access more options.
- Choose Transparent under the Color drop-down menu.
- Choose Animated under the Type drop-down menu.
- Open Classroom Screen in a separate tab and place a Text widget on your board.
- Drag your animated image to the Classroom Screen tab.
- When Classroom Screen appears on your screen, drop your animated image onto the Text window.
Add a Gif to Your Classroom Screen
- Search giphy.com for a Gif.
- Open Classroom Screen in a separate tab and place a Text widget on your board.
- Drag your Gif to the Classroom Screen tab.
- When Classroom Screen appears on your screen, drop your Gif onto the Text window.
Other Ideas:
- Use an image of the book or a page from a book you are reading as the background picture on your Classroom Screen.
- The Full Screen Drawing widget has graph and lined paper as options.
- Use Classroom Screen to have assignment choices in a Text widget for students to select.
- Have the Text widget with bell ringer instructions written on it when students enter the room.
- The circle with yellow and green icons on the bottom right of your screen opens up a poll option.
- Use the Stoplight from Classroomscreen.com for technology readiness/expectations (red = off and away; yellow=logged in screen down; green=on task/ready to work).
Quizlet Live
Let's give it try!
- Open quizlet.live.
- Type in the code the teacher gives you.
- Type in your name.
- Quizlet Live will assign you a team. Find your teammates and get together.
- Wait for the teacher to begin the game.
Gzaas!
- Type in your text.
- Click the gzaas it! button and select font, colors, backgrounds, styles and more.
- Click the Share It button if you want to create a link to your message or just display the image through your projector.
Be careful if you are displaying a URL that is case sensitive because some of the fonts are in all caps.
Magic Rainbow Unicorns
Open: gsuite.google.com/marketplace
Type Magic Rainbow Unicorns in the search box.
- Click the Launch button to install the Add-on.
Collaborating with Google Slides
Google Slides is an easy way to collect information from your students in a collaborative format. Once you have created the presentation, give the students access to the slides. The scribe for the group will go to the slide that matches their group number. The group discusses the question you have posted and the scribe fills out the slide for their group. This can also be used with individual students.
- Open Google Drive (drive.google.com).
- Click New, select Google Slides and choose Blank presentation.
- Create your title page just like you would create a title page in PowerPoint.
- Click Slide and select New Slide.
- In the Click to Add Title text box, type in Group 1 (or Table 1 or the group name).
- Click Slide and select Duplicate Slide.
- Change the number 1 to 2.
- Continue duplicating slides and changing the group numbers until you have all that you need.
- Click the blue Share button in the top right corner of the window.
- Give your slideshow a title.
- Click Save.
- Click Get Shareable Link in the top right corner of the popup box.
- Under Link Sharing, make certain that you change the drop-down menu to Anyone with link can edit.
- Click Copy Link.
- Click Done.
Here is a link to download the Google Slides Table Share. You will have to click Make a Copy to use the presentation.
Hint: The link to the Google Slides presentation is very long. It is advisable to use a URL shortener or make the link a QR Code so that your students can easily access the presentation.
Digital Choice Boards
Do your students complain about boring assignments where everyone does the exact same thing? It's time for a change! Digital Choice Boards are a great way to differentiate your instruction and engage your students.
Examples:
Interactive Learning Menus (Choice Boards) with G Suite – FREE Templates by Kasey Bell
Science Tic Tech Toe Board 1 - by Misty Whitworth & Julie Lyle, Argyle ISD
Science Tic Tech Toe Board 2 - by Misty Whitworth & Julie Lyle, Argyle ISD
GoNoodle
GoNoodle - Keep your kids motivated, active and focused with these free brain breaks!
Check out this GoNoodle Smore for ideas!Wakelet
Click here for a tutorial on the Twitter import update. Miguel Guhlin created a collection of copyright free images content. Click on this link.
Tweet Me a Summary
Twitter is popular with students of all ages! Let's use this social media tool to help kids learn to summarize information.
Have students read an online news article or a passage from their textbook.
Ask them to write a tweet that summarizes the article.
Remember - a tweet cannot be more than 280 characters.
Alternatives to this activity:
Use exactly 10 words to write a summary of today’s class.
- Write a summary of today’s class for an absent classmate.
- Write a summary as a whole class or small group activity for the little ones.
Rocketbook Everlast
Rocketbook offers free pages to download on this website.
Merge Cube
Merge Cube - The Merge Cube uses several apps and you must either purchase or make a Cube for the apps to work.
- An Educator’s Guide to Augment Learning with Merge Cube
- Check to see if your Walmart have Merge Cubes in stock- type in your zip code
- Make your own Merge Cube video directions
- Merge Cube files to print
- Join the Merge Educators group on Facebook for more ideas!
Yellkey
Speech Bubbles in Google Drawings
Google Drawings has so many classroom applications and this is one idea that can be used in any subject area and grade level.
The following directions are for creating a picture of yourself with 3 different callouts containing a fact about yourself.
- Open Drive.
- Select New, More and choose Google Drawings.
- Change the title from untitled drawing to your first and last name.
- Go to Insert → Image and find the picture you want to use.
- Select Insert → Shape → Callouts.
- Choose one of the callouts.
- Drag the callout to desired location and type in your first fact.
- Drag the yellow dot (located at the tip of the point) to move the point of the callout.
- While the callout is selected, click on the Fill tool and change the color.
- Create 2 more callouts for the other facts.
- You can change the alignment, font, font size and color, etc. of the text, if desired.
- Click Insert →Text Box to add your name to your picture. Drag your text box to the desired location. Change the font and the font size and color so that it is clearly visible.
- Go to File and select Download As → JPEG.
Ideas:
Describe yourself at the beginning of the year.
What was Washington thinking when he crossed the Delaware?
How would you describe a parallelogram?
What are five important facts about an animal cell?
Gimkit
Gimkit was created by high school students and is similar to Kahoot! and Quizizz, except the students play for “money” instead of points. The free version allows you to have 5 Kits (games) in your account. The paid version allows for unlimited Kits and edits and includes other features. The Pro version is $59.88 a year or $7.99 per month. School and bulk discounts are available.
Gimkit includes a library of Kits from users. You can create your own Kit by typing in the questions and answers or you can upload questions from Quizlet or a CSV file.
Let's give it a try! Open gimkit.com/play and enter the code on the screen.
Favorite Apps
AR Flashcards Abraham Lincoln - Make Abe come to life with this app. Don't forget to take a picture with the President!
The Novel Effect app uses invisible technology to follow along, as you read a book. Music and sounds play while you are reading the book. Smart voice recognition stays in sync with your reading style, if you skip ahead or read a favorite part again and again.
Novel Effect is coming soon on GooglePlay and Amazon Fire! Sign-up here.