TeachersFirst's Special Occasion Ideas for the Classroom: TeachersFirst Editors' Choices
Other TeachersFirst Special Topics Collections
Special occasions give students a chance to recognize special people: moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, secretaries, school custodians, librarians, and more. Stretch your students' creative thinking, writing skills, and problem solving skills as they create projects to honor special people on special occasions or just as a surprise “thank you.” Check out this collection for classroom ideas and custom-made gifts (both "hard copy" and electronic). Create memories for special people as your learners show what they know and how much they care.
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Smore - Shlomi Atar and Gilad Avidan
Grades
2 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Smore allows you to make beautiful online "multimedia" flyers to display on your smartphone, tablet or computer. You can arrange your content easily with Smores' drag and drop editing....more
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Smore allows you to make beautiful online "multimedia" flyers to display on your smartphone, tablet or computer. You can arrange your content easily with Smores' drag and drop editing. Add ready-made graphics, images from files on your computer, or images from the web. Quickly embed text, videos, and tweets, too. Choose from several attractive themes. Share your creations via email, URL, Facebook, or Twitter. Smore is in private beta at the time of this review, so it may take a day or two for your membership approval.
tag(s): creativity (66), multimedia (17), posters (17)
In the Classroom
Have students create their own "infographics" with this site to display what they have learned from a unit of study, or present a review before a test. Use your interactive whiteboard and projector to allow student groups to present a flyer about a book they've read, news article, etc. Have them create campaign posters for fictitious candidates as you study about the election process. Smore allows you to preview as you work or return later to complete and publish your flyers. Add ready-made graphics, images from files on your computer or on the web.Allow students to create flyers for upcoming events such as Earth Day, Grandparents Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, birthdays and anniversaries. Make holiday greetings to share.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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GroupCard - Interactive Gift Corporation
Grades
K to 8
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Create and send e-cards with this online card creator: birthdays, holidays, thank you cards, and countless other events. Each topic includes several choices of cards. After choosing...more
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Create and send e-cards with this online card creator: birthdays, holidays, thank you cards, and countless other events. Each topic includes several choices of cards. After choosing a card, enter the recipient's name, a message, and sign. Cards can be "signed" by multiple members of a group. There is even an option to upload a picture next to the sender's signature. Once finished, cards can be sent via email or posted to Facebook.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): fathers day (11), holidays (103), mothers day (13)
In the Classroom
Students can create and send birthday cards to historical figures, sympathy cards to widows of slain leaders, thank you cards to persons that have had a big impact in our world, famous scientists, good luck to presidential candidates, etc. After creating cards, students can send them to your email account to be printed and included as part of bigger classroom projects. Teach how to write a friendly note, then post the results on a class bulletin board.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Flipsnack - Smartketer LLC
Grades
5 to 12
8 Favorites
0 Comments
Use FlipSnack to create a free, online flip book from PDF documents. Create a Flip book when you want to embed a book, magazine, catalog, newspaper, portfolio, or other kind ...more
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Use FlipSnack to create a free, online flip book from PDF documents. Create a Flip book when you want to embed a book, magazine, catalog, newspaper, portfolio, or other kind of document into a website, wiki, or blog and have viewers flip through the pages interactively. Upload your pdf document and choose a title. (Choose carefully, since it is the title of the book.) Choose a template and customize by dragging elements and changing colors and then Publish. Now any content can become an online "book."
In the Classroom
Make a flipbook of a presentation as an engaging alternative to a web page or PowerPoint. Share classroom information such as rules and expectations in an easy to read format. Use for a great way to bring digital storytelling up front in your classroom. Make photosynthesis a story instead of bits of equations and information. Portray a time period in history or create books of different political or societal opinions. Create a flipbook with the viewpoints and personalities of characters in a story. Practice a different language by creating a themed flipbook. Lower grades can combine writing into a class flipbook to be shared online or read aloud. Any written assignment can easily be re-visioned as a flipbook! Make your literary magazone a flipbook or build new poetry collections during poetry month. Share all your flipbooks on individual laptops, or the interactive whiteboard or projector. Create simple flipbooks of Dolch words for beginning readers.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Yodio - Audio Publishing Enterprises, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
Yodio allows you to create narration and soundtracks for photos and images using either the computer or cell phone. Yodios are easy to share on social networking sites, using embed...more
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Yodio allows you to create narration and soundtracks for photos and images using either the computer or cell phone. Yodios are easy to share on social networking sites, using embed codes for web pages and blogs, or by emailing to friends. Create a sample project and embed it on your school website, or you can email your project codes. Search through popular Yodios or create your own. There are some excellent examples that could be shared with students so that they better understand the capabilities and possibilities of using this tool. Check out our TeachersFirst Sample: Watch the video here.
tag(s): narrative (16), photography (96), sound (79)
In the Classroom
We recommend watching (and showing the entire class) the introduction to Yodio. Show the introduction on your interactive whiteboard or projector. This gives a good, brief explanation of the features and capabilities of Yodio. To create Yodios, you will need to be able to record sound on your computer or use a cell phone to call the number and record your voice. You will need to be able to locate image files on your computer to upload. Make sure that your photo size meets the site requirements and that you allow adequate time for uploading. If your computer goes to sleep or shuts down during the download process, it will need to start over. Ten minutes for medium sized files should be enough time. Your initial Yodio setup will give step by step instructions and points. If you have a strict filter in your district, try uploading images from home or somewhere without a filter.Registration requires a cell phone number. If this is a tool you intend on using for a whole class, it may be a good idea to purchase a cheap, pay by the minute cell phone to have the class use. (This maybe something you could work into your school budget if you find yourself using the tool a lot.) Or, have students register from home. This will take more discussion and parent permission slips depending upon your district policies. You may want to use this tool to make materials for younger students rather than having students create their own. Students do need to access email to finish registration requirements. Also, be sure to spell out consequences of inappropriate use/content of yodios. When sharing samples, have them chosen ahead of time for students and warn them about smart searching and other good Internet etiquette.
At the elementary level, create Yodios of books by narrating images and then sharing them with your students or create them together as a class. Have older students create Yodios as alternatives to standard projects such as pamphlets, posters, or presentations. Publish Yodios to your Wikispace or website so students can review each others' work. Have students who are doing fundraisers make commercials using Yodio and publish to school and community websites. Have students make commercials for an chemical element, a Bill of Rights amendment, or an author. Use Yodios to advertise favorite library books or as anti-drug messages. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Discovery box - Discovery box
Grades
2 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Discover a new way to present information. Discovery box uses an image of a divided box to place items, pictures, text, links, audio, and video into its sections for display. ...more
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Discover a new way to present information. Discovery box uses an image of a divided box to place items, pictures, text, links, audio, and video into its sections for display. The "box" looks like a divided crate, containing eight six-sided "cubes" in each of three "layers." Each cube can be a different aspect of the main topic. The concept is based upon the work of Thomas Clarkson, an 18th century British abolitionist, who carried with him a collection of artifacts in order to demonstrate his beliefs to his listeners. See the sample "Thomas Clarkson's Box."
The tool is user-friendly, using drag and drop and visual cues to guide you through the process. Developed for use by teachers from the Eastern Britain region, the Discovery Box tool -- and products created and published by teachers and students using it-- can be seen anywhere on the web. E2BN has created Discovery Box for education, so it does not have the safety and security risks of a general public web tool. Only teachers from the E2BN service area can set up school accounts and "connect" student accounts to a teacher's account. If you are from E2BN's area, your students can submit their work to you for review before publication all within the site's tools, and you can comment back to them confidentially. Teachers using this system have complete approval-control before publication.
Important note: ONLY students from eligible schools can "publish." Classes anywhere can see the published products being shared on the site. Students from anywhere can establish account to create and PREVIEW Discovery boxes of their own. If you create work from a non-E2BN school, the only way for people to see it is to log in and "preview." If you give out the log-in information, you will risk having others change or delete your work, so share it in person on a projector if this is a concern.
No registration is required to use as long as you use stock images. Click on "Case Studies" along the top to view successful school use. View boxes that have been saved by clicking on "Discovery Boxes." View the Teachers Resources for guides, and articles on using Discovery Box to support curriculum and copyright issues.
Standards for the UK are included in the teacher area. There is also a reminder that this tool places images, etc. on the web, so copyright is a concern. Under Fair Use, U.S. educators cannot share copyrighted materials on a generally available web site. As long as you keep the box unpublished, however, you are limiting distribution and are within Fair Use. Be sure to require students to provide the source of any image, sound, etc. as part of the cube. This tool is identical to Museum Box (reviewed here).
The tool is user-friendly, using drag and drop and visual cues to guide you through the process. Developed for use by teachers from the Eastern Britain region, the Discovery Box tool -- and products created and published by teachers and students using it-- can be seen anywhere on the web. E2BN has created Discovery Box for education, so it does not have the safety and security risks of a general public web tool. Only teachers from the E2BN service area can set up school accounts and "connect" student accounts to a teacher's account. If you are from E2BN's area, your students can submit their work to you for review before publication all within the site's tools, and you can comment back to them confidentially. Teachers using this system have complete approval-control before publication.
Important note: ONLY students from eligible schools can "publish." Classes anywhere can see the published products being shared on the site. Students from anywhere can establish account to create and PREVIEW Discovery boxes of their own. If you create work from a non-E2BN school, the only way for people to see it is to log in and "preview." If you give out the log-in information, you will risk having others change or delete your work, so share it in person on a projector if this is a concern.
No registration is required to use as long as you use stock images. Click on "Case Studies" along the top to view successful school use. View boxes that have been saved by clicking on "Discovery Boxes." View the Teachers Resources for guides, and articles on using Discovery Box to support curriculum and copyright issues.
Standards for the UK are included in the teacher area. There is also a reminder that this tool places images, etc. on the web, so copyright is a concern. Under Fair Use, U.S. educators cannot share copyrighted materials on a generally available web site. As long as you keep the box unpublished, however, you are limiting distribution and are within Fair Use. Be sure to require students to provide the source of any image, sound, etc. as part of the cube. This tool is identical to Museum Box (reviewed here).
In the Classroom
Consider creating a class account for students to use by creating an email address just for that use. Rather than using your professional or personal email, register for a gmail account. Create a master document of student login information to avoid students forgetting when needed.Click on the icons below the box to add images, text, sounds, videos, files, or links to the box. Use any of the three layers of the box to stack items on top of one another. Click "change box" in the lower right hand corner to change colors, numbers of layers and sections, and other aspects of the box. Add a title and description, save your creations, and add items to your own drawer.
Be sure that students understand copyright and fair use in using material from the web. Read the information under "Teacher Resources" for guidance. Be sure to check with your school policy on using email addresses to create student accounts and using images of students, etc.
Because this form of digital collecting may be new to your students, you will want to create a sample first. Discovery boxes can hold: evidence to argue sides of a debate, student essays with multimedia supporting evidence, literary magazines in visual and verbal form (poetry, images, even sounds), research collections to assign to students (links, images, and sounds to pique their interest and send them out to learn more), student art and writing portfolios arranged in "cubes" by theme or time, collections of local history artifacts (photos, interviews, scanned images, etc), and much more. With younger students, you could create the box collaboratively as a whole-class activity. Consider creating a few class accounts and assigning small groups to create a box, with one student assigned to a "cube" within the box (to avoid damaging each other's work).
Take show and tell to a new level. Consider using this resource for such assignments as: discussing historical figures, food groups, the history and culture of various countries, discussion of events in a book report, historical events, student essays or "what I did this summer," science projects such as biomes, a gallery of famous artists or musicians, debates, and many more! Create a display for your class and allow time for student groups to discover layers, discuss the items, and identify the subject. Showing this on an interactive whiteboard or projector would be a great class activity.
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VoiceThread - VoiceThread
Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites
0 Comments
Voicethread allows you to upload images (from your digital camera, scanner, or even paint program). You can also upoad PowerPoint slides. Then students can record or write their own...more
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Voicethread allows you to upload images (from your digital camera, scanner, or even paint program). You can also upoad PowerPoint slides. Then students can record or write their own comments and/or narration about the images/slides. Other listeners can "comment" back, as well. TeachersFirst is providing the link to the VoiceThread home page but suggests that you first watch this quick explanation about two types of FREE educator memberships being offered for classroom teachers (one free, the other with premium features and more students, but at a cost). You can click to go to the home page from there. Access to the ed.voicethread site (as opposed to www.voicethread) is restricted to grades K-12 students, educators, and administrators. VoiceThread explains how to set up a classroom account and has some ideas for classroom use, as well. Ideas from the TeachersFirst Edge review team are listed below, under "In the classroom."
Voicethread now offers a free iOS app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It is free through the iTunes app store. Projects work seamlessly on both computer and mobile iOS devices, so projects started on one machine can be edited and/or viewed on another. Your ed.Voicethread account works in both places.
Voicethread now offers a free iOS app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It is free through the iTunes app store. Projects work seamlessly on both computer and mobile iOS devices, so projects started on one machine can be edited and/or viewed on another. Your ed.Voicethread account works in both places.
tag(s): digital storytelling (40), speech (80)
In the Classroom
You will be logged into your account immediately after you fill in the registration form. You must "apply" to designate your account as an educator account once it is set up. Click on "browse" to see many examples, including tutorials. Watch the "One Minute Voicethread" to get a very quick overview of how easy it is to create a digital story. Set up student identities. Use first names only. You need to know how to locate and upload saved pictures or PowerPoint files. If you want to use audio, the COOL tool,you WILL need a microphone, either plugged into your computer or built in. They can be purchased for less than $10 at a discount or electronics store. Once you create a Voicethread, it can be shared by clicking :share" from the menu or at the end of viewing it and copying the URL to send via email or other means, inviting others to comment back. Ed voicethreads have comment moderation turned on by default and are private by default. As the teacher, you can change these settings.Of course, you should be sure that you have the RIGHTS to any images you upload. Fair Use does not apply when you put an image on the web!
Invite parents to share in the results (The VoiceThread classroom page tells you more about this). TeachersFirst does not recommend using actual, identifiable pictures of children. Let them draw a picture or take a digital picture of an object that somehow represents them (middle schoolers will love that idea!). If you allow others to "comment" on student Voicethreads, the experience can be both wonderful and a bit intimidating. Use this opportunity to promote ethical and kind interaction with other students and their projects.
Elementary classes can create or take pictures, then ask each child to talk about the images. Each child can comment on the SAME pictures, creating a collaborative collection of responses. After a field trip or special class event, you can assign groups of students to explain each of the digital pictures you took and how they relate to curriculum topics. In art class, students can critique works of their own or of fellow students. In language arts classes, students can scan and comment on writing pieces as part of a reflective phase of the writing process. Or post an image as a prewriting activity and allow students to respond orally in an idea-generating phase. In social studies, have students provide a picture of a grandparent then narrate what they learned about that grandparent from interviewing him/her. Have students create narrated pictures as gifts (for parents or other care givers) for special occasions, winter holidays, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.. During a science experiment or demo, have a student take pictures of the steps. Then ask students to "narrate" them by commenting on what is happening. The narration assignment could even be a center activity or an assignment on a few classroom computers for students to rotate through. What a great way to review and apply key vocabulary! Be sure they identify their voices if you are using a single class account and want to be able to assess understanding. Other ideas: narrated local history projects (pictures of local sites), audio "museum tours" of artifacts (photos) or war veterans telling their stories along with images of their uniforms or old photos. Speech/language, ESL/ELL or early childhood teachers could use this tool to promote vocabulary development and oral expression.
Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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My Brochure Maker - POC Technologies
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
This site offers an easy to use online tool to create brochures or flyers in minutes. Choose a theme, customize with your photos and add text. Brochure printing directions are ...more
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This site offers an easy to use online tool to create brochures or flyers in minutes. Choose a theme, customize with your photos and add text. Brochure printing directions are included. Print or save the brochure to print at a later date. Saving requires a valid email address. Rather than using your personal or professional email, sign up for a free gmail account. You could use the teacher email to protect student safety, if students do not have their own email. If you decide to have students sign-up for the site (email required,) read the tips for safely managing email registrations here. Be sure to turn off your pop-up blocker so you can "see" all the site content. There is a FREE Educational Use membership that offers free use of all templates (for educational use only.) There is a 10 MB limit for storage. And all projects are "branded" with the MyBrochureMaker.com border.
Note from TF editors: this site did appear to be subject to high traffic that slows it to a snail's pace. You might want to try it at "off peak" hours (NOT U.S. EST between 11 and 3). They seem to have upgraded their servers. Stay tuned!
Note from TF editors: this site did appear to be subject to high traffic that slows it to a snail's pace. You might want to try it at "off peak" hours (NOT U.S. EST between 11 and 3). They seem to have upgraded their servers. Stay tuned!
In the Classroom
This site would work well for an individual or pairs of students to create a brochure or flyer on a state, country, health topic, and more. Then share using a projector or interactive whiteboard as students act as "tour guides" or health experts. Teachers can also make brochures about their classrooms to hand out at back to school nights or to new parents throughout the year.Note: the emails generated by this site MAY be blocked by spam filters in your school. Test it first before assigning students to create and save work!
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Fold Play - Alfa, Superspy, and Octave
Grades
1 to 10
7 Favorites
1 Comments
Turn your photographs into a three-dimensional wonder. Fold Play lets users upload their own photographs into existing templates, print, and then fold them into Kaleidocycles, books,...more
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Turn your photographs into a three-dimensional wonder. Fold Play lets users upload their own photographs into existing templates, print, and then fold them into Kaleidocycles, books, double-sided poly puzzles, or invertible cubes. The clear instructional tutorials and directions make the process painless. Some projects even include video instructions.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): crafts (25), creative writing (67), geometric shapes (42), origami (10), paper folding (6), photography (96), puzzles (146)
In the Classroom
Create clever "All About Me" projects while teaching mathematical principals about 2D and 3D figures, line, area, perimeter, and planes. Have students try out this site on individual computers, or as a learning center. The most effective way to use this site is to allow students to work on it in pairs so they can easily assist each other. The tutorials are ideal for an interactive whiteboard or projector because students can follow (and fold) along with the presentation. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating how to create 3D shapes with sites such as PodOmatic (reviewed here (reviewed here). Ask students to explain the folding process with geometric terms such as fractional parts, symmetry, faces, edges, rotations, lines, triangles, angles, and shapes. Foldplay turns math instruction into an art. Younger students may find some folding tasks a challenge, so be sure to provide a buddy for those with poor fine motor skills.Make gifts for special occasions, such as to thank the school principal or cafeteria workers. Create unique ornaments using student photos. Decorate a "physics tree" or "author tree" using Fold Play ornaments made from images of the concepts or of books by that author.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
Comments
I was about to bookmark this site and use it for my Intermediate students. I would consider this to have inappropriate content for students. The site talks about unhealthy attraction to pornographic haiku and lesbianism.Nina, TX, Grades: 3 - 5
Editor's Note: We investigated this comment and looked through all the Foldplay activities/templates. ALL areas are safe and school appropriate EXCEPT under "Links and Stuff." The value of the activities in the other areas makes this site worth keeping, even if you must monitor to avoid the "links" area. We have also contacted FoldPlay to explain teacher concerns.
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Fotobabble - Fotobabble
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Add voice to your pictures easily and effortlessly with this free site. Add your picture easily to Twitter, Facebook, and an unbelievable number of other sites. Don't see your site?...more
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Add voice to your pictures easily and effortlessly with this free site. Add your picture easily to Twitter, Facebook, and an unbelievable number of other sites. Don't see your site? Use the URL link or embed code to add your Fotobabble where you see fit. How easy is it? Upload your picture (you can choose whether it is public or remains private.) Add your voice and review quality. Share by clicking on the option you require or copy the embed code or URL to share.
tag(s): images (115), photography (96)
In the Classroom
Users need to be able to locate and upload pictures. Use an attached or internal microphone to add voice to the picture. Manage the final product by email, adding to the vast array of services listed, or using the embed code.Consider the use of a class account that is shared by all instead of using individual accounts.
Be sure that students understand to use appropriate and copyright free pictures. Check with your district policies about using pictures of or by students as well as using this service.
Use in any curriculum area. Use to show and tell about a favorite animal, historical figure, place, or event, artists or musicians, scientists or technologies, characters from fiction, or how to play a specific sport (as told by the ball!) to name a few. Take pictures during a science demo and have students upload and speak as the science concept - or as Sir Isaac Newton or Louis Pasteur! Have students write stories and upload a photo of their story's setting, reading their story aloud as viewers take in the setting. Try different options of storytelling: first person as an inanimate object, flashback, etc. Art teachers can have students upload a photo of recent artworks and narrate their technique or thoughts in creating the work. Speech/language teachers and ESL/ELL teachers will find that photos can promote oral language practice (and preserve a recording to demonstrate progress). A picture can SPEAK a thousand (or more) words!
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
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Box Templates - Paperandmore
Grades
1 to 8
2 Favorites
0 Comments
This site offers nine templates to make a variety of shaped boxes from folded card stock or paper. Create a pyramid, hexagonal, matchbox, takeout, trapezoid, flap, candy, bon-bon, or...more
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This site offers nine templates to make a variety of shaped boxes from folded card stock or paper. Create a pyramid, hexagonal, matchbox, takeout, trapezoid, flap, candy, bon-bon, or puffy box with these printable templates and directions.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): angles (45), area (28), crafts (25), geometric shapes (42), holidays (103), perimeter (14), printables (21), volume (23)
In the Classroom
Teach volume, area and perimeter while also creating useful gift boxes for holiday presents. This site will provide opportunities for visual spatial learners to learn mathematical principles about 2D and 3D figures, lines, angles, and planes. Download and print out the free templates onto vellum or card stock paper. Take advantage of the site's online directions and allow students to work on it in pairs so they can easily assist each other. Save this site in your favorites on classroom computers so students can practice paper folding independently. As a clever review activity for almost any curriculum topic, have students make and decorate a box, such as "secrets of the solar system" or "favorite vocabulary words" box, filling it with slips of paper with terms to define or explain. The decorations can be hints or images to fit the topic. Have student trade boxes to review.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Bookemon - Bookemon, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
23 Favorites
1 Comments
Students and teachers can write their own original books, add your own images and artwork as illustrations, and read your published books in interactive, online form. For a fee, you...more
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Students and teachers can write their own original books, add your own images and artwork as illustrations, and read your published books in interactive, online form. For a fee, you can also have printed copies made, but there is no fee for the online publication and sharing. This is the ultimate in "digital storytelling." Click "Explore" to browse many "public" examples on the templates page of books created by others.
Here is an example of a book created by the TeachersFirst Edge editors. Once you set up free membership in this site, students (or teachers) can select to create from a blank start or using templates provided. You can also create a book starter of your own as an example so students can follow the prompts you have created. The book creator allows you to upload your own images and to create books from a Word document or PowerPoint file you have already made. EdCenter uers can collaborate on books.
After you save and publish the work, share the URL so people can read the entire thing online, either among an audience of "just my friends" or publicly. They also offer the embed code to place your books in a class or school web page, wiki, or blog, but at the time of this review, this code was not working properly. The BEST option is to copy the address of the new window displaying the interactive book. There is an option to have the book printed for a fee, but this is not required. You can also read books created by others (if they make them public). Use the fully-public option to create learning materials for classes to access year to year for at-home review or reading practice.
This site requires a simple registration. Teachers can set up an edCenter for their school or class in accordance with school policies. See more detailed suggestions "In the Classroom" below and in our sample book!
After you save and publish the work, share the URL so people can read the entire thing online, either among an audience of "just my friends" or publicly. They also offer the embed code to place your books in a class or school web page, wiki, or blog, but at the time of this review, this code was not working properly. The BEST option is to copy the address of the new window displaying the interactive book. There is an option to have the book printed for a fee, but this is not required. You can also read books created by others (if they make them public). Use the fully-public option to create learning materials for classes to access year to year for at-home review or reading practice.
This site requires a simple registration. Teachers can set up an edCenter for their school or class in accordance with school policies. See more detailed suggestions "In the Classroom" below and in our sample book!
tag(s): creative writing (67), digital storytelling (40), writing (292)
In the Classroom
SKIP the profile and friends areas to get to the book creator to play with the tools a bit. Before you get too involved, create an edCenter to minimize advertising and create books in your own teacher-friendly class environment. Use the edCenter to register students and establish privacy settings for your class. No student emails are required.On the Create Books page, choose from using a blank book, starting from a file, or using a template. Choose "school" to see projects from other classes or a sample created by you or a student team working in advance along with you. Explore ready-made themes (seasonal, topical, etc.) or use "open theme." Choose book dimensions (match layout shape to any uploaded files, such as PowerPoint slides). Enter settings and description of your book (editable later), including who is allowed to "see" it: everyone, just friends, or private. Again choose a "theme" - more of a category where Bookemon will list your completed book. A logical option is "school." Experiment with tools to upload files (within file limits), add images, add text, etc. Written help is offered as you go, but there is no video demo. SAVE often. Turn margins on to avoid chopping content. To share the book, you must "publish" it (i.e. finalize).
Once published, locate the book under "My Books" and use options to share (by email--and see the URL to copy from there), "Make a new edition" to create a new version--also useful for treating the original as a template for later books), Post to Other Sites offers embed codes not currently working properly. The BEST option is to click the book COVER which opens a new window without ads or "stuff," and copy the ADDRESS of that window to paste into email, etc. You can also make that clean-window view a Favorite on a classroom computer!
Use your edCenter settings to manage social networking features. This will avoid the "public" Bookemon features such as opportunities to share address books, use social tools such as Facebook to share your books, etc. Teacher-controlled edCenter accounts are probably the easiest option for managing within school policies.
With younger students, have them begin their work in PowerPoint then upload for whole-class books. See an example, created by the TeachersFirst Edge editors . The example is full of ideas for classroom use from Kindergarten to high school, including science concept tales, poetry books, general writing, math problem solve-its, and more. ANY grade can use this tool, depending on the amount of direction by the teacher. By the way, the correct answer to the problem in the sample book is c. 27. Another idea, have students create personalized books for their parents or grandparents for special occasions (Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Grandparent's Day).
Tip: Use this site for a guided introduction to social networking as a class, an excellent teaching opportunity for 21st century literacy skills and online safety discussion.
Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log in (NO email)
Products can be shared by URL
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
Comments
This is one of my all time favorite creative tools. Very versatile. Great for making "buddy books" or for teacher-created learning "books." Make one as a whole class to summarize a science unit in primary grades. I even use it personally to make fee online "gifts" for children I know. I did purchase one print version, and it looked great.Thinking, PA, Grades: 5 - 10
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Glogster EDU - Glogster
Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites
0 Comments
Glogster EDU is a tool to create online multimedia "posters" that can incorporate all types of elements into a visual space: links, images, text, videos, music, and more. Your students...more
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Glogster EDU is a tool to create online multimedia "posters" that can incorporate all types of elements into a visual space: links, images, text, videos, music, and more. Your students will have multiple ways to express themselves and to learn from each other, making it easy for you to differentiate and engage each student. See examples of glogs right on the home page to envision the possibilities.
The EDU community offered by Glogster is designed to alleviate the problems of inappropriate content and contact with "outsiders" not welcome in your class electronic community. The EDU area provides classes advertising-free glogs and easy teacher monitoring of student work. Students can comment and interact within a "gated community" with education-friendly options for collaboration and learning. Remember those "All About Me" posters you used to make during the first month of school, or science fair stand-up tri-folds, or magic-marker-drawn visual aids for speeches? Translate 20th century "visuals" into the 21st century using Glogster EDU, extending your students' intellectual reach and mastering the media to incorporate new technologies and richer messages. Here is an example glog created by the TeachersFirst Edge team. Note: Check the details of the free vs premium options, since they change periodically. One teacher or one student can create a free account.
This site includes advertising.
The EDU community offered by Glogster is designed to alleviate the problems of inappropriate content and contact with "outsiders" not welcome in your class electronic community. The EDU area provides classes advertising-free glogs and easy teacher monitoring of student work. Students can comment and interact within a "gated community" with education-friendly options for collaboration and learning. Remember those "All About Me" posters you used to make during the first month of school, or science fair stand-up tri-folds, or magic-marker-drawn visual aids for speeches? Translate 20th century "visuals" into the 21st century using Glogster EDU, extending your students' intellectual reach and mastering the media to incorporate new technologies and richer messages. Here is an example glog created by the TeachersFirst Edge team. Note: Check the details of the free vs premium options, since they change periodically. One teacher or one student can create a free account.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): posters (17)
In the Classroom
Start by creating a glog together as a class to try out the tools (don't forget to name it). Keep it simple or add all the bells and whistles. Preview as you work or return later to complete and publish your Glog. Add ready-made graphics, images from files on your computer or by URL on the web, links (hyperlinked from text or other objects), text boxes or bubbles, backgrounds ("walls"), animated graphics ("vinyl and toys"), recorded audio, embedded video from SchoolTube or TeacherTube, uploaded media file, and much more. You can also "grab" video or audio from your computer's webcam and mike. [Our editors had some trouble "grabbing" video from a Mac using Firefox, so TEST in advance. A very responsive Glogster EDU tech crew tells us they are working to correct that glitch.]Of course you will want to model and teach appropriate documentation of any sources of images and media you use and to use copyrighted works legally. If you limit access to your class only by keeping a glog "private," you can use copyrighted materials under Fair Use. YOU must limit the distribution of the URL, however.
When you are done working, decide whether the glog is "unfinished" or "finished" (and published), and decide whether it will be public or not. Share finished work with "friends" (classmates) in the Glogster EDU area or via URL and other social networking tools. You can access ALL your glogs and your students' glogs from your teacher dashboard (if you have one of the premium accounts,) including the glog URLs. What can you do with your free teacher account? You can embed a glog in your class wiki or blog, as a landing page for all of your important links. This same glog can be embedded anywhere you need. Your wiki, blog, school website, and more. The advantage? Change your glog whenever you want and it changes all the other places. Watch the tutorials on embedding so you can learn how to adjust the size of the embed window and which codes work best for wikispaces.
Possible uses: (in addition to those shown in the sample glog here) Create "visual essays;" digital biodiversity logs (with digital pictures students take); online literary magazines; personal reflections in images and text; research project presentations; comparisons of online content, such as political candidates' sites or content sites used in research (compared for bias); documenting science experiments or illustrating concepts, such as the water cycle; "Visual" lab reports; Digital scrapbooks using images from the public domain and video and audio clips from a time in history -- such as the Roaring Twenties; Local history features; visual interpretations of major concepts, such as a "visual" U.S. Constitution. Build a library of sample Glogs by you or by former students, then ask students to create their own as a new way to assess understanding: you could even provide links to images and raw materials they may use (especially if you have students who need extra scaffolding), and they can work with them to sequence, caption, and write about the pieces. After a first project where you possibly suggest "building blocks," the sky is the limit on what they can do. Even the very young can make suggestions as you "create" a whole-class glog together using an interactive whiteboard. Consider making a new project for each unit you teach so students can "recap" by visiting the glog long after the unit ends. Save student glogs from year to year as examples, possibly even awarding prizes for "best" examples. Have upper elementary or middle school students create "glogs for understanding" for "little buddies" two or three grades lower.
Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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podOmatic - podOmatic
Grades
1 to 12
9 Favorites
0 Comments
Create simple audio podcasts using this online tool and the free space they provide. Simply put, this tool lets you create and place sound recordings online for people to listen ...more
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Create simple audio podcasts using this online tool and the free space they provide. Simply put, this tool lets you create and place sound recordings online for people to listen to and/or download from a web site. There are MANY free podcasts in a variety of subject areas (art, health, technology, music, business, and more.) The site itself is a "web 2.0," social networking style site, so some schools may have it blocked. Ask about unblocking just YOUR teacher account so you can have students access it while at school and under your supervision.
What can it do? You can record sound directly with the microphone built-in or plugged into your computer and make it available for people to listen to online or download to their MP3 player. See and hear a sample we made for you.
Create a minicast through a simple upload of images and audio that turns your images into a short video. Transitions are also available for your minicast. Share through a blog, twitter, or Facebook with a link (adding the link to Facebook opens up the minicast player on your wall.) Minicasts are web-based and can even be played on an iPhone or Droid.
What can it do? You can record sound directly with the microphone built-in or plugged into your computer and make it available for people to listen to online or download to their MP3 player. See and hear a sample we made for you.
Create a minicast through a simple upload of images and audio that turns your images into a short video. Transitions are also available for your minicast. Share through a blog, twitter, or Facebook with a link (adding the link to Facebook opens up the minicast player on your wall.) Minicasts are web-based and can even be played on an iPhone or Droid.
tag(s): images (115), photography (96), podcasts (30)
In the Classroom
Attach a mike or use your built-in computer mike; create the podcast by clicking a record button, (you may have to tell your computer to "allow" nonsecure items over and over). Choose a background for your podcast page. Share it with others using one of several sharing options on the "My Podcast" tab, including copying the link to paste in an email or newsletter or embedding the podcast in your class web page or wiki. Create a minicast of images taken during a lab or a portfolio of images from a photography, art, or any other class. Add music and share as part of a digital portfolio.Podomatic does not allow memberships for those under 13. Teachers using this tool with younger students should do so under supervision and with a teacher-controlled account. The site is a "general public" site, so the home page has links to recent podcasts that may not be appropriate for the classroom. Discuss this possibility and tell students NOT to click on other's work or simply avoid sending students into the site on their own. Carefully select or SKIP many sharing mechanisms for safety's sake. Limit any identifiable information within the podcasts. You may want to share the links to class podcasts only with your students and parents. If you have students record podcasts as assignments, you may need multiple accounts because the free accounts have limited file space. An elementary teacher might have enough space for 25 students to keep a limited number of products on his/her own account, depending upon length. The site will tell you how much space each podcast takes and how much you have left.
You could record your assignments or directions; you can record story time or a reading excerpt for younger ones to listen to at a computer center AND from home! Have better readers record selected passages for your non-readers (perhaps older buddies). Launch a service project for your fifth or sixth graders to record stories for the kindergarten to use in their reading and listening center. Have students create "you are there" recordings as "eyewitnesses" to historical or current events; make a weekly class podcast, with students taking turns writing and sharing the "Class News;" have students create radio advertisements for concepts studied in class (Buy Dynamic DNA!); have students write and record their own stories or poetry in dramatic readings; language students or beginning readers could record their fluency by reading passages; allow parents to hear their child's progress reading aloud, etc. Compare world language, speech articulation, or reading fluency at two points during the year. Have your Shakespeare students record a soliloquy! Write and record a poem for Father's or Mother's Day (or other special events) and send the URL as a gift to that special person.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
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Word Hearts - Neoformix.com
Grades
6 to 12
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0 Comments
This is a simple tool that automatically fills a heart shape with any words you choose. Simply type the words separated by commas in the text box and press "Enter." ...more
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This is a simple tool that automatically fills a heart shape with any words you choose. Simply type the words separated by commas in the text box and press "Enter." You have the option to choose one of three fonts and change the colors of the text, background, and shape.
There is no built-in method to save or print your image, however you can capture it by using print screen, explained by clicking on one of the links available right on the Word Heart page, that will guide you on how to capture your screen on both Windows and Mac. You can then paste it into any image editing program to crop it, save it, or print it.
There is no built-in method to save or print your image, however you can capture it by using print screen, explained by clicking on one of the links available right on the Word Heart page, that will guide you on how to capture your screen on both Windows and Mac. You can then paste it into any image editing program to crop it, save it, or print it.
tag(s): heart (29)
In the Classroom
This is a handy, fun tool to make available to your class. Provide a direct link from your web page or wiki and bookmark it in your favorites. The uses are endless! Students can generate words related to any of the literary themes or character traits related to love, family, or friendship, or write a poem. When studying grammar, have students fill the heart with verbs, or nouns. Use it to generate synonyms or antonyms. Another idea, have students "capture" the picture and save. Then have the students narrate their word heart using a site such as Voicethread reviewed here.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Kaboose - Walt Disney Internet Group
Grades
K to 6
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0 Comments
Kaboose is a potpourri chock full of new ideas for gifts to make for special occasions, holiday crafts and recipes with easy-to-follow directions, slide shows, puzzles, games,...more
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Kaboose is a potpourri chock full of new ideas for gifts to make for special occasions, holiday crafts and recipes with easy-to-follow directions, slide shows, puzzles, games, and more all based on seasonal activities and celebrations. The page is "busy" with lots of links to related resources and advertisements, but with very little exploration you will find entertaining, creative ideas for projects that can be done in the classroom. Be sure to check the copyright restrictions on the bottom of the web page.
In the Classroom
How many times have you taught the siblings of your current students and are now looking for a new project or gift for them to bring home? Bookmark this site in your favorites or in your folder for holiday/seasonal arts and craft ideas. Invite parents in to work with small groups to give you plenty of extra pairs of hands. During classroom celebrations, project a selection of the related interactives on your classroom whiteboard to keep students educationally engaged and prevent them from "wandering" too far from the holiday theme.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Smilebox - Smilebox, Inc.
Grades
5 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
This resource allows you to create slide shows, greetings, scrapbooks, invitations, collages, and more. The download is free, but there are paid upgrades available if desired. For educational...more
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This resource allows you to create slide shows, greetings, scrapbooks, invitations, collages, and more. The download is free, but there are paid upgrades available if desired. For educational purposes, the upgrades are not needed. Photos, videos, and music can all be added to your creations. A Smilebox template must be used to make your creations. Products made with this program can be shared to web pages and blogs, social networking sites, emailed, saved, or printed for free. All themes are free. This is a free download, so make sure you have computers that have the capability to download before creating a lesson with this tool. See the reviewer's sample
here.
tag(s): blogs (51), images (115), movies (50), photography (96), slides (24)
In the Classroom
You will need to be able to download this program, and you will need 4 MB of space on your computer to do so. The program will automatically pull some photos from Windows Media or iPhoto depending on what your computer uses for photos. You can save web images or use screen shots, as well, to be used in your creations. Watch copyright! Check out the review of Jing reviewed here for details and a down-loadable screen shot taker. (It is what our reviewer used to capture extra images for the sample!) From here, it is easy to simply click and follow the on screen instructions. The program is simple to navigate and very user friendly for those who are accustomed to web tools.With the variety of formats, this program has a wide variety of applications in any type of classroom! Use in history class to have students create collages of different periods of time such as the American Civil War. Create topics such as the Lincoln's Election, the Gettysburg Address, Battle of Antietam, Emancipation Proclamation, Battle of Gettysburg, and Lee's Surrender. Have pairs or groups of three select topics at random, and then have them create a collage or "scrapbook" of the event. Try having students choose a role from which to create their assignment such as a Rebel soldier, a Union Soldier, a volunteer nurse, a mother or father of children fighting on different sides of the war, etc. Have students collect copyright free images online for their use or create their own by reenacting and creating visuals to take pictures for their productions. Unleash student creativity by showing them this tool as resource in creating presentations and projects for your class and others. What a fabulous tool to use on the first day of school (as a welcome), beginning of a new unit, or back to school night with the parents! Elementary classes could create whole-class scrapbooks of curriculum projects, such as their science garden or Colonial Days celebration.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Requires download/installation of software
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mix Book - Andrew Laffoon
Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Enhance digital storytelling and classroom-publishing techniques with Mixbook. This web 2.0 creating tool lets students collaboratively create beautiful books. Users can simultaneously...more
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Enhance digital storytelling and classroom-publishing techniques with Mixbook. This web 2.0 creating tool lets students collaboratively create beautiful books. Users can simultaneously insert photos, text, and edit from separate computers. Authors can select from a wide variety of thematic designs, layout options, stickers, and backgrounds or design their own. Download personal photos, scanned illustrations, or free public domain images directly into the image library. Inserting photos is a simple, intuitive process that requires a click and drag. The text comes in a variety of font options, and sizes. A complete transcript of the writing appears below the book. Viewers can enjoy the reading the book without needless advertising or redirection to another site. It is also possible to copy a book and easily create a customized edition for individual students. There is always the option to purchase books directly from the Mixbook. Go directly to this site and immediately create your masterpiece.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): digital storytelling (40), ebooks (14)
In the Classroom
Use Mixbook to create collaborative projects, yearbooks, or to give writers workshop publishing a professional flare. History teachers may enjoy letting students photograph a re-enactment of a scene from the past and then write accompanying text. Combine yearly research reports with this multimedia option. Have students create collaborative projects that access fantastic photography collections from sites such as the Library of Congress . Primary school teachers can photograph student illustrations of familiar songs, poems, or rhymes and create "class" books. Project these books onto an interactive whiteboard or projector and revolutionize shared reading. Create parent education books that communicate how to help with their student's reading at home, or explain the stages of project-based learning. Students can also author books in a foreign language. Mixbook is useful for all areas of the school curriculum. Remember to embed student books into the school website for family and friends at home to enjoy.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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VUVOX - VUVOX
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Looking to take your presentation skills to a new level? Enter Vuvox. Use the production tools on this site to produce a richer and more interactive presentation with photos, videos,...more
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Looking to take your presentation skills to a new level? Enter Vuvox. Use the production tools on this site to produce a richer and more interactive presentation with photos, videos, music, and text. Share your presentation easily. Use one of the three basic tools available on Vuvox: Express, Collage, and Studio. Express is an easy to use and minimalist version of Studio. Use Collage to create panoramic slide shows with interactive text, photos, and videos. Use Studio for the most creative control and ability to create a wide variety of presentations. Use any of these user-friendly tools that feature drag and drop editing. Where to begin? First, collect the media. Then, create the presentation, and share. Choose whether to make the creation public or private. Be sure to note the tabs along the top of your page. Choose the menu options under the "Create" tab, or view "My Stuff." Look under the "Explore" tab to search content created by others.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): images (115), multimedia (17)
In the Classroom
No registration is necessary to view content. Users must be able to find and upload content while using the simple interface that should be easily recognized by all (WYSIWYG.) Once content is uploaded, simply drag and drop your pieces into the presentation. Apply themes already available in Vuvox. Your presentations will remain in your own channel on Vuvox.Students are able to pull pictures not only from Flickr and Picasa but also from their Facebook profiles. Pictures can also be uploaded, and students should be aware of copyright and other issues. Be certain to check your district policy of sharing student work on the Internet. Consider making classroom images collections on Flickr for students to access and use.
This tool would be an asset to any teacher; however, if you are one of the lucky ones (or smart ones) who uses Learning Focused Schools or teaches with essential ideas, it is invaluable. You could map your entire lesson, chapter, or unit on one presentation using Vuvox. Introduce the concept with this tool, and go back to it often with your students as you move to different parts of the unit. Your visual learners will appreciate the context connections. It would provide a great review if you were doing this on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Post this to your wiki, web page, or even give kids the URL of the Vuvox that you have created for them so that they can review as often as they need it or explain it at home as part of study for a test. However, you do not have to stop there. Try having the students map a concept or chapter with this tool. In history class, create time lines of relevant events to the curriculum. Have students create presentations for different events, and then have them post the link of their product to a class blog or wiki. Showcase events and issues such as environmental and world events. Or simply make a timeline of an animal or plant life cycle together as a class or in small groups. Add a peer review component and require students to comment on peer creations. The possibilities are endless!
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Tagxedo - Hardy Leung
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
1 Comments
Want a word Cloud with Style? Create one here! A word cloud is an image of words that show the most frequent word in a larger font than the others. ...more
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Want a word Cloud with Style? Create one here! A word cloud is an image of words that show the most frequent word in a larger font than the others. Create a visual representation of a passage to pull out and identify important words or show the text in an interactive, visually appealing way. The resulting cloud pops out the words as you roll over them, so viewers can "see" each word separately. See a sample, created by the TF Edge review team. Explore the gallery for many inspiring examples, including some that use the customizable image shapes uploaded from your own computer (premium feature). Some features may change slightly after the beta phase, but developer Hardy Leung assures TeachersFirst users, "Even after beta you'll be able to save the animated version of the Tagxedo for free to your computer or to the web without the paid version. I may require a membership, though unlikely, but even then I'll make sure there is a free version for teachers and students."
Tagxedo requires Silverlight. The site will appear as a blank page with the "Install Silverlight Plugin" button if your computer does not have it installed. See your tech folks to allow download and installation of this plug-in if school computers do not have it and/or are "locked down."
Tagxedo requires Silverlight. The site will appear as a blank page with the "Install Silverlight Plugin" button if your computer does not have it installed. See your tech folks to allow download and installation of this plug-in if school computers do not have it and/or are "locked down."
tag(s): literacy (101)
In the Classroom
NO membership required to create a cloud, though saving may require a (free) membership in the future, according to developer Hardy Leung. Click "Create" and then "Words." Paste URL to "cloud" words from a web page or copy/paste (or type) a passage of words into the given field. (Repeat words to make them larger). Experiment with various settings and "themes" to create the different colors and shapes of the word cloud. Change the theme, shape, direction, layout, and other parameters easily. Click SAVE to easily download a static image of various sizes or take a screenshot using shortcut keys. Saved images do not have the cool "pop-out" feature (rats!), though the developer tells TeachersFirst that users will be able to download animated versions in the future. You can also save and obtain the direct URL to your animated cloud. Be sure to bookmark it or copy/paste the URL for safe keeping in a document, wiki, etc. During beta, the tool allows you to save and copy embed code, but this feature will cost money later.In the classroom: This is a terrific visual tool to share on an interactive whiteboard or projector. In primary grades. Enter a group of related words into the text box, such as sight words, words with the same spelling cluster, or vocabulary terms. Then have students roll over the words to read them aloud as they pop out (only works in the ONLINE version of the clouds). Paste in a passage or URL for a political speech to visualize the politician's "message." Analyze advertising propaganda by visualizing the language used in TV or print ads. Create word clouds of historical texts of inauguration speeches as time capsules of the issues of the day. Use this site as a way to help students see and memorize terms and important vocabulary, especially visual learners. Use it also when writing poetry or reading passages of great literature to "see" themes and motifs of repeated words and images. Have students paste in their own writing to spot repeated (and monotonous) language when teaching lessons on word choice. Students will be surprised to see what words appear to be dominant. ESL and ELL students will eagerly use this site since word order will no longer be a problem for them. Have students work in groups to create word posters of vocabulary words with related meanings, such as different ways to say "walk" or "said" and decorate your classroom with these visual reminders of the richness of language. Use themes and shapes that coordinate with the word cloud (for example, use a bird shape when creating a cloud about flight or a heart when interpreting a love poem. Consider using a word cloud as a first week of school activity where students discuss summer vacation or what they did over the summer. As a first day activity, students could also make a cloud with words about themselves, then have classmates guess which cloud matches which person.
For a free gift for special occasions, make word clouds about mom for Mother's Day or Thanksgiving "I am thankful" visual poems. Share them by emailing the URL or in printed form.
Comments
Very versatile, creates word clouds in specific shapes. Adds another dimension.Frances, CT, Grades: 6 - 8
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Go Animate - GoAnimate
Grades
9 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Use Go Animate to create interesting and memorable cartoon type presentations. Students will have fun unleashing their imagination and delivering a message through creative animation....more
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Use Go Animate to create interesting and memorable cartoon type presentations. Students will have fun unleashing their imagination and delivering a message through creative animation.
Here is a very simple animation example.
tag(s): animation (38), comics and cartoons (51)
In the Classroom
Use the application right away (without waiting for an email confirmation). Video tutorials are available, and many functions are easy to figure out once you play with them. Choose from many templates or start with a blank screen. Create your cartoon using Saturday morning cartoon characters or a variety of other characters such as presidents, commercial characters, and many others. Add your images, such as faces or background pictures and customize additional characters, sounds, etc. Control length of sections, voices and sounds, and delete or add sections through the time line along the bottom. Save your creation easily and share to your favorite social or bookmark site; copy a link to share with others, or copy and paste the embed code into your wiki, blog, or website. Creations are saved in your account online and can be kept private or made public.Use Go Animate as creators have recognized its broad use in education and have created this education portal separate from the non-K12 world. Caution: check student creations during the process. Also check your district's policies on displaying and sharing student work. CAUTION! This site includes the ability for the general public to submit their own animations. Be sure to preview for content inappropriate for your classroom. You may want to limit use to whole-class activities or prohibit accessing the public portion of the site. The home page has loud music and links to many "public" animation projects, so firm policies and/or practices to avoid "exploring" these are vital.
Students can sum up debate ideas using animated characters or present simple concepts from researched material to introduce to the class. Students can tell book report stories, create fictitious stories or present ideas in a fun format. Challenge students to use this site to tell the history of political figures, historical figures, or historical areas. Use this site to teach about chemical properties, scientific figures or discoveries, or great moments in Science through animation. In language arts class, you can use this tool to apply concepts of narrative patterns or characterization. Teachers of gifted may want to assign students to create an entire animated series. ESL/ELL or world language students could create animations to practice their new vocabulary. Why not have students create a comic strip about their mom or dad for Mother's or Father's Day or honoring someone else special in their lives - - even the school custodian, nurse, or secretary!
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