Powerpoint was SO 10 years ago… Google Slides is where it's at!
We are sure you all have heard about Google Slides, but, have you really used Slides? Maybe you have used Slides just like a powerpoint to guide your lesson, yet there are so many different ways you can use Slides to engage your class. Here are just a few ways we like to use Google Slides in our classrooms....
Jess:
When Google Slides became a “thing” years ago it was very easy to transfer over from powerpoint (used all the time in college and my early teaching years) to Google Slides. Let me explain to you why Google Slides are my JAM!
First, as a teacher, I use Google Slides daily to display what the students will be doing in each subject area, essentially to guide my lessons for the day. Basically, I have a Google Slide for each day which serves as my “lesson plan”. This is the easiest way to use Google Slides as a new Google beginner.
I love the website Slides Carnival which has multiple other themes to choose from. They also have holiday themes.
Next, I will share some ways I have used Google Slides in my classroom that are extra awesome! I quickly learned that Google Slides has SO much more to offer than just being a powerpoint or “agenda/lesson plan”.
Currently in Science, we are studying life cycles. We have been studying life cycles of plants, mealworms, butterflies, and frogs. Yes, I am THAT teacher that has all of these animals and plants on a shelf in my classroom so the students can watch the actual life cycles happen in real time. I wanted to assess the kids on their learning thus far. I did not want to use paper and pencil (how boring, right?) Below is a copy of the interactive drag and drop assessment I made for the students. (Life Cycle Assessment) The students were so excited about the assessment and kept saying how it was so fun...an assessment fun?? Whaaaaat?
Another way I use Google Slides is during my ELA block. I type vocabulary questions and comprehension questions into the slides for the students to answer and set their purpose for reading. The best part is I can add pictures for my visual learners. Here is an example: Reading Questions
Now, my students are just in 3rd grade so they didn’t know what birds of prey were and were VERY interested to see pictures of the birds. Inserting pictures into the Google Slide made them that much more interested in the topic they were reading. (The book I used is from Reading A to Z)
I also use Google Slides for games. This is one of the games I created:
SRI Practice We take the SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory) every month. I put some questions in a google slide. I got out my fancy microphone and was the host of the hottest reading game show around. Students were in partners and worked together to answer the questions and receive points. This is the simplest way to use Google Slides as a game. There are so many templates out there to create Jeopardy games and so much more.
As an Elementary teacher we celebrate ALL the holidays. Below is a link to the tags I made to go on the treats I made for my babies for Easter. Google Slides (to me at least) is such an easy way to make these tags, print, and put on a snack. “Hoppy” Easter to them!
Finally, the students can use Google Slides. Yes, even 3rd graders. This year we had a Living History Museum for Black History Month and students had to pick an influential person, write a speech in first person, dress as this person, have props, and present to the different grade levels and parents. Each student found pictures they wanted to use from Google and put them into a slide to make a name tag that I printed and laminated to put in front of them. Here is the link:
There are so many things you can do with Google Slides, hence why it is my JAM! The above are just a few ways I have used Google Slides, yet I plan to implement many more ideas in the future.
Steph
When our school district became a GAFE district, Jess and I were both early adopters. In the beginning, it was easy to adapt to Google Slides (from PowerPoint) because they are so similar. And, I basically used them in the same way until I learned better… (but, I still use Slides daily as my ‘agenda’, like Jess).
This year, my students live in Google Slides! Most work they complete is within this app because it is so easy for me to create different activities within one slide deck!
In my freshman and junior classes, one way my students use slides (daily) is for their notes. I require them to answer questions over the topics we discuss to serve as their notes. I simply add a 2 column table to a slide - I insert the question in the left column, and students are expected to answer the question in the right column! This is so easy to organize and each slide is a new topic (example here). Slides are GREAT for this purpose because I can also pre-load their notes with YouTube videos, pictures (and memes, because we have to have some fun!) and links to resources dealing with topics I think they may want to dig into more. Here is an example.
Along with these notes, I also provide a unit calendar using slides that students can refer back to. My goal next year, though, is to utilize the REAL Google Calendar!
I love using Google Slides because of its abilities to be more than just a presentation tool! I have fallen in love with using it as an activity builder that allows students to insert pictures, answer questions, drag ‘n drop and so much more! This inspiration came when I began using the AMAZING Students of History Digital Interactive Notebooks! It’s important to remember that when students are allowed to edit slides, the space surrounding a slide is usable! You can use it for directions, additional pictures, the things you want them to manipulate - anything!! Here is a quick example of a review for my juniors over major Supreme Court cases using the outside of the slide and drag ‘n drop! The possibilities are endless - so get to making!
Last (but definitely not least) is the ability to create eBooks with Google Slides! Last semester, I wanted to give my juniors a resource they could go to for EOC review - a one stop shop. So, along with some members of my PLC we created an EOC review eBook. Our students love that they have one place to go. It’s quick and easy to set up - you can hyperlink between slides making a Table of Contents a breeze!
My students also create using Google Slides a ton, but Jess discussed that pretty well, so I won’t repeat her!
*****
AND!
Don’t forget you can insert pictures, videos, GIFs, and Bitmojis into Google Slides. How much fun is that? Our advice is to play around with Google Slides because the possibilities are endless on what you can create for yourself and your students. Be creative!
Make sure to constantly search for Add-ons in slides, they can make the functionality of Slides even better!
Comment below with your favorite way to use Slides in your classroom! Is there something you’d like us to blog about soon?
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