33 Results | sort by:
Scrumblr - scrumblr
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): bulletin boards (13), organizational skills (88)
In the Classroom
Use this as a place to put web quest links and information. As a project idea, have students create a wall about their summer vacation. They can include links and other information to display. Have elementary students build a class homework board each day, having a different student add the assignment for each subject; then share the link to the board for them to access at home. "Writing down" assignments can be fun! Any activity you can do by sorting and ranking words, terms, or ideas can be done instantly (and changed later) on a Scrumblr board. Use this tool as a new format for book reports. Do your students have favorites such as music or sports? Create a wall around these favorites or hobbies. Use a wall for grammar or vocabulary words or science unit terms. Create walls of pro/con for debates or high level thinking viewpoints. Post assignments, reminders, or study skills on a wall. Do you use student scribes or reporters? Use the site to create a wall with the goings-on in class. See a similar tool (and more ideas to use either tool) in the TeachersFirst review of Stixy here. Decide which one you prefer!This is the perfect quick start tool for your gifted students to record the ideas that occur to them during class. Have them create their own boards with a "what if" column for the crazy questions that pop in their heads, things like "What if Shakespeare wrote in a different meter?" or "Would Poe and Stephen King get along?" Give permission for far-fetched questions and graffiti! Have them create pro/con boards for tough topics such as gun rights during a unit on the Constitution, including links to evidence to support the statements they make on notecards. This tool could also help them brainstorm and sequence steps for a major independent project, sometimes a real challenge for the brightest students!
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Flock Draw - free online drawing tool - FlockDraw
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): collaboration (87), colors (61), drawing (61), painting (57)
In the Classroom
Allow students to create collaborative drawings through this site as responses to literature. Share the finished products on an interactive whiteboard, projector, or your class website. Have a group of students create a drawing, then another group can use that as a story prompt. Use this site with students in a computer lab (or on laptops) setting to create a drawing of the setting in a story as it is being read aloud.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
IDroo Online Educational Whiteboard - idroo.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): iwb (31), virtual field trips (70)
In the Classroom
IDroo would be great for any online collaboration session with other classrooms, teachers, or virtual classroom visitors. Use this to tutor students virtually by setting up a time for online work sessions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Draw A Stickman - drawastickman.com
Grades
1 to 10tag(s): creative writing (122), digital storytelling (138), directions (12), drawing (61), interactive stories (19)
In the Classroom
Aside from just fun practice at following instructions, Draw a Stickman would be a great fictional story prompt. Students have the bones of a story and can fill in details, vivid verbs, adjectives, etc. to tell the story. This would be a good practice activity with writing sequences of "first, then, and next." Students can elaborate on their hero, the plot of the story, the details, the setting, etc. Students can write a moral for a story to add in the customized ending. These stories would be fun to share as a class...how wide a variety can come from the same basics? Share finished stories with a talking avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted to be reproduced). The avatars can "read" the story. Use a site such as Blabberize, reviewed here. Teach story mapping easily with this activity: On an interactive whiteboard (or projector), students can go through the stick figure story together, labeling the different parts of the story (beginning, problem, climax, resolution, ending). This interactive can help students identify story elements, including setting, characters and plot. This site would also be perfect for ENL/ESL students for practice in reading and following directions or for speech/language students to practice retelling a story from the visual prompts. Another idea: use this activity for verb/vocabulary practice in a world language class.Comments
This will be a great fill-in activity when my students finish their assignments. I can't wait to use it!Beverly, TX, Grades: 6 - 12
Love this! So creative. I know the kids will love it too and I think the learning activities sound very promising too.Jeannie, MI, Grades: 0 - 5
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Sumo Paint 3.0 - Lauri Koutaniemi and Aaro Vaananen
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): design (83), editing (89), painting (57), photography (129)
In the Classroom
Previous experience with layer-based design software editing such as Photoshop is extremely beneficial. The "Sumo Paint Help" page provides helpful tutorials but individuals without previous training may need additional support.Challenge students to learn about the tools professional designers use today. Select and then project video help tutorials to the whole class. Before sending students off for independent practice, demonstrate how to use the image editing and painting tools on an interactive whiteboard or projector. The videos in this section link to YouTube, so systems that block YouTube access may not be able to access this. Rather than a traditional report, challenge students to write articles and create magazine covers for biographies, history or science reports using Magazine Cover Maker, reviewed here. Have students create icons for logos for websites. Have students create artwork for CD labels for portfolios or multimedia projects using CD Cover Maker, reviewed here. Post a link to Sumo Paint on your class website for student access outside of school. The beauty of this free cloud based software is that students can start a project in school, collaborate on a single image, and continue to work on it after school hours.
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 shared by URL
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
SketchUp - Google
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): architecture (62), design (83), drawing (61)
In the Classroom
To introduce yourself to the program, check out the training video. There are templates that you can use to create your designs and they are offered in both metric and English measurements. The application is reminiscent of basic paint programs. Perhaps the best way to learn how to create with this tool is to take some time to "play" with it. The editors at TeacherFirst strongly recommend working your way through a sample before you implement this in a class. It gives your students a great model to visualize your expectations, and it will give you the hands on experience that you can use to help them. Another way to implement this is to roll it out to your students and have them "play" with it. You may learn more from them than you could have ever anticipated. Another neat feature of this program is that it allows you to Google search for previously constructed 3D models and download them directly into SketchUp on your computer!As part of a multidisciplinary unit in science, technology, economics, math, social studies, and English classes, use this site to create a culminating design project. In English classes, have students create a written grant or design proposal. In economics, have the students discover how to construct the project for the best possible cost. Have the final design project be a new museum or historical/tourist attraction to commemorate a local hero/heroine. In math and science classes, have the students "build" the project with accurate measurements. Then as follow up, have students use Google Earth reviewed here to predict the environmental impact of the new construction. Or, in technology education or industrial arts class, use this as a way to submit project drafts for construction.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Deviant Art Muro - Scott Jarkoff, Matthew Stephens, and Angelo Shift
Grades
9 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): design (83), drawing (61), graphic design (50), painting (57), photography (129)
In the Classroom
Some previous experience with layer base design software editing is beneficial but not completely necessary. The DeviantART muro drawing tools have a higher level of sophistication, and yet are intuitive to use. There are filters and layering options within the free version. It is possible to import photographs or scanned images into various layers. Save individual files or export student work as a web page. Unfortunately, the export process does not result in a useful file format. Consider having students take a screen shot of their work instead. Clicking the devaintART logo will take students to the public art space. Here the general public has the ability to submit imagery. Although students will not be able to comment or post without an account, they can view submissions easily.Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects. The mural format lends itself to the drafting of school murals or stage backdrops. Consider using this long online drawing space to tell visual stories or map out a character's or historical figure's journey through time. Post a link on your class website to DeviantART muro for access outside of school.
Although users can access the muro creator without signing up for an account, high school students may want to participate in the deviantARTs free social networking site. This may be the personal learning network for juniors and seniors in high school considering a career in the arts are looking for. Students age 16 and older will benefit from an online profile account where they can create personal galleries, develop fans, and find collaborators for projects from across the globe. High school students considering jobs in graphic design, animation, film, illustration, or computer arts can build a professional portfolio to submit to employers, art schools, or potential clients. Users will also benefit from the deviantART critique section that provides constructive criticism from viewers beyond their immediate brick and mortar school. Students will need to create an account in order to use these services. If your students submit their own content (according to school policies, of course), take the time to teach safe ways to submit, commentary etiquette, and the potential for cruelty or rude behavior by anonymous viewers. You may want to monitor the discussion boards for a week or two before deciding if they are appropriate for your school situation.
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
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Homestyler - Autodesk
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): architecture (62), area (50), design (83), volume (32)
In the Classroom
Users click and drag design components onto the main layout page. The free draw tool is a bit trickier to control but is similar to drawing tools in other programs. The perimeter measurement scrolls alongside the line you are drawing. The interface for such a complicated concept is intuitive. Students will need explicit instructions on how to operate this program.Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to share the tutorial presentation and demonstrate how to use the design tools. Divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Consider this resource to help math students visualize how to compute the surface area of three-dimensional shapes and understand how area and volume change with scale. Social Studies and History teachers can ask students to re-create the interior of an early American home, Greek Temple or even their own classroom. With guidance, this could be a wonderful tool to help younger students understand interior mapping skills. Classrooms focusing on "real-world learning" may find this a valuable resource tool to help students create design plans for an alternative environment.
Edge Features:
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
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Draw.to - draw.to
Grades
K to 12tag(s): drawing (61)
In the Classroom
Skills required: You must be willing to play and play again! Use tools for thin, medium, or thick lines. Change colors of the pen by clicking on the black square and choosing a different color. Don't like what you have changed? Click the undo button (or the redo if you want to go back again!) Add text to the drawing by clicking the text button, enter the text, and then click the cursor at a place in the drawing where you wish it to appear. Use the eraser to remove certain areas of the drawing. Be sure to note: there IS an undo button! Click the share button to share as a URL or on facebook, twitter, and other applications including embed to place the code on a wiki, blog, or other site. Users must be able to manage using embed codes on the site of their choice.You can create directly without any need for registration or logins. Want to keep a picture version of the creation? Take a snapshot using the print screen function on PC or the snapshot in Mac (use apple/shift/4.)
Use slides of drawings to show any major concept. In History, show battlefronts in specific wars. Create drawings of material learned in science such as bonding of atoms, DNA structure and replication, food chains and webs, and physical laws. Use in solving Math problems as a physical whiteboard. Use with students to describe their day or specific emotions. If you are fortunate enough to have laptops or handheld devices such as iPads, use this tool for a quick formative assessment by asking students to sketch their understanding of relationships between concepts (concept map) or a diagram of a science concept such as what is happening inside a volcano. Students can share it by URL, Twitter, or whichever social networking/bookmarking service is available in your school. Draw for understanding!
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Tux Paint - Bill Kendrick
Grades
K to 6tag(s): creativity (92), drawing (61), painting (57), preK (246)
In the Classroom
Introduce this fabulous site on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Have students take turns trying the program. Include a link to Tux Paint on your class website and encourage families to download Tux Paint onto their family computer. Elementary teachers will enjoy all the options Tux Paint provides for image making. Classroom teachers can have students draw a response to a class glyph, illustrate stories, label scientific images, write and illustrate word problems or create self-portraits. You will need headphones or speakers for the audio portions of this site. Dazzle parents at Open House or Back to School Night with a viewing of the slide show presentation or looping animation of student work. Save student work as a JPG and export images into a multimedia presentation with narration using Slidestory, reviewed here. Ask older students to design and submit new stamps to Tux Paint. Explain to them the premise behind Open Source software and how to participate in collaborative software development. Tux Paint is also a great way to teach young students how to control a mouse, type, drag, and cut or paste imagery. Stuck for lesson ideas on how to use Tux Paint, just ask the students!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Bomomo - Philipp Lenssen
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artists (75), design (83), graphic design (50)
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Create abstract art that uses one or more design principles. Allow students to create example projects to demonstrate these principles. Save the files and upload them to a class design wiki or blog, or have students upload and critique them on ThingLink, reviewed here. This tool can also create graphics to decorate your classroom, class web page, or individual student blogs.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Queeky - Philipp Hennermann
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): collaboration (87), creativity (92), design (83), drawing (61), graphic design (50)
In the Classroom
To view and share drawings on a projector or interactive whiteboard with your class, you do not need to join. You can even draw. collaborate, and play back a drawing without saving. For full features, join the site (free). The confirmation email is slow to arrive, so join a day or so ahead of time. We suspect that the Germany-based site has real humans checking memberships on Germany time! While you wait, you can experiment with the drawing tools or learn about them by visiting the gallery and "playing" some drawings to see how some of the tools can be set to create truly artistic images. Be sure to experiment with the tools together with your students. There is an undo tool--very important as you start out. There are no demonstration videos or help screens, so you may learn best by doing or watching what others have done. There is a forum where users discuss tools, etc. Preview before sending students here, but the advice may be very helpful.This is a public site, so even though the Terms of Use prohibit obscene drawings, teachers will want to preview Galleries they plan to use and have a specific policy in place for students who navigate the site on their own. The public can see any artwork you create and view your profile, so students should have parent permission before creating any online artwork of their own and should maintain an anonymous identity on the site. Consider using a whole-class account so you can monitor activity. Students could name their works using a coded initial system so you would know who created what. This site allows outsiders to comment on public projects. You will want to discuss these features in the context of Internet Safety or establish specific written class rules and consequences for interacting with outsiders. This is a good opportunity to discuss netiquette and how to participate positively and safely in online communities.
Art teachers will love the chance to teach about design elements in a public, hands-on environment. Assign students to use only certain tools or to "variate" on a starter drawing you provide to demonstrate both creativity and mastery of the elements. Students using the tool from home could generate an actual portfolio of drawings without expending precious art materials. Have students or groups create collections or locate artworks in the galleries that demonstrate the design elements or techniques you want them to notice. Without joining the site, play selected drawings on a projector or interactive whiteboard and have students narrate what they see the artist doing.
Students in other subjects can use password protected Multidraw "rooms" (save the URL!) to create and share collaborative visual explanations of science processes, book covers for literature (with explanations for the design choices, of course), visual responses to poetry, graphics or logos for "companies" they create in a business or math class, etc. The animated playbacks of drawings could even show how to form letters in manuscript or do calligraphy (if you can do it without making a mistake!). An animated playback of a science process like the water cycle would be a great way to assess student understanding or reinforce the concepts. Challenge your gifted students to collaborate on Multidraw diagrams and playbacks to explain processes, sketch out ideas, or plan a project.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Web Whiteboard - Henrik Kniberg
Grades
K to 12tag(s): collaboration (87), iwb (31)
In the Classroom
Allow students to create collaborative drawings as responses to literature. They can map out the plot or themes, add labels, create character studies, and more. Share the finished products on an interactive whiteboard, projector, or your class website. Have a group of students create a drawing that another group can use as a writing prompt. Use Web Whiteboard as a brainstorming or sketching space as groups or the class share ideas for a major project or to solve a real world problem. Use this site with students in a computer lab (or on laptops) to create a drawing of the setting in a story as it is read aloud. As a creative assessment idea, have students draw out a simple cartoon with stick figures to explain a more complex process such as how a democracy works. If you are lucky enough to teach in a BYOT setting, use Web Whiteboard to demonstrate and illustrate any concept while students use the chat and drawing tools to interact in real time. If you are studying weather, have students diagram the layers of the atmosphere and what happens during a thunderstorm, for example. Introduce this tool to students who are working on group projects. Alternatively, have students use this to work as partners or as a small team to complete complex math problems or equations. Give students a problem by typing it on their board. Then have them work through it together, noting all of their reasoning and steps of work along the way.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Close comment form