How to: make memes 3 ways With 3 different devices

Memes are everywhere. So why not bring them into your classroom?

You can use memes to let your students connect with characters in a text you read in class, or use them yourself to emphasize rules or procedures in your classroom.

Either way, memes can be quickly and easily created using just about any device. Here's how to make a meme using an Android phone, an iPhone, and a Chromebook or PC.

On AN ANDROID DEVICE

On an Android device (Samsung, HTC, or LG phones, etc) there are tons of apps to add text to a photo. But what do you do if you (or your students) don't have a particular app?

The default Gallery app has a way to add handwritten text to your photos quickly and easily. Will it look as nice as a polished meme? Nope. Will it get the message across? Absolutely.

After opening the Gallery app, find the picture you'd like to add your text to. I've downloaded a bunch of base images (as you can see). Tap the image you want to use.

With the picture open, tap the Hamburger menu (three stacked lines) in the upper left corner. Select Flair from the menu that pops up.

Tap Draw.

Now you can add text or scribbles to your picture. Tap the arrow to pull up a tool shelf, and use the color bar on the side to change ink color.

When you're satisfied with the edits you've made, tap the arrow (>) in the upper right corner, and then the check-mark in the same spot on the next screen.

And that's it! Your meme can be shared just like any other file created or stored on your Android phone.

ON AN iphone or ipad

Just like an Android device, there are about a zillion apps that can add text to a photo. But when you have your students possibly using their own devices in class, you can't count on them all having the same access to apps.

All iOS devices, though, have the standard Photos app, and that's what we'll use.

Open up the Photos app, and find the picture you'd like to use as the base of your meme. Tap the photo to open it.

In the upper right hand corner, you'll see the adjust icon (highlighted at right). Tap it to open your picture for editing.

Now, tap the More icon all the way at the bottom of the screen (highlighted at right).

From the resulting pop-up, tap Markup.

Now it's time to add the text to your picture. The toolbar at the bottom of your screen has tools for adding text, and changing its color and size. You can also change the type of font, though your options are limited. To move your text around, just tap-hold-drag.

Once you're happy with the text you've added, click Done in the upper right, and Done again in the bottom right corner of the next screen.

And that's it! Your meme can be shared just like any other file created or stored on your iOS device!

on a chromebook or pc with google drawing

The best way to create and share a meme in the style of other web-based memes is to use Google's Drawing app. This app is one of the 7 that come standard within Google Drive, so it's always available for your use.

Let's get started:

Start by going to Google Drive (of course), and once you login with your @hcsdk12.org acccount, click the blue NEW button, click More, and select Google Drawings.

Now you'll be within Google Drawings, staring at a blank canvas in a new, untitled document.
First, give your document a title. Just click where it says Untitled Document, and type in the name you'd like.
Next, it's time to bring in the base image for your meme. Click on Insert, then Image... and select an option:
- 1. Upload a picture that you saved somewhere else.
  2. Bring a picture in from your Google Drive.
  3. Search Google for a picture to use (pictured right).

Once your base image has been added, resize it if you need. Just click the image, and click-hold-drag the blue boxes on the sides and corners.
After it's been sized the way you like it, it's time to add some text. Head back to the Insert menu, and this time select Word Art...
Type the text you want to add in the box that pops up, and press ENTER.
You can play around with the text style and color as you see fit (generic meme font is IMPACT, colored white with a 3 px black outline, if you were wondering).

In my meme, I want to add a second Word Art that speaks to the actual meme pictured (x all the y as it's referred). To do this, I could insert another Word Art and start from scratch. It may make more sense, though, to copy the Word Art I already have and then just change the words. This way, it keeps all the same font styling I've already set.
With that in mind, click your first Word Art. Head to the Edit menu, and select Duplicate (or be very impressive and use CTRL + D).
Move the Word Art wherever you'd like it placed, and double-click to edit it.
Type in what you'd like it to say, and press ENTER. Move or size it as needed.

And that's it! Your meme can be shared just like any other file created or stored in Google Drive. Or, you can download it as a PNG image or a PDF. Whichever way you'd like to share your meme-ry (trademark).

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