September 22, 2025
September 22, 2025
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Slides can be used in so many cool ways that are actually functional for you and your students. Here are five Google Slides hacks for your classroom.
If the font is PINK that means it's a PRESENT 🎁...click on it!!
Hack #1: Google Slides Instead of Docs
Hack #1: Google Slides Instead of Docs
Do you hate margins?? Me too. Do you hate how hard it is to add images and position things on a Google Doc? ME TOOOOO. If you prefer the functionality of Microsoft Word, you'll LOVE this!
Google Slides to the rescue!!
Follow the instructions to the left to set your slide size to that of a sheet of paper! You can use EVERY INCH of space on the slide, layer objects and text boxes...and they print beautifully!! PLUS, you have the option of assigning the slides as a Google Lti assignment in Canvas!
To save you some time, here is a blank slide template for you to copy and start with immediately!
Hack #2:Google Slides as Low Maintenance Card Sorts
Hack #2:Google Slides as Low Maintenance Card Sorts
Don't have time to print and cut whole class sets of card sorts, matching sets, or diagram labeling activities? No problem! Use Google Slides as a card sort! Utilize the white space around the slide in the edit view for objects to move onto the slide and sort. The options for sorting objects are only limited by your imagination!
These can be assigned by making a Google Lti assignment in Canvas! Click here for your own copy of some examples that I have used.
Hack #3:Google Slides Collaborative Games
Hack #3:Google Slides Collaborative Games
As a middle school science teacher I always wanted the great engage moments tying in a fun game! For instance when teaching competition for resources in ecosystems I really wanted the kids to play Hungry Hungry Hippos...but those games are expensive!! So I made my own digital version!
I placed a "forced copy" link to the slides on my Canvas page with the following instructions:
Directions:
1. ONE partner will click this link to make a copy of the Hungry Games slides
2. Click the Share settings in the top right corner
3. Type in the name of the other partner until their Google user populates.
4. Share it with them and make them an EDITOR
5. Once both players have the slides pulled up, read the instructions for play under the bottom of the slide.
6. Once play is complete, move to the game on the next slide.
7. Play each of the three slides.
8. Want to play again? Follow the instructions in this short video below 👇
https://youtu.be/gds5F8yS-FQ?feature=shared
Hack #4:Recording Google Slides
Hack #4:Recording Google Slides
Google added a feature where you can record yourself going through your slides right there in the Google Slides workspace! Excellent for making videos and putting them in Canvas for students to reference at a later date.
Teachers in HEB have this feature on their Google Slide decks, but students do not. This also only works when presenting on your laptop. You can screen record anything on your iPad by following a different set of instructions.
Look at the quick video about it to see how it works.
Here is a Google help article with instructions, FAQs, and trouble-shooting techniques.
Hack #5:Annotating Over Google Slides From Your iPad
Hack #5:Annotating Over Google Slides From Your iPad
Video instructions 👇
Go to the Google Drive app
Select the file that you want to use
Click on it to open it.
Once the file is open in the appropriate app, click the three dots in the top right corner.
Choose "Share and Export"
Choose "Send a copy"
Click "OK"
From the menu that pops up, choose "Markup"
When done, hit "Done" in the top right corner, save or delete as needed.
Spice up your next worksheet with "The Unhinged Wheel of Doom!" Courtesy of a TikTok creator called Hannah | Loud Teacher (@hannah.unverified) this will take your worksheet and independent practice from boring and average to fun! She's a good follow! What educators do you follow on social media!?
How it works:
Simply create two spinner wheels using https://wheelofnames.com/ or something comparable. You can also add multiple spinner wheels to Canva projects, within Canva itself!
The first spinner wheel is the "Question Wheel" that will contain a list of numbers that match the number of questions on your worksheet.
The second spinner wheel will be the "Wheel of Doom" that dictates HOW the problem will be solved.
Teacher spins the question wheel to see which question the class will be answering.
Then spins the wheel of doom to see HOW they'll need to answer it.
So it might be question 17 answered in a pirate voice or question 4 answered while laying on the floor.
See below for the list of wheel of doom options. Don't like them!? Have ChatGPT generate different ones or take student suggestions.
Engagement Spinner List.pdfPage updated
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