Use Screencastify to make GIFs perfect for use in your classroom. GIFs can be used to demonstrate a concept and help students visualize a process. They can also be used to create reactions that teachers and students can share when they respond to materials covered in class or when the interact with the work of their classmates.

Want to learn how to make GIFs but don't need the PD credit? Use this GIF creation tutorial.

Screencastify for GIFs

Want to learn how to make GIFs and want to earn 2 PD Hours while you are doing it? Complete this activity.

Ways to use GIFs with Students

GIFs can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Students can create GIFS to respond to literature, other student projects, historical events, and more. Students can also create GIFS to explain their understanding of a concept or process.

Teachers can use GIFs to:

Bring content to life through quick, bite sized nuggets of content
Demonstrate how to solve a math problem.
Teach vocabulary
Visually demonstrate science concepts
Inspire writing with a visual writing prompt
Share feedback as a reaction GIF
Create step-by-step tutorials
Teach an art or musical technique
Demonstrate new skills for PE class

Students can use GIFs to:

Retell the plot, character traits, or important elements in a book or reading assignment
Demonstrate their understanding of a concept such as a math skill or writing skill
Show what they learned during a science lab or activity
Present a short but important moment in a historical event
Demonstrate an art technique they have learned
Illustrate a vocabulary word
Create a reaction GIF to share with their classmates when reviewing projects created by other students.

More Ideas!

Different Types of Educational GIFs

Different Ways to Use GIFs

Google Docs has a feature that allows you to create a dropdown menu within your lines of text. You can use this feature to create teaching and learning activities where students select the correct options from your dropdown menu. It is like multiple choice, but better

Want to learn about the dropdown feature in docs but don't need PD credit? Watch this video or review the written directions.

Want to learn about the dropdown feature and earn 2 PD Hours while you are doing it? Complete this activity.

Explore these ideas to inspire you as you create your own dropdown activities in docs.

Ways to use the Dropdown feature with Students

Teachers can create an abundance of activities using the dropdown feature. Vocabulary, close reading, mathematical, historical events, mad lib style. If it is an activity you usually complete in class, it can probably be turned into a dropdown activity.

Teachers can use Dropdowns to:

Create choice boards
Create lists of options for centers or for laters
Create progress trackers for students
Create social-emotional check-ins
Create rubrics
Create close reading activities
Create vocabulary activities

Students can use Dropdowns to:

Give other students guided peer feedback
Create reading logs or reading trackers
Self assess their work
Show their understanding of math concepts by selecting the correct math expression from a dropdown list
Show their understanding of historical events by putting them in order in a narrative about the event
Label objects

Package all of the content that your students will need to complete their learning activity in one easy to access spot like a doc, slide, form or sheet.

Digital notebooks are interactive notebooks or binders that can be built with multimedia materials and easily updated as progress in the unit or subject is made. They give the students an opportunity to take control over their learning and since these notebooks are housed within Google Drive or Google Classroom, students can access them from home or school.

Explore different techniques and tools designed to allow you to give fast and meaningful feedback to your students while their work lives in a digital environment.

New to Flipgrid? Savvy veteran? Let the universe know you’re committed to empowering student voice as you earn your Flipgrid Certified Educator badge

Wakelet is a tool or platform that allows you to save any kind of mixed media content you find on the web or have in your Google Drive and arrange it into visual, engaging collections. You can add your content and then share your collections with students, teachers, and the learning community.

Google Workspace for Education is the platform supported by Lebanon City Schools. When this suite of tools is successfully implemented in a classroom or learning environment, they greatly enhance the teaching and learning experience. This Google Level 1 certification shows that you not only know how to use the basics of Google tools, but you also know how to meaningfully use them in your classroom.

Google Workspace for Education is the platform supported by Lebanon City Schools. When this suite of tools is successfully implemented in a classroom or learning environment, they greatly enhance the teaching and learning experience. This Google Level 2 certification shows that you are leveraging Google tools as a driver in your classroom to foster engagement as you create a student centered learning environment.