Differentiating with Google Workspace Projects

#001 Research with Google Docs

Google Documents have many tools embedded that can assist with learning quests!  This practice template uses the topic of Volcanoes for hands on practice using the Explore, footnotes, insert image, voice typing, styles, importing diagram from Google Canvas, Works Cited with the citation tool.   

Try it out:  Use this Grab & Go Research with Google Docs template (bit.ly/doc4learn) to learn how to use the tools.   Then, modify the topic/activities and assign to your own students so they learn how to use these tools for learning!  

#002 MultiMedia Text Set

What is a MultiMedia Text Set (MMTS)?   A MMTS is a document with links to a variety of different types of media. The instructional intention is to give students opportunities to explore content that has been curated for a specific purpose.  Rather than putting a new assignment individually throughout the unit/topic, the entire unit/topic exists one document. LESS work on both sides.     

Try it out:  Select Use Template & we'll walk through some ideas with this Earth in Action MMTS

Try it out:  Use this template to make your own THINK LINK with Google Slides!

#003 Mash Up Docs & Drawing for Writing

Benefits of Prewriting:  Prewriting strategies improve students writing in terms of content and ideas, organization, and voice; and also helps increase self- motivation and creativity towards writing.  Sometimes students have trouble engaging with a research topic or are too young to 'write a paper. You can use DRAW to ask them to create a magazine cover with three 'article titles' that would be highlighted on the cover as a prewriting activity.  The article titles are the topic for each supporting paragraph/topic in the paper!   Students can create a pre-writing magazine article for any topic you are covering, write about it and cite sources in a document and then insert their 'Draw Magazine Cover' into the document.  - Publish and share!!!    

Try it out: 

1.   Use  Grab & Go Document and Grab & Go Magazine Cover templates.  

2.   In the document, select Insert>Drawing and select the drawing.

3.  In the document, select File>Page Setup to match the background color of the drawing.  Voila!  

#004 Learn to Slide Activity  -

Google Slides are not just for presentation they can be part of constructing knowledge independently, collaboratively or both!  Use the template below to learn features of Google Slides in a 'hands on' fashion. One of the slides we create in this activity will next be imported into a 'collaborative' deck.

Try it out!  

1. Open the Learn to Slide file  and select 'Use Template'

2. Read the directions in the Notes to help you learn new ways to use slides.

#004b Complete the Slide Jigsaw

Google Slides can be easily combined for collaborative learning.   Link on a website or embed on a site.  Set to auto play and you are good to go! :)  Learn more about Jigsaw Here.

Try it out!  

1. Open the Collaborative Country Slides demo

2. Select File>Import and import Slide 2 (Your Country Slide) from the Learn to Slide file.  

#005 K2 Caterpillar Slide & #005b Our Caterpillars Collaborative

Jigsaw slides can be used with younger students as well!  In this example, we combine the math (learning patterns) and science (life cycle of butterfly) to create a pattern on the caterpillar in Slides with the fill tool.  Fine motor and technology skills developed while students deeply about the curriculum objectives.  When finished, import into a 'collaborative'  deck and then publish to the web to share with the class, community etc.  This concept can be creatively applied to other grades/curriculum.

Try it out!  

1. Open the Caterpillar Pattern Slide & Select Use Template

2. Use the 'fill tool' to create your own 'pattern' on the Caterpillar.  

3. Open 'Our Caterpillars' Collaborative Slides and select File>Import slide to import your Caterpillar.

#006 Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure were popular books in the 1980’s.  They present the reader with choices for making decisions about the next steps in the story and how it all works out.  Having students read these stories and then create their own can help develop problem solving, creative thinking, and ‘branch logic’ skills.  Note:  Use a planning tool BEFORE starting to build the adventure slides. 

Try it out!  

1. Review this Adventure Story of Slides on Ice Cream Viruses

2. Make a copy of this Slides Adventure Template https://bit.ly/slideadventure

3. Practice linking by linking Choice A, Choice B & Choice C and back to home.

Learn more about Choose Your Own Adventure:

• Creative Educator - Facilitating A CYOA

• Google's Applied Digital Skills - If this The That Lesson for Students (no prep needed!)

#007 Getting to Know You Survey

Use forms as your start of the year/term ‘getting to know you survey’ for both students and parents!  Use the information collected to help with your planning and strategies throughout.  Here is a sample:  Getting to Know You Survey.      |  Find ideas for your own survey in this Question Bank 

Try it!  

1. Use this Survey Template and follow the steps below to customize your own survey.

2. Modify the design, colors & fonts - Select the palette and change image, colors & fonts.

3. Select Settings>Responses - send copy to responder

4. Select Settings>Presentation - change confirmation message and turn on show progress bar.

5. After the the fourth questions insert a new question “5.  Are you willing to answer more questions?”  - Yes or No

6. Create a section below that question called Survey Continued.

7. Edit question #5 settings      and select ‘Go to Page Based on Answer”

8. Edit Question #5 and send Yes to ‘Survey Continued’ and No to submit form.  

9. Modify the questions 

10. Take your own survey

11. View the results in Spreadsheet.  

Extra!  Use the Collaborative Question Bank for Ideas!  

#008 Learning via Forms Quizzes with video & images 

Google Forms can be used to collect information OR as an assessment tools - pre-learning, formative and summative assessments.  

Try it!  

1. Complete the  Leaf Identification Activity & Quiz.  

2. Make a copy of the Leaf Identification Form and change it to your own curriculum topic by changing the theme, title, video and questions (OR start from scratch creating your own.)

#009 Flipped Learning

A flipped classroom is an instructional strategy and a type of blended learning that reverses the traditional learning environment by delivering instructional content, often online, outside of the classroom. It moves activities, including those that may have traditionally been considered homework, into the classroom.  Create 'flipped learning' lessons by simply embedding video and links to resources in a form with auto corrected questions and even open ended responses.  Assign these pre-teaching activities to be completed prior to working on the curriculum in class so students can spend time IN CLASS working on projects with your support.  The pre-learning activities you can create with forms can maximize learning time and impact results!  

1. Watch the video and answer the questions on Flipped Classroom! bit.ly/flipwithforms

2. Create your own Flipped Quiz  (help:  bit.ly/aformquiz)

3. Create the Flipped Quiz directly in Classroom (help:  bit.ly/createflip) 

#010 Choose Your Own Adventure:  Haunted Halloween

Get started making your own with Forms:

1. Make a copy of the starter for a Haunted Halloween

2. After clicking on the last question add a section and name it left

3. Add a questions to this section, titled, you see xyz and decide to a or b.

4. After clicking on the last question add a section and name it right.

5. Add a question, you see a box and decide to a or b.

6. Edit the first question by enabling 'Go to page based on Answer' (under the 3 dots)

7. Edit each response so the answer 'left' goes to the left section and 'right' to the right.

#011 YouTube Essentials

Create Channel.  Curate Playlists.  It is important to have a YouTube Channel to curate, organize, store and add your created screencasts and videos.  Let’s get your channel ready so we can use video to powerup pedagogy. 

Try it!  

1. In a new tab, go to youtube.com 

2. Access / Create Your Channel

3. Locate a video on a topic, such as Water Cycle (or topic of choice)

4. Add to a new playlist called Water Cycle (or topic of choice).

5. Add 2 more videos to that playlist 

6.  Click on your playlist and add a description.