TeachersFirst First Day of School Icebreakers
Welcome back! Whether you're meeting a brand-new group of students or reconnecting with familiar faces after a long summer, the first day of school sets the tone for everything that follows. This collection of ice-breaker activities and collaboration resources is designed to help you build community, ease first-day jitters, and spark genuine connections among students from the very first bell. From quick get-to-know-you games to more reflective activities, you'll find options to suit any grade level, classroom size, or time constraint.
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Top 5 Ice Breaker Games For The Start Of School - Teaching Firsties
Grades
K to 3
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Read about five simple, low-prep icebreaker games designed to help students feel comfortable, build friendships, and create a positive classroom community during the first days of school....more
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Read about five simple, low-prep icebreaker games designed to help students feel comfortable, build friendships, and create a positive classroom community during the first days of school. The activities focus on learning classmates' names, discovering shared interests, encouraging teamwork, and easing first-day jitters through fun, interactive experiences. The article also suggests using engaging back-to-school read-alouds as an alternative for students who may be hesitant to participate in traditional icebreakers, helping every child feel welcomed and included from the very beginning of the school year.
tag(s): blogs (82), classroom management (144), firstday (28), preK (328)
In the Classroom
Give each student a bingo-style sheet with prompts such as "has a pet," "likes to read," or "has traveled to another state." Have students circulate the room to find classmates who match each description, encouraging conversations and helping everyone learn about one another. Ask fun, school-friendly choices (for example, "Would you rather explore space or the ocean?"). Have students move to different sides of the room to show their choice, then explain their reasoning to a partner or small group to practice speaking and listening skills. After participating in the icebreaker games, have students design a poster, one-pager, or digital slide using Google Slides, reviewed here highlighting their interests, favorite books, hobbies, and goals. Display the projects around the room to celebrate each student's unique personality.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Back to School Icebreakers Activities - Nearpod
Grades
K to 12
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This Nearpod blog post provides a collection of ready-to-use, interactive activities designed to help teachers build a positive classroom community during the first week of school....more
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This Nearpod blog post provides a collection of ready-to-use, interactive activities designed to help teachers build a positive classroom community during the first week of school. The article features icebreakers, getting-to-know-you lessons, collaborative discussions, reflection prompts, and engaging digital activities that introduce students to classroom routines while encouraging participation and relationship-building. It also highlights Nearpod's interactive tools, such as Collaborate Board, Draw It, Time to Climb, polls, and ready-made lessons, making it easy for teachers to create an engaging and welcoming learning environment from day one. Many of the featured resources are available as editable or ready-to-launch lessons for use in live or student-paced instruction.
tag(s): classroom management (144), collaboration (137), firstday (28)
In the Classroom
Use Nearpod's Collaborate Board for students to post fun facts, summer memories, reading interests, or personal goals. Encourage classmates to respond to one another to help build connections from the first day of school. Launch a collaborative Nearpod lesson where students brainstorm classroom norms using polls, open-ended questions, and Draw It activities. Turn the class's ideas into a shared digital classroom agreement. Reinforce routines such as technology expectations, transitions, or classroom rules by creating a Time to Climb quiz. Find more ideas for classroom learning activities at Nearpod, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Digital Icebreakers - AVID
Grades
3 to 12
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This AVID Open Access article shares 13 engaging digital icebreaker strategies that help students build relationships, develop a sense of belonging, and become more comfortable participating...more
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This AVID Open Access article shares 13 engaging digital icebreaker strategies that help students build relationships, develop a sense of belonging, and become more comfortable participating in class from the very beginning of the school year. Rather than focusing on one specific tool, the resource introduces a variety of technology-rich activities using platforms such as discussion boards, Padlet, Canva, Book Creator, Quizlet Live, Flippity, and ReadWriteThink. Each idea encourages communication, creativity, collaboration, and reflection while giving teachers practical ways to foster classroom community in both face-to-face and blended learning environments. Because the activities are flexible and adaptable, teachers can easily modify them for different grade levels and content areas throughout the year--not just during the first week of school.
tag(s): classroom management (144), collaboration (137), firstday (28)
In the Classroom
Invite students to create a short digital book using Book Creator, reviewed here that introduces themselves through text, images, audio recordings, or short videos. Compile the books into a virtual classroom library that students can revisit throughout the year. Have students use a digital collaboration tool such as Padlet, reviewed here or Canva, reviewed here to share photos, drawings, favorite books, hobbies, and goals. Students can explore classmates' posts and leave encouraging comments to begin building classroom relationships. Build a classroom scavenger hunt using QR codes, interactive slides, or clues that introduce important classroom locations, procedures, technology expectations, and available resources while encouraging teamwork and problem-solving.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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5 Ways to Use Padlet as an Icebreaker - Brent Warner/TESOL
Grades
4 to 12
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Discover new ideas for using Padlet, reviewed here as a getting-to-know-you icebreaker. The five ideas use some of Padlet's built-in features, such...more
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Discover new ideas for using Padlet, reviewed here as a getting-to-know-you icebreaker. The five ideas use some of Padlet's built-in features, such as maps and timelines, to create informative virtual bulletin boards that share information about students. Each idea includes directions for using Padlet for the icebreaker, as well as suggestions for modifying or enhancing the activity.
tag(s): back to school (56), firstday (28)
In the Classroom
Include these suggestions as part of your back-to-school activities to support building your classroom community, along with teaching students how to use Padlet. Extend learning by using students' responses as a springboard to a more intensive project. For example, by having students create a full timeline using MyLens, reviewed here, where they map out key historical events linked to regions where they have lived or their cultural background.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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12 AI-Enhanced Icebreakers To Motivate Learners - Carl Hooker
Grades
6 to 12
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Discover multiple ways to use AI to generate classroom ice-breakers that get learners comfortable with a variety of AI tools while also helping them realize AI is far from perfect....more
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Discover multiple ways to use AI to generate classroom ice-breakers that get learners comfortable with a variety of AI tools while also helping them realize AI is far from perfect. Try out activities such as using the I Can't Draw feature of Padlet, reviewed here or chat ideas with common AI chat tools such as ChatGPT, reviewed here and Copilot Chat, reviewed here. Each suggestion includes a short description and a recommended AI tool. This article was written in 2023, so some tools have changed (Bard is now Gemini); however, the tools can be substituted across multiple AI platforms.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (342), back to school (56), creative writing (125), firstday (28), media literacy (130)
In the Classroom
Use the ideas shared in the article as get-to-know-you icebreakers and also as lessons on using AI safely and media literacy. Use ideas such as those in the "My Favorite Image" activity to teach students how to write effective prompts, or use the "Five-word challenge" to reinforce summarizing. Use the author's suggestions to provide ideas for creative writing projects or to enhance current lessons by including custom songs and images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Creative Drawing Games for the First Week of School - Artful Ideas
Grades
4 to 12
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Find four interactive art games perfect for use as back-to-school and getting-to-know-you activities in this blog post from an experienced high school/middle school art teacher. Each...more
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Find four interactive art games perfect for use as back-to-school and getting-to-know-you activities in this blog post from an experienced high school/middle school art teacher. Each activity description includes the approximate time to complete the activity, directions, a material list, and a picture of a completed activity. Some materials are commonly found in classrooms, such as markers and copy paper; however, other activities require common items that might not be readily available in your classroom, such as blue painter's tape and hairspray. This post includes links to blogs and Google Slides presentations that provide additional support and ideas for using the games.
tag(s): back to school (56), creativity (93), firstday (28)
In the Classroom
The author provides a note of caution that some games take a little more prep time than others. Make sure to read the time estimates when planning to use an activity. Use these suggestions as a back-to-school activity to support teamwork building. Observe students as they participate in the interactive art games as an informal assessment to understand how students work in groups, their thinking process, and their ability to communicate ideas.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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15 Icebreaker Games for Kids: Build Connection on the First Day and Beyond - Brisk Teaching
Grades
2 to 12
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This article shares fifteen fun ice-breaker activities for students of all ages. Each activity includes simple directions and requires little or no preparation or extra resources. Many...more
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This article shares fifteen fun ice-breaker activities for students of all ages. Each activity includes simple directions and requires little or no preparation or extra resources. Many of the activities are already familiar to students, such as charades and show-and-tell, making them easy to include from the very first minute in the classroom. Helpful tips offer solid advice on making activities inclusive and fun without the weight of grading or assessments.
tag(s): back to school (56), collaboration (137), firstday (28), social and emotional learning (205)
In the Classroom
Use Brisk's, reviewed here, Create Anything tool to create prompts and questions as needed for any of the activities and customize them for your students. Keep these activities available to use throughout the school year when you add new students to your classroom or need a community-boosting activity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wheel of Names - Random Wheel Spin
Grades
K to 12
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Random Wheel Spin's Wheel of Names is a free, fully customizable spinner designed for classroom use. Teachers and students can add images, text, and colors, or even drag and drop ...more
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Random Wheel Spin's Wheel of Names is a free, fully customizable spinner designed for classroom use. Teachers and students can add images, text, and colors, or even drag and drop Excel or CSV files directly into the wheel. A standout feature is the ability to store hidden activities or actions behind each wheel entry, perfect for embedding quiz questions, writing prompts, fun facts, or learning challenges. When the wheel lands on a student's name, a reveal button appears, allowing teachers or parents to uncover the hidden task. This surprise element keeps lessons engaging and interactive. The Wheel of Names requires no sign-up, supports multiple languages, and can be easily saved, shared, or embedded on school websites.
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tag(s): classroom management (144), Teacher Utilities (224)
In the Classroom
Students can use the Wheel of Names when selecting the order of students to play in a game. Students can use it when picking their favorite GoNoodle, reviewed here video. Add vocabulary words to the wheel with hidden definitions or example sentences for students to reveal and use in a sentence. Add character names or chapters to the wheel with hidden questions that test comprehension or theme analysis. Store short science, math, or history questions behind entries and have teams compete to answer correctly for points.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ten Minute Warm-Ups for the Inclusive Classroom - Stetson & Associates, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
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The Inclusive Schools Network website's "Ten-Minute Warm-Ups for the Inclusive Classroom" offers a selection of quick, engaging activities designed to create a welcoming environment...more
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The Inclusive Schools Network website's "Ten-Minute Warm-Ups for the Inclusive Classroom" offers a selection of quick, engaging activities designed to create a welcoming environment for all students. These ten-minute exercises are crafted to promote inclusivity, build community, and encourage active participation among diverse learners. Teachers can use these warm-ups to set a positive tone at the start of the day or class, reinforcing students' sense of belonging and supporting a collaborative learning atmosphere. Activities are adaptable for various grade levels and emphasize social-emotional learning, making them a valuable addition to any inclusive classroom routine.
tag(s): back to school (56), empathy (71), firstday (28), social and emotional learning (205)
In the Classroom
Begin each day with a short share circle where students briefly express how they're feeling or share something positive. This builds a sense of community and helps students practice active listening and empathy. Start a weekly compliment chain where students are encouraged to sincerely compliment a peer each day. Have students set daily or weekly goals individually or as a class and track progress. For example, students could choose a teamwork goal for group activities. At the end of the week, reflect on progress together. This activity encourages personal responsibility and accountability.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Figjam - Figma
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
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FigJam is an online collaborative whiteboard with many built-in, versatile tools for classroom use. The whiteboard offers infinite space to add templates, drawings, and areas for conversations...more
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FigJam is an online collaborative whiteboard with many built-in, versatile tools for classroom use. The whiteboard offers infinite space to add templates, drawings, and areas for conversations and projects. In addition, interactive elements allow members to react to ideas with emojis, high-fives, and stamps. Create an account to begin using FigJam and access all of its features. Create your FigJam board by selecting the purple "+FigJam Board" link near the top of the home page. Add features to your whiteboard by choosing from the many options available, including drawing and writing tools, a timer, and an AI generator to create items such as timelines and mindmaps. Share your FigJam board with others by copying the link, sending an email, or copying the embed code onto a webpage.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (342), charts and graphs (183), collaboration (137), graphic organizers (57), iwb (29), mind map (31), timelines (60), Whiteboard (9)
In the Classroom
Use FigJam in many ways to engage learners and support classroom instruction, such as using sticky notes for a collaborative brainstorming activity. Use the drawing tools and ask students to label places, plant parts, and more. Use FigJam templates to create all-about-me activities, such as class check-ins and exit tickets, Frayer Model activities, and much more. Learn more about FigJam's many features and how to get started by viewing this tutorial from FigJam.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kid Activities - Barbara Shelby
Grades
K to 6
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Kid Activities is a treasure trove of ideas to engage and entertain elementary-age students. View the website content by selecting from several categories: game ideas, theme and lesson...more
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Kid Activities is a treasure trove of ideas to engage and entertain elementary-age students. View the website content by selecting from several categories: game ideas, theme and lesson planning, holiday activities, jokes and riddles, music & song ideas, and food. Additional ways to find content are to view the most recent posts or scroll through the page to find popular content. Each activity includes specific directions for materials required and setup needed. Many also have pictures that share finished projects.
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tag(s): back to school (56), holidays (292), preK (328)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site to find many ideas and activities for your classroom. Then, share this site with parents when planning classroom parties or field days. Many parents enjoy receiving ideas for things to do at home with students; include a link to the Kid Activities website in your newsletter or share an activity each week or month. Consider creating a webmix with Symbaloo, reviewed here, to share with parents that includes a variety of at-home activities for parents.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Free Avatar Creator - Adobe Express
Grades
3 to 12
3 Favorites
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Create a customized avatar by scrolling down the page and selecting any easy-to-use template provided on Adobe Express. Each template offers a variety of styles, colors, and design...more
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Create a customized avatar by scrolling down the page and selecting any easy-to-use template provided on Adobe Express. Each template offers a variety of styles, colors, and design options that can be customized to create a unique digital character. To begin, choose a template and log in to your Adobe account. Once the avatar is generated, use Adobe Express's editing tools to personalize it further by adjusting colors, backgrounds, text, icons, shapes, and other graphic elements. The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy for students and teachers to create profile pictures, digital storytelling characters, classroom graphics, and presentation visuals. When finished, download your creation in a common image format and use it in digital or print projects. Adobe Express provides a simple way to create professional-looking avatars without requiring advanced design skills.
tag(s): creativity (93), emotions (73), faces (5), social and emotional learning (205)
In the Classroom
Include this site in many classroom activities in many different learning activities. For example, ask students to design an avatar for a character in a book they are reading and add text about their character. Create avatars for famous people in history to summarize their stories. Ask students to create avatars to use for reports and blog posts. For example, when using edublogs, ask students to add their avatar image to their blog post as a replacement for a picture. Ask students to create avatars for parent/teacher conferences. When conferencing with the parent, share their student's avatar on the interactive whiteboard or within your remote conferencing app. Ask the student to include text that talks about their educational progress. Use avatars as part of social-emotional learning lessons to share their emotions using the characters and features found within the avatar templates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Adobe Express Video Maker - Adobe Spark
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker. Scroll down the page to read the easy step-by-step directions. Then click the Create button. Follow the...more
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Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker. Scroll down the page to read the easy step-by-step directions. Then click the Create button. Follow the prompts to begin your creation using a story template or start from scratch. Add videos, text, music, and more to your video. Easily rearrange, change themes, and add components until satisfied. When finished, publish your video to share or download it to your computer.
tag(s): blended learning (28), communication (126), digital storytelling (177), multimedia (66)
In the Classroom
Consider using videos in your classroom in various ways. Upload your slide presentations and add audio to create flipped and blended learning experiences for your students. Engage students and enhance their learning by asking students to create videos as an alternative to book reports or written presentations. Share videos on your class website for students to access when away from the classroom. As your students create videos, use a bookmarking site such as Padlet, reviewed here, to share and organize information for students to use when researching. Include Adobe Express Videos as part of a larger presentation using Book Creator, reviewed here. Embed your video along with images, text, drawings, and other media into your digital book creation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kialo Edu - Kialo, Inc
Grades
2 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Kialo offers a platform for focused online discussions, this version is dedicated to educational users. Use Kialo to create and map out debates onto an interactive tree featuring arguments...more
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Kialo offers a platform for focused online discussions, this version is dedicated to educational users. Use Kialo to create and map out debates onto an interactive tree featuring arguments both pro and con. Create your own forum or participate in the questions posed by other site members. Choose to make your question private or public then invite others to contribute. Throughout the debate use the site's tools to rate the impact of arguments and switch perspectives to view opinions from the other side. Be sure to watch Kialo's introductory video for an overview of all of the site's features and check out the sample classroom activities and assignments.
tag(s): collaboration (137), debate (38), perspective (33), point of view (9), Teacher Utilities (224), thinking routines (59)
In the Classroom
Kialo is a great resource to find debate topics to use with your students; be sure to bookmark it. Explore the topics available on the public portion of the site and share the discussions with your students. Use the information to teach students how to include relevant information when debating any topic and point out the importance of viewing information through different perspectives. When ready, create your own topic for classroom debate using the private option. For example, have students debate the importance of the use of propaganda during World War 2 or the ethics of using animals when testing products. As students research your topic, have them use Wakelet, reviewed here, to bookmark and save their research. When complete, transform learning by asking students to use an infographic creation tool like Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to create an infographic based on their topic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Training Games - Thiagi.com
Grades
7 to 12
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Find more than 350 ready to use ideas for training games and activities at Thiagi Training Games. Titles include types of activity, for example, whether it is a card game, ...more
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Find more than 350 ready to use ideas for training games and activities at Thiagi Training Games. Titles include types of activity, for example, whether it is a card game, role play, etc. Choose a title and view a full description including playing time, number of players, and materials needed. Although created for corporate training sessions, many ideas fit right into classroom use such as debate ideas, getting to know you activities, and more.
tag(s): back to school (56), debate (38), firstday (28), game based learning (319)
In the Classroom
Use this resource for Back to School getting to know you activities. Choose games labeled "Opener" as activators for prior knowledge on any topic. Use ideas to incorporate into professional development sessions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teampedia - Seth Marbin
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
1 Comments
Teampedia is a comprehensive and collaborative resource for finding icebreakers, team building, and leadership activities. Browse through almost 100 categories on this wiki. Find trust...more
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Teampedia is a comprehensive and collaborative resource for finding icebreakers, team building, and leadership activities. Browse through almost 100 categories on this wiki. Find trust activities, getting to know you, and online/remote team building. Explore activities based on the group size involved. If you have a great activity and don't see it, add it to Teampedia by following the steps provided. Each game or activity includes a list of materials needed, number of players, time required, and directions for play. Some directions for strategy games also include strategy options.
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tag(s): back to school (56), creativity (93), firstday (28), problem solving (282)
In the Classroom
Use this site to find Icebreaker activities and options for the first week of school community building. Bookmark this tool for the first week of school or any time that you want to experience some "team-building" in your class. Use this site if you have weekly classroom meetings to build relationships among students. Share this site with students and have them create their own games based on research projects or as a review for major tests. Share this site with parent helpers to find ideas for classroom parties.Comments
So wonderful to develop creativity using tech. Love the idea of creating games based on research.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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Kahoot! - Mobitroll
Grades
K to 12
9 Favorites
1 Comments
Ask meaningful questions and see responses in real-time while creating an exciting, game-like environment. Build instant polls, quizzes, or responses through a simple drag and drop...more
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Ask meaningful questions and see responses in real-time while creating an exciting, game-like environment. Build instant polls, quizzes, or responses through a simple drag and drop interface. Once you create your account, be sure to take the Intro Quiz to learn how to use this tool. When you start the quiz, you will be prompted to open a new tab, create a nickname, and enter the game pin. Now you will be able to take the quiz to learn how Kahoot! works AND be able to see what a teacher sees in your original tab. You will have to go to the Main tab to launch the next question in the Quiz. Find ready-made quizzes on the public Kahoot! menu by entering search terms. Create questions, quizzes, and polls with an optional uploaded image. Kahoot! also has a team option. Groups can use one computer to answer questions. The best part about the team option is it allows groups wait time to discuss their answer before submitting it. The teacher gets the data back instantly, and it is stored on the site or can be downloaded. This is superb for checking the knowledge of your audience/students or to see if they are still paying attention and understand concepts. Scroll past the 3 plans that cost money to find the basic plan that allows for upto 40 participants, multiple choice quiz questions, 5 teams, and more.
tag(s): assessment (141), DAT device agnostic tool (133), Formative Assessment (43), game based learning (319), gamification (89), polls and surveys (43), quizzes (89)
In the Classroom
This is a powerful formative assessment tool that is also fun! Create pretests to offer to gifted students to "test out" of already learned material. Students can easily see the choices and choose answers using a browser on a laptop or any device. Make it a class challenge! Use this tool at the start of a new chapter or unit. Project your quiz to the entire classroom using a whiteboard or projector. Students can easily see the choices and choose answers using a browser on a laptop or any device. Use the Team choice when reviewing for a unit test. Students can see who is at the top of the leaderboard during the play and can even ask questions while going through the quiz. Use this tool often to obtain a snapshot of each student's understanding of content.Comments
What makes a good web tool? In my opinion, a web tool should be two things. They should be easy to look at, and easy to use. When you use these tools you need to be able to see clearly what a site does and the purpose it serves. Not only do you need to be able to see what you are doing, but do it easily. If it takes students more effort and energy to use a web tool or website, they will stop using it. You have to be able to keep the attention of the user. Beyond that an education tool needs a few additional items. Education tools need to be fun and interactive to continuously grab the attention of students. Students should have fun when using the site/tool.Ad, , Grades: 0 - 12
Kahoot fits all the above criteria. Not only is it fun and easy for students to use, but easy for teachers to set up and use for students. Kahoot is a fun quiz tool that teachers can use to build discussions, polls, and quizzes for the classroom. Students can then log into the quiz using smartphones, tablets, or computers. The tool is designed for students and works for students. Kahoot is well thought out, and well executed. This tool really brings the learning experience to students who are so familiar with technology.
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Quotes Cover - QuotesCover.com
Grades
1 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Design and create beautiful images from quotes using Quotes Cover. Click Quote on the to menu bar to find many quotes to use divided into categories like happiness, life, love ...more
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Design and create beautiful images from quotes using Quotes Cover. Click Quote on the to menu bar to find many quotes to use divided into categories like happiness, life, love success, attitude, knowledge and many more. Follow the steps along the way. Choose from e-cards, wallpaper maker, prints for posters, and other options. The print section offers many size options from business cards to large posters. Edit and personalize using tools provided such as fonts, colors, custom background pictures, and drawing tools. You can download the finished image as a PNG file or share it on various social networks.
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tag(s): back to school (56), firstday (28), images (273), posters (46), quotations (18)
In the Classroom
Create posters with students' favorite quotes, book titles for a bulletin board, All About Me information, or whatever your imagination produces! Have students include a poster as part of a research project or choose a favorite quote from class reading materials to "cover" a book talk. Create a poster with a quote from any figure in history and personalize it using Creative Commons images. In primary grades enter sight words and other basic vocabulary to create word posters. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Wikimedia Commons, reviewed here. Have students create a poster for Back to School night to share with parents. Use this tool for students to make posters of the class rules they agree upon during the first week of school. Create quote images to use as Facebook "cover" photos for a famous person or fictitious character. World language teachers and students can create clever vocabulary or sentence posters to help master the new language.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cube Creator - Read Write Think
Grades
2 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
The Cube Creator offers four different options for creating and personalizing a printable cube for summarizing or story-telling: Bio Cube, Mystery Cube, Story Cube, or Create your Own...more
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The Cube Creator offers four different options for creating and personalizing a printable cube for summarizing or story-telling: Bio Cube, Mystery Cube, Story Cube, or Create your Own Cube. Follow prompts to create the cube. The planning sheets help you collect information before making the actual printable cube. Once you have entered all your information, print and follow directions to assemble the paper cube. Follow links to find lessons that use this interactive as well as suggestions for other uses. There are lessons for grades 3-4 up through grades 11-12. Note: Read Write Think has added the capability for students to save their work to continue later. In the last paragraph of the Overview, there is a link to watch the video: Saving Work With the Student Interactives.
tag(s): back to school (56), biographies (97), firstday (28), mysteries (27), printables (35), summarizing (30), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Use the Cube Creator for virtually any lesson or activity as a substitute for a paper and pen project. Try printing on heavier card stock so cubes are durable. Create a cube to practice math problems, describe habitats, outline important story events, and much more. Have students create a cube and share with other students to practice retelling, summarizing, adding synonyms, or review for tests. Have each of your students create an All About Me cube for parents to view at Open House or to get to know each other during the first week of school. Have others guess which cube belongs to which classmate. Create a cube review game where others must answer the question that comes up when you "roll" the cube. The possibilities are endless. Challenge your gifted student(s) to create a "Who Am I?" cube about a famous person they research. Use the Bio Cube option with one variation: DO NOT include the person's real name. Share the cube as a game for the rest of the class to guess (and then create their own similar cubes). Your gifted students may also come up with new ways to Create Your Own Cube that could become a class game! Invite them to try their creativity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Diamante Poems - ReadWriteThink
Grades
2 to 8
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Diamonds are forever, and so are diamante poems created on this free site. Find a great tool to shape up your poets through the structure of a seven-line diamante poem. ...more
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Diamonds are forever, and so are diamante poems created on this free site. Find a great tool to shape up your poets through the structure of a seven-line diamante poem. Learn about the diamond-shaped poems that use specific types of words for each line. Rhyming isn't needed, but needn't be impeded. Describe a central topic or two opposing topics like night and day. View the examples before creating your poem. Each screen provides an organizer for any poet to complete. Click on the parts of speech for definitions while composing poems. Edit your poem, if needed, before printing, downloading it as a PDF, or sharing it through email. Save your draft to continue later. This site is a must during poetry month in April.
tag(s): antonyms (12), firstday (28), parts of speech (39), poetry (197), rhymes (24), synonyms (15)
In the Classroom
Diamante poems are a fun format for writing about a single topic or comparing/contrasting two topics. Review parts of speech and then apply these concepts to writing diamante poems. Work the idea of cause and effect into the diamante poem format for a challenging activity with your poets. Provide students with diamante poems with a few words missing and have them fill in the blanks to complete the poem. Compare or contrast text passages for any subject area or use the diamante format to summarize a selection. Provide your students with images and have them write diamante poems about them. Make homemade greeting cards with your students to give, using this poetic format, or write "about me" poems using this tool at the start of school.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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