Annotely is an online tool for annotating images stored on your computer or screenshots from your computer. Use this site directly in your browser or download the Adobe AIR version that runs on your desktop. Launch, then choose an option to annotate, such as load a local image, capture a camera image, take a screenshot, or load an image URL. After your image loads, choose from editing options such as scaling, drawing tools like lines, arrows, and circles, and adding text. When finished, save to your computer, publish and share on Twitter or Facebook, or copy the provided URL.

tag(s): digital storytelling (165), images (266)

Create GIF animations easily from uploaded images using this site. Images can be uploaded from computer files, pulled from Flickr, or pulled from YouTube videos. Choose up to four images, select size and speed, then select the continue button in the right-hand corner of the screen. Images can take up to a few minutes to process before seeing the resulting GIF. When the animated GIF is created, share it using links on the page to many popular social sharing sites or download it to your computer.
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tag(s): animation (62), images (266)

Make beautiful online "multimedia" newsletters (flyers) to display on your smartphone, tablet, or computer using Smore. You can arrange your content easily with Smores' drag-and-drop editing. Add ready-made graphics, images from files on your computer, or images from the web. Quickly embed text, videos, and tweets, too. Choose from several attractive themes. Share your creations via email, URL, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or print them to hand out or hang on a bulletin board. Check to see who has read your newsletter and who hasn't. The free account plan offers three total newsletter credits, 500 contact credits, and 200 email credits.

tag(s): design (76), infographics (69), multimedia (60), posters (44)

Write your own original books, add images and artwork as illustrations, and read your published books in an interactive, online form. There is no fee for the online publication and sharing. This is the ultimate in "digital storytelling." Take advantage of the free apps that make Bookemon even easier to use with any device! Use Bookemon Reader to READ books you created in Bookemon or Bookemon edCenter (available for both iOS and Android). BookPress for iOS devices only allows you to CREATE books from scratch, including using photos from your iPad/iPhone. InstaPress (for iOS only) offers options to create books from documents, PDFs, etc., for sharing on mobile devices as e-books. http://www.bookemon.com/book_Here is an example of a book created by the TeachersFirst Edge editors. Once you set up a free membership on this site, students (or teachers) can choose to create from scratch or use the provided templates. You can also create a book starter of your own as an example, so students can follow the prompts you have created. The book creator allows you to upload your own images and to create books from a Word document or PowerPoint file you have already made. EdCenter users can collaborate on books. After you save and publish the work, share the URL so people can read the entire book online, either among an audience of "just my friends" or publicly. They also offer the embed code to place your books on a class or school web page, wiki, or blog. The easiest option is to copy the address of the new window displaying the interactive book. There is an option to have the book printed for a fee, but this is not required. You can also read books created by others (if they make them public). Use the fully public option to create learning materials for classes that can be accessed year to year for at-home review or reading practice.

This site requires a simple registration. Teachers can set up an edCenter for their school or class in accordance with school policies. See more detailed suggestions "In the Classroom" below and in our sample book! Newer mobile device options include iPads and more for viewing your books.
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tag(s): creative writing (123), digital storytelling (165), writing (309)

Create simple audio podcasts using this online tool and the free space it provides. Simply put, this tool lets you create and host sound recordings online for people to listen to and/or download. There are MANY free podcasts in a variety of subject areas (art, health, technology, music, business, and more). We have linked this review directly to the K-12 area within the site. The site includes social networking tools, which some schools may block. The site is a "general public" site, so the home page has links to recent podcasts that may not be appropriate for young people. Find the home page by clicking the logo "podOmatic" to find directions for creating a podOmatic podcast. Essentially, you will attach a mike or use your built-in computer mike; create the podcast by clicking the record button (you may have to tell your computer to "allow" the site to access your mike). Choose a background for your podcast page. Share it with others using one of several sharing options on the "My Podcast" tab, including copying the link. Listeners can listen to it online or download it to their MP3 player. You can also create a "minicast" by simply uploading images and audio, which converts your photos into a short video. Transitions are also available for your minicast. Share through a blog, on X (formerly Twitter), a link or directly to Facebook. There are limits to the amount of file storage for free accounts. The site will tell you how much space each podcast takes and how much you have left. PodOmatic does not allow memberships for those under 13. podOmatic has free iOS and Android apps.

tag(s): communication (122), DAT device agnostic tool (129), digital storytelling (165), podcasts (157)

Create your own motivational posters easily and simply. Choose a random picture (one from Flickr or Facebook) or use one already on your computer. Choose colors and other options, as well as the type of text to be used. Enter your text and preview the result. Once complete, save to Flickr, your computer, or print. Remember, you can use a saved image in PowerPoint shows and on a class wiki, as well as blogs and other sites.
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tag(s): collages (17), images (266), photography (134), posters (44)

This is a simple tool that automatically fills a heart shape with any words you choose. Simply type the words separated by commas in the text box and press "Enter." You have the option to choose one of three fonts and change the colors of the text, background, and shape. Look on the right menu to save or print your image, or you can capture it by using print screen, explained by clicking on one of the links available right on the Word Heart page, which will guide you on how to capture your screen on both Windows and Mac. You can then paste it into any image-editing program to crop, save, or print it.
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tag(s): images (266), word clouds (12)

This resource allows you to create slide shows, greeting cards, scrapbooks, invitations, collages, and more. There is a free basic program, and paid upgrades are available if desired. For educational purposes, the upgrades are not needed. Photos, videos, and music can all be added to your creations. A Smilebox template must be used to make your creations. Products made with this program can be shared on web pages, blogs, and social networking sites, or emailed for free. Several themes in each category are free. You no longer have to download this program.

tag(s): blogs (76), images (266), movies (52), photography (134), slides (38)

Create authentic-looking magazine covers sure to attract double-takes. Simply upload a photo to create your cover. If you do not need to SAVE the photo for online access later, you do not even need to join the site. Covers you create can be downloaded as completed images or sent via email and other sharing tools (Facebook, etc). Photos can be uploaded from your files, Flickr, your website, or other photosharing sites. Fill in your desired text for the titles and sub-titles and choose colors for them. It's that simple. Click 'Create' at the bottom and you have a magazine cover that will leave others in awe. For more creative ideas using Big Huge Labs, go to the top of the page and click on Big Huge Labs Blog or Forum. Big Huge Labs offers MANY similar tools, such as Mapmaker, reviewed here. Of course, this site offers advanced options for a fee or with free registration, but neither is necessary.
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tag(s): bulletin boards (13), collages (17), firstday (22), flickr (2), images (266), posters (44)

Create puzzles and other word games using this resource. Puzzle types include Word Search, Crossword, Word Scramble, Bagels (Interactive Logic Game), and Math worksheets, among others. There are also quotes, illusions, and more. Creating a login is not required. Puzzles created remain for two months and can be saved as a PDF file on your computer. Many puzzles are already permanently archived and can be found by looking through the categories. Don't miss many holiday and calendar-event puzzles! Search puzzles of the day to find new and interesting puzzles to use.

tag(s): holidays (285), logic (165), puzzles (162), vocabulary (251)

Record a message and embed it into your favorite site or provide a link to share, for free. Send to a friend by entering your email and the email of the recipient. Share on many social media sites with the press of a button. Recording the message is easy, and embedding it into a site such as a wiki or blog has never been simpler! No login or registration is needed. If you choose to send a message via email, you must set a password for the site. Vocaroos are stored on their server. Created messages can also be downloaded to individual computers. Visit their FAQs for common questions and answers.

tag(s): communication (122), speech (66)

The title says it all: "Inspired Picture Writing!" Use this free drag and drop literacy tool to create great sentences inspired by beautiful pictures. Alternatively, add inspirational or humorous captions to pictures. "Lesson Plans" provides learning opportunities and examples for creating captions, compound sentences, or paragraphs. Video tutorials can be found under the FAQs tab. "Explore the Gallery" to see already-created PicLits as well as comments and ratings. After selecting a picture (or using the one they provide) and dragging a word onto the screen, choose different forms of the word by using the drop-down menu next to the word. Move your words anywhere on the screen for creative writing. You can also click "freestyle" instead to type in your own words instead of choosing from their list. Word lists change, depending on the image selected. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

Registering for a PicLits account requires the use of an email address. PicLits can be used without an account but you are unable to save or blog about their creation without an account. A class account can be created instead of individual student accounts. However, it does not show which work is attributable to which student. You may want to require that students initial their contributions in order to get credit. All work on the site can be seen without a login. All projects are public. NOTE: Our editors regret that PicLits occasionally allows advertising on their home page to include images that are not classroom-friendly. Teachers should preview to determine whether or not your students can ignore the ads.
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tag(s): creative writing (123), digital storytelling (165), images (266), sentences (22)

The Imagination Factory is a tool that helps teachers, students, and community members use creative ways to recycle through art. The site offers a large collection of activities and crafts made from what most people consider everyday trash. The site is easily searchable using two methods: by Category and by the Trash Matcher. Need a project for the beginning of the year? Look it up through the Category listing. Have old dryer sheets, dried markers, junk mail, and roll-on deodorant bottles you just don't know what to do with? Look them up by matching your trash to a project in the Trash Matcher!

tag(s): crafts (110), earth (196), earth day (62), ecology (118), recycling (45)

Create photo trading cards using images you upload or store on Flickr, Instagram, or Dropbox. Imagine having your students create study aids about famous people using images they draw and scan, or photos of themselves impersonating famous people, such as presidents, explorers, authors, and more. If you celebrate reading by having an "author's tea," why not follow up by asking students to make trading cards for the authors they "met"? Use a similar approach for famous historical figures or even for geometric shapes you photograph with the digital camera. If students write their own "biographies" of the shapes to study from, they will learn for sure! They can even trade each other for favorites.

tag(s): book reports (26), famous people (40), images (266)

Here's a ready source for thousands of art ideas, projects, and activities for primary students. Seasonal and theme activities provide primary teachers or parents with lots of instructional options. This site also includes a variety of craft projects.

tag(s): crafts (110)