This time of year filled when kids and teachers are feeling cooped up, having engaging activities that allow students to be creative while using technology can be a welcome addition to any classroom. Here are some fun options that don’t require much in the way of preparation and can easily become inspiration for a student writing.
Create a Snowflake
- Make-a-Flake (Gr3+): You remember the days of folding paper and cutting it to open it up and reveal an amazing snowflake design? This site allows students to do just that, while practicing their mouse or touch pad skills. Unlike the paper version, you can undo cuts or continue cutting after you “preview” your flake! Click HERE to access a previous post “Designing Digital Snowflakes” to learn about a project I did with one of our art teachers.
- Code a Snowflake (K-2): Pre-readers can drag and drop shape icons, change color and incorporate “repeat” loops to create their own unique snowflake from different shapes.
Build a Snowman
- ABCYa: Make a Snowman (K-2): Young learners can practice drag and drop mouse or touch pad skills while putting their own stamp on a snowman design. Completed snowman creations can be saved or printed and kids could narrate their own snowman story using SeeSaw or bring him to life with ChatterPix for iPads!
- Build a Snowman with Google Slides (Gr3-6): Use Google Classroom to push out this Google Slides template shared by Eric Curts on his fabulous blog ControlAltAchieve and kids will be able to practice copy/paste and using Google Slides as well as write about their snowman!
Write Winter-Inspired Poetry
- Winter-time Magnetic Poetry with Google Drawings (Gr3+): Another great activity idea from Eric Curts, allows students to use a Google Drawing template to drag and drop words to create their own winter-inspired poem.
- Winter Magnetic Poetry with Google Slides (Gr4+): Students can drag and drop to build their own poem using a Google Slides template shared by Kasey Bell on her blog, ShakeUpLearning.
What winter-inspired ed tech activities have you done in your classroom? Please share with me in the comments below! Have a restful winter break and wonderful holiday with your families!
