Recommended by Educators
Compiled by Laura Candler
©2013 Teaching Resources
www.lauracandler.com
www.corkboardconnections.com
1
20 Terrific Presentation Tech Tools for Kids
Compiled by Laura Candler
www.lauracandler.com
20 Terrific Presentation Tech Tools for Kids was a collaborative project to
compile a list of the very best presentation tech tools to use with upper
elementary and middle school students. Some of the tools below are mobile
device apps while others are web-based tools. Most are free, but some are
subscription-based. The tools are listed in alphabetical order to make them
easier to locate. I have not listed grade levels because some of our younger
students can do amazing things online or with mobile apps. Just try each tool
yourself before you use it with students to be sure that it’s appropriate for
your grade. Thanks to all of the educators below who contributed their
fabulous teaching suggestions for these apps!
Blabberize
www.blabberize.com
Type: Online, web-based tool
Description: Blabberize allows students to take
any picture, record information, and make the
picture "talk". I use it when my students are
learning about rocks. They have to find a picture
of a rock and make the rock tell its life story( how
it went throughout the rock cycle).
Contributed by: Cindy Thomas, Jim Thorpe, PA
Educreations
http://www.educreations.com
Type: Mobile Device application
Description: This app allows students to create
presentations using an interactive whiteboard format
on the app. The students can "write" on the screen with
"markers" or type. They can insert photos, and even
take photos to insert in their presentation. Also, they
can record themselves talking through the presentation!
I have used this when students want to present
research findings, show what they've learned in a
particular unit, explain a science experiment, etc. Best of
all it's a free app!
Contributed by: Kristy Mihalovich, The Colony, TX USA
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
2
Glogster EDU
www.glogster.com
Type: Online, web-based tool
Description: Glogster is an online poster maker. It allows
the user to create an interactive poster with text, images,
sounds, and videos. Teachers can set up their classes
(there is usually a free 30 day trial you can use once per
year) and will have access to student accounts and glogs.
I plan to use Glogster as my "hook" to the populations
and ecosystems unit by having students research a biome and create a glog to present to the
class. I did this project previously and my fifth graders raved about it!
Contributed by: Lisa Yoder, Whitehouse, OH, USA
Google Drive Presentations
https://drive.google.com
Type: Online, web-based tool
Description: I teach my students how to make
Google Drive Presentations at the beginning of the
year and we make them all year long in any subject
area! This tool is super easy to use and makes
quality presentations that they can share with the whole class. We can also share them with
their parents - even better! I love the feature that they can share their work with me and I can
send them notes on what they need to edit. They can add graphics, pictures, color, fonts... the
list goes on and on! I have even had students beg to make a presentation on an interest area of
theirs in spare (ha, ha) time. To get started, go to Google Drive, click the red Create link, and
choose the Presentation option.
Contributed by: Kim Bain, Columbia, SC
Haiku Deck
www.haikudeck.com
Type: Mobile Device application
Description: Similar to PowerPoint to be used
on iPads. You enter text and it searches its
amazing picture database and gives you choices
of pictures based on key words. There are
millions of pictures that are terrific quality! You can also search their pictures yourself. You can
also use your own photos. You have some choices for text style. The "decks" you make can be
shared via email, Twitter, Facebook and viewed on any browser. My GATE students are using
this for their presentations on the big idea of "Systems." Their topics range from telephones to
baseball. We'll project their work on our Smartboard.
Contributed by: Kim PIthey, Porter Ranch, CA 91326
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
3
Instagram
http://instagram.com
Type: Mobile Device application
Description: Instagram is an online photo-sharing and
social networking service that enables users to take
pictures, apply digital filters to them, and share them
socially. We used Instagram to visualize what our story
characters may take pictures of if they snapped pics on
their mobile devices. This enabled and encouraged my
second graders to really get into the minds of their characters. This activity really forced them
to demonstrate understanding of the traits of their characters - and they loved the idea. Since
posting about this, I've had several people around the world at all grade levels - elementary to
secondary share photos of their student's work. It's such a popular activity... we call it analogue
technology. It scaffolds students on using the tech tool with a beautiful pencil and paper idea
that creates a nice bulletin board. Then, when they're asked to use the tool, they have an idea
on proper use and starting discussions on digital citizenship is much easier. (See blog post here:
http://www.kleinspiration.com/2013/01/if-our-characters-had-instagram-new.html)
Contributed by: Erin Klein, Bloomfield Hills, MI ~ www.kleinspiration.com
Pearltrees
www.pearltrees.com
Type: Web-based tool & Mobile Device application
Description: This is a wonderful, free resource. It's a mind
mapping tool that allows you to map not only words but
pictures, webpages, etc. Students can start with the main idea
of their presentation and then link to the supporting details,
whatever (and wherever) they are. (Example: a video they
created and uploaded to YouTube, an online timeline to reference, a photo of a unique
artifact, etc.) I'm not teaching this year so I haven't used it with students yet, but I can't wait!
Contributed by: Rebecca Enright, Quebec, Canada
Popplet
www.popplet.com
Type: Online, web-based tool, Mobile Device application
Description: Popplet is an online idea brainstorming and
collaboration tool. I have used Popplet as a motivational
tool for my students to create their own presentations. It
has a short, EASY tutorial that my students watched on their
own and then were able to begin creating. Transferring
pictures from Internet to the Popplet was the hardest part but once one student learned it they
easily passed on their knowledge to the next and it became easy as well. I HIGHLY
recommend this site.
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
4
Prezi
http://prezi.com
Type: Online, web-based tool, Ipad accessible
Description: Prezi is a really neat presentation tool
that is extremely accessible to students. I have used
it with my intermediate students with a lot of
success, and the primary teachers have begun to
introduce it to their students as well. I created a
class account and all my students log on with the same password and find the project they are
working on. This tool enables students to organize their information in a visually appealing
way. They can add both text as well as graphics, and the complexity can increase as students
become more technologically adept (also a great way to differentiate, all students can use but
you can create more difficult outcomes for some students than others). Like with Google
documents more than one student can work on it simultaneously, which is a great feature for
group projects. Also, if students are already familiar with PowerPoint, they can create slides on
PowerPoint and import them into a Prezi. The possibilities are endless!
Contributed by: Courtney Petzold, Manchester, New Hampshire
Screenr
www.screenr.com
Type: Online, web-based tool
Description: This allows you to easily take screen
shots of anything and voice over the clip. You can
use multiple shots. It is very easy to do. I use it
myself to explain processes and have these posted
on my website so students can access them from
home. It takes minutes to do and is very easy. Students can make presentations using shots of
things they are researching and easily include their voices.
Contributed by: Jennifer Griffith, Pemberville, OH
ShowMe
www.showme.com
Type: Mobile Device application
Description: ShowMe is a free interactive
whiteboard that you can write on, take pictures
on, and record yourself teaching a concept on.
You can use this for instructions for a small group,
to add interest to your lesson, or to get the
students to teach concepts for review. You can also upload your ShowMe presentation for
others to use. There are so many ways to make and use a ShowMe in the classroom.
Contributed by: Melissa Miles, Salem, VA, USA
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
5
Sliderocket
www.sliderocket.com
Type: Online, web-based tool
Description: My middle schoolers love Power Point
because they grew up with it, but any teacher knows
that Power Point doesn't always travel well from
home. Sliderocket is very similar to Power Point, but
is completely web based, and can be used to
collaborate between several students. Great for group projects without having to make
students physically travel to each others' homes. My students use it to create visual aids for
their end of year projects, and they get super creative!
Contributed by: Kerin Steigerwalt, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Storybird
www.storybird.com
Type: Online, web-based tool
Description: Storybird is a way for students to make
and create online storybooks. The website provides
you with many art collections to choose from for
your illustrations and with a template for students to
write their stories on. Students can write on a topic
of their choosing, or they can write on an assigned
topic. My students have one assignment each week,
and I assign it to them right through Storybird. Their
directions are inside our class’ section of the website and all of their stories are then grouped
together. When students finish, they can publish their stories, adding them to the wider
Storybird community collection, and giving them a URL link that they can share with family
and friends. The students are also required to leave 2 comments each week on Storybirds
created by their classmates.
Contributed by: Heidi Raki, Casablanca, Morocco, www.rakisradresources.com
TimeGlider
http://timeglider.com
Type: Online, web-based tool
Description: This tool allows students to create and
manipulate their own timeline of events. They input
dates with descriptions and TimeGlider plots it. You
can edit text, add pictures, and manipulate the
'points' on the timeline. It's free and easy to set up. I
used it with my fifth graders as an extension project in conjunction with our American Hero
Research. I found it to be a great tool to help students understand the concept of time lapse.
Contributed by: Crystal Williamson, Shawnee Mission, Kansas
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
6
Toontastic
http://launchpadtoys.com/toontastic
Type: Mobile Device application
Description: Great app that looks at the set up of a
story (setup, conflict, challenge, climax and
resolution). It also focuses on character and setting.
Students love creating a story and being able to
animate it with characters they choose or draw. Then
they can publish and share their story. The only
drawback is that if you get a set number of characters and settings but then you are asked to
purchase more. Students can draw their own (and often will) though.
Contributed by: Rebecca Enright, Quebec, Canada
Videolicious
https://videolicious.com
Type: Mobile Device application
Description: Great tool for students to
either take pictures and tell a story with
the pictures or for students to video
themselves telling a story. Great for book
talks!! Very user friendly.
Contributed by: Kathy Garris, Norfolk, VA
VoiceThread
www.voicethread.com
Type: Online, web-based tool
Description: VoiceThread is a great site for
students to create a presentation using videos,
docs, or images. Students can easily record their
voices and use the pen to write within the
presentation. The best feature about
VoiceThread is the ability for class discussions.
Students can write or record their voices to
comment on a slide. Since there is an option for
both, students can choose whichever they feel most comfortable with. This is a wonderful
feature for shy students that do not usually speak up in class or for learners that have trouble
expressing their thoughts in writing.
Link to classroom ideas http://voicethread.com/about/library
Contributed by: Christina Webb, Mapleton, IL
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
7
Voki
www.voki.com
Type: Web-based tool, Downloadable program
Description: Voki is a free website where you can
create customized avatars and add voices to them.
My kids used it to finalize their ecosystem projects.
They created the animal that was in their ecosystem
and then explained the endangered animal's habitat and everything else that you could find in
that animal’s ecosystem. The kids loved it because they were able to hear their report through
the animal's mouth. Excellent and a lot of fun! It was extremely motivational to get my kids to
write a better report!
Contributed by: Kathleen Wilderman, Ellerbe, NC
Weebly
http://www.weebly.com/
Type: Web-based tool, Mobile Device application
Description: Weebly is a website creation tool
that is super easy to use! You can add photos,
photo slideshows, YouTube videos, upload files,
and so much more. You can even add a blog to
the website that you create!. It is free to educators
and comes with 40 free student accounts where
they, too, can create websites without needing an
email address, and over which the teacher has complete control. I use the student accounts for
group projects. The students work in teams to create presentations in all subject areas. It is
truly an amazing site...so many ways to be used, free, and so user friendly!
Contributed by: Jody Erickson, Warner, SD USA
Xtranormal
www.xtranormal.com
Type: Web-based tool, Mobile Device application
Description: Students can enter any information
and turn it into an animated video. Students are
able to select and customize characters, scenes,
sound effects, motions, and other features. My
students used to present research in a fun creative
way. They absolutely loved using it! My students
have also used Prezi, Glogster, Animoto, GoogleDrive, Storybird, and Blabberize. My students
are so engaged and have such a great time using these and other technology tools. I'd love to
give you anymore information to help you with this.
Contributed by: Kelly Nellums, Lake Wylie, South Carolina
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
8
If you enjoyed the materials in this teaching resources pack, you might also enjoy these ebooks
and lessons. You can purchase them from my store on TeachersPayTeachers.com by clicking the
links below or by visiting my Teaching Resources website: www.lauracandler.com.
Teaching Multiple Intelligence Theory
Bingo Showdown:
Confusing Words Review
Character Bio Reports
Analyzing Character Traits
Powerful Poetry Combo
Plural Noun Showdown
Sentence Go Round
Writing Powerful Poetry
Geometry: Exploring the Basics
Math Stations for Middle Grades (3-8)
Mastering Math Facts
Seasonal
Teaching Packs
Polygon Explorations
October
Place Value Spinner Games
November
December
January
Talking Sticks Discussions (CCSS Aligned)
Fraction Spinner Games
Simplify and Snap Fraction Game
Order of Operations Bingo
February (Free!)
March
April
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
9
Teaching Resources Website
www.lauracandler.com
Ready-to-Use Resources for Teachers!
 Free printables and activity sheets
 Lesson plans and teaching strategies
 Cooperative learning methods
 Classroom management and motivation
 Literacy & Reading Workshop strategies
 Mathematics instructional resources
 Candler’s Classroom Connections Newsletters
Connect and Share
www.facebook.com/TeachingResources
www.pinterest.com/lauracandler
www.corkboardconnections.com
Discover Laura’s Teaching Resources . . .



Digital eBooks and lessons you can download from
www.lauracandler.com and print or use on
a Smartboard!
Each book, ebook or lesson pack includes
ready-to-use directions, printables, and teaching tips!
Popular titles include:
 Mastering Math Facts
Created by
 Daily Math Puzzler Series
Laura Candler
 Math Stations for Middle Grades
Milken Educator
 Power Reading Workshop
 Graphic Organizers Aligned with the Common Core
©2013 ~ Created by Laura Candler ~ Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com
10