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10 Hacks for Creating with Google Slides – Part 2

By: peacefieldhistorycomment

10 Hacks for Creating with Google Slides Second Edition

I’m so excited to bring your 10 more hacks for creating with Google Slides. When I wrote my first post about Google Slides, I focused more on experience for beginners, and my tips were pretty basic. If you’re new to Google Slides, and you haven’t read that post, I suggest you check that out first.

However, most of today’s tips reach the next level. If you would really like to make your Google Slides presentations look polished and provide interactivity for your students, this post provides some great tips.

1. Utilize Different Fonts with Font Meme

I just discovered font meme last week. This website will completely transform your Google Slides presentations. One of my biggest frustrations with Google Slides has always been the limited font choices. Font Meme provides you with the opportunity to add SO MANY MORE FONTS. Some of the fonts do require payment, however, most are free. You can enter the text, modify the text color, style, and size, and then generate your own custom text.

To enter the text into your own slide presentation, you just click the embed button, then copy the direct image link. Then, you just insert the image into your presentation,

The only issue is that the text cannot be edited once it’s entered into Google Slides. If you want to change the text, you will have to go back to font meme for any modifications. Still, this opens up so many more text options!

Using Font Meme with Peacefield History
This a really small showcase of the many available choices.

2. You Can add Audio Files!

The time has finally come. We can now add audio files to Google Slides. I’ve been wishing for this version for a LONG TIME. As I described in my previous post about Google Slides hacks, audio used to be added by utilizing video links. However, now, you can just click insert – audio, and you can add an audio file to your presentation. Currently, you can add WAV and MP3 files. I know I’ll be using this all the time for sound effects.

3. Insert Bitmojis into your Presentations

Judging by what I see online, I think everyone has figured this out. However, I know that not everyone is on the internet as often as myself. If you’ve never heard of Bitmojis, this is going to change your whole approach to presentations. A Bitmoji is a cartoon version of yourself. You can modify your whole look, and the Bitmojis you create really look like you! If you add the Bimoji Chrome Extension to your Chrome browser, you can search and add custom Bitmojis right in.

Integrating Bitmojis into Google Slides on Peacefield History

4. Creating a New Slide Document

Do you want to create a new slide deck? Instead of opening your drive and creating from there, just open a new tab in your browser and type slides.new. This works in any browser, not just Google Chrome. You can also type docs.new for a new Google document.

5. Add a GIF into Google Slides

Everybody loves GIFs, and they are easy to add to any Google Slides presentation. Simply use the Google image search, and under the search tools – type – pick animated. Click on your selected GIF, and then just right click to copy the image address. Insert the image into your presentation by the url. Just think of the possibilities! You can add them into your daily agenda, solicit reactions from students through GIF, or even have students utilize them for an assessment.

Ross GIF
I love a good Ross GIF.
Michael Scott GIF
I could use a Michael Scott meme every day.

6. Make a Template for A Hyperdoc of a Manipulative Slide

I love all of these tips, but this one I’ve newly discovered and it’s one of my faves. You can create a template background for a Google Slides document. This way, if the presentation is shared with students, they can manipulate some of the slide but not the background.

To do this, simply open a Google Slide Deck, and then click Slide – Edit Master. Don’t edit the top slide, unless you want all the slides to look this way. Instead, click the last slide in the deck.

Creating a Master Slide background with Peacefield History

You can customize the background with details. Students won’t be able to click on any background elements if this template is utilized in the regular presentation. You can use these templates to provide a creative background or to have students drag and drop elements into categories.

I also like using the edit master to change the standard fonts for a particular slide deck. This way, I don’t spend my time changing the font each time I add in a new slide.

7. Control + D

This one is another simple hack, but it’s a time saver that I can’t believe I lived without. If you want to cut and paste a specific item back into your presentation, just click Control + D at the same time.

8. Paletti

This is another Google Slides Add On to make your presentation look more snazzy. Paletti provides you with color palettes to make sure that your presentations have coordinated colors. You can choose a color palette from those provided and you can also create your own. With a click of a wand on the top of the palette, the full slide deck will be changed to match the colors chosen.

Creating a Google Slides color palette with Peacefield History

9. Create a GIF with your Google Slides Presentation

The GIF I created below is just a review of the slide show I made for this post. However, you could create one that is a simple animation or you could have students create an animation on their own.

To create an animated GIF, with your Google Slide deck open, just click file – publish to the web. Then make sure to change the settings to the following:

  • every second
  • Start slideshow as soon as player loads
  • Restart slideshow after last slide

With the above settings, you can then share the link or embed the slideshow into Google Classroom or Google Sites.

10. Voice Type Speaker Notes

As you’re working on your new and fantastic Google Slides Presentation, you might want to add in some notes in the speaker notes section. To quickly add those notes, just click tools – voice type speaker notes. Once you click the microphone, anything you state will be added to the notes at the bottom. I use this notes section to add in little notes to myself as a create a new presentation.

If you know of any hacks I haven’t mentioned, make sure to add them in the comments. I’ll save your suggestions for future posts.

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About Peacefield History

Peacefield History is filled with all topics teaching and history related. Follow me for trends in education, teacher tech tips, history related reading, and other more general musings.

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Remember, joy is endless and unlimited. If you see Remember, joy is endless and unlimited. If you see someone happy and joyful about something, it’s not a dig at you. Most likely, it’s not even about you. Someone else’s joy is NOT taking away from your ability to have your own.
I’ve been legitimately reading lately, so I thou I’ve been legitimately reading lately, so I though I would post my faves on here as I go through them. I’ve been trying to tackle the pile on my night stand, but the description for this book stood out, so it magically jumped into my Kindle.

This story was written about a hundred years ago, but it doesn’t read that way. It tells the story of two women - both Black. One was able to pass for white and join white society, and one wasn’t. 

I really enjoyed this story and the writing felt really modern. There’s a movie based on the story coming out soon, and I think it could really expand on the topics from the book. It’s only 2 dollars on Amazon, but that makes sense, as it’s really a novella. It only took about a hour of my time, but I’d argue it was worth it. 

#passing #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #socialstudiesteacher #historyteacher #teacheronbreak #iteachhistory
Ok, my DMs are blowing up! Can you answer this que Ok, my DMs are blowing up! Can you answer this question? (And yes, I know the grammar was bad in the email. I’m guessing the student had lost some sleep... they probably had to get up after they heard the goat in labor? 😂
After today she'll be quoted everywhere, but I cou After today she'll be quoted everywhere, but I couldn't help myself. What a beautiful message, what a speaker. @Amandascgorman spoke for America today.
I was able to get my first vaccine today, and I ca I was able to get my first vaccine today, and I can’t even explain how humbled and emotional I was over this experience. Everything was incredibly organized, and there were volunteers everywhere to help my through the process. The National Guard greeted me, ushered me in, and protected the location from harm. It was the epitome of good in government. Our government is often derided as a source of evil, and while that certainly can be the case, it is also known as the government of the people, by the people. Today I saw that in action. I was humbled, and for the first time in a long time, I was filled with hope. 

I hope that in the coming days we will see an initiative by our federal government to get this vaccine out to our country’s people more quickly and efficiently. I hope my feed is filled with people getting their vaccines and protecting they and the ones they love from this virus. I wish for you’ll to feel the hope I felt soon. May better days be with us soon. 

❤️ Allison
I had a small win this Friday, and I needed it thi I had a small win this Friday, and I needed it this week. I told my AP students that I was excited about this quiz idea, and they laughed. Honestly, there’s not much to look forward to in a pandemic, and if an exciting quiz is it, well so be it. 

I took the idea of hexagonal review and turned it into a quiz. It was assigned in Google Slides, and I could see the minute they start editing, and the minute they finished. This also worked remotely, and it even worked for my students who have iffy internet. Zoom in to read the directions, and let me know if you have questions. (My Kardashian example is an inside joke with my AP kids.) 

#socialstudies #iteachhistory #iteachAP #socialstudiesteachersrock #iteachmiddleschool #iteachhistory #socialstudiestips #remoteteaching #hybridteaching
You are watching an insurrection. This is domesti You are watching an insurrection. 
This is domestic terrorism. 
This is not a representative Democracy. 

Period.
𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴???? ⁣ 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴???? ⁣
⁣
I don't think we should be first on the list by any means... however, when I see teachers from other states getting that coveted shot in their arm, I wonder when it will be our turn. ⁣
⁣
I just want some information.⁣
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#socialstudiesteacher #socialstudies #teachinghistory  #hybridlearning #weareteachers #teacherlife #middleschoolsteacher #teachersfollowteachers  #distancelearning #iteachhistory #
This post might be two days late, but that's becau This post might be two days late, but that's because I'm all about finding "balance" this year. Balance between...⁣
⁣
work/life⁣
school/home⁣
plenty/simplicity⁣
productivity/relaxation⁣
the past/ the future⁣
growth/contentment⁣
⁣
I can over think everything at every moment of the day. This year, I just want to live and savor the days instead. (This might just be because I'm 40 now, but I see those days as they pass, and they are fast y'all.)⁣
⁣
#socialstudiesteacher #socialstudies #teachinghistory #TpT #teacherspayteachers #teacherlife #middleschoolteacher #teachersfollowteachers  #distancelearning #iteachhistory #distancelearning  #engagingteaching #historyteacher #iteachmiddleschool #iteachAP #teacheronbreak
Accurate. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to t Accurate.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to those who celebrate in this season! I’m just trying not to eat ALL the spinach and artichoke dip that I made... #selfcare #thedipistheselfcare
My students have been playing "For Crown or Colony My students have been playing "For Crown or Colony?" over the past week, and I needed a new way to make sure that they were understanding/paying attention to what they were learning from the game. I wanted this check-in to be quick, easy to mark, and with minimal clicking on my part. @Padlet came to my rescue. Here's how I set it up.⁣
⁣
1. I posted a question with directions. My post was the only item visible on the page.⁣
2. Student didn't have to log in, they just created their own posts and added their names at the top. ⁣
3. To prevents students from copying each other, I make the posts require approval. This way, I could see all the posts, but they could not. I could provide a check next to their names as I gradually approved the posts. ⁣
⁣
This worked. Students would review the posts the next day to see how their interactions with the game differed. It was easy and quick, and we all need more of that this year. I hope you're thriving and not just surviving right now in your classroom!⁣
⁣
Allison⁣
⁣
#socialstudiesteacher #socialstudies #teachinghistory #TpT #teacherspayteachers #hybridlearning #teacherlife #middleschoolsteacher #teachersfollowteachers #historyteacher #distancelearning #iteachhistory #distancelearning #cooperativelearning #padlet #missionus #forcrownorcolony  #iteachmiddleschool
So basically today was about how much I look like So basically today was about how much I look like my Bitmoji. 🤷🏻‍♀️ #greatkidslongyear #iteachmiddleschool #socialstudiesteacher #iteachhistory #hybridteaching #socialstudies #bitmoji #teachersofinstagram
I'm EXHAUSTED, but I'm starting to figure out how I'm EXHAUSTED, but I'm starting to figure out how this hybrid learning thing works. (It probably helps that I have the sweetest kids under the sun this year!) Since I've had a couple nights of actual sleep, I decided to blog about some of the ideas I've had for cooperative learning this year. It's definitely more difficult, but it's not impossible. (Especially since I've fallen in love with Google Breakout rooms.) Click the link in my profile to learn more!
I have a million tasks on my plate right now, but I have a million tasks on my plate right now, but I may have spent some of my Saturday rearranging my plants. Swipe to see some of my faves. (Yes I have fave plants, don’t you?!) 

#noregrets #havetograde #plantsaremyhappyplace #plantlady #houseplants #sundayvibes #homedecor #sundayscaries
The day after the President told teachers that the The day after the President told teachers that they were focusing too much on slavery in our history, we talked about slavery in my AP class. Why? It's a HUGE part of U.S. History, and not shocking, it also a HUGE part of my curriculum. Slavery comes up often in my classes because it's so fundamental to our development as a country. I'd traditionally done this lesson as a silent conversation, however, I decided to have my hybrid class use Jamboard instead for this lesson.  I gave them 8 "thought provoking" prompts. They had to respond using the ideas they generated by reading two articles (Nash and Kendi). Then, they had to respond to a classmate's posts on each slide. ⁣
⁣
It was an intense and silent period. Students were clicking, typing and THINKING. Their brains were flying and focused. It was interesting, when the bell rang it startled all of this. The initial feedback was that they really enjoyed the experience. We had nine slides filled with details and ideas. Of all that I have done with hybrid teaching thus far, this was probably my favorite. ⁣
⁣
I had a bit of a lightbulb go off with this experience. We're often tasks with "summing things up" at the end of every lesson. With this lesson, I made it about the PROCESS. Thinking, critical thinking, doesn't always lead to an immediate resolution. My students still learned, despite not having a summation.⁣
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This is not my lesson. I've blogged about it previously, and all the resources are there. Click the link in my profile to grab them.
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