Grab some free templates and help kids master basic Google Slides skills while easily creating informative presentations. As an elementary library media specialist, I spend a lot of time using Google Slides with students. We use Google Slides projects in many ways to present research findings. The compatibility with Google classroom makes Google Slides extremely easy to use. I’m always trying to design engaging activities and trying new ideas. Anything that can save me time is a winner.
Today I’m going to share with you some of my favorite engaging Google Slides projects. If you are a teacher or homeschool instructor, maybe these creative google slides ideas will spark your students’ interest. Whether you need Google Slides assignments for students or ideas for Google Slides for fun, there’s something here for you. Ready to get some great Google Slides project ideas? Let’s get started!
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Student Project #1: Google Slides Animal Research Project
I love doing research projects about animals. I use this project with second through fifth graders. When I let the students choose the animal they wish to study, each student can usually find an animal to get excited about. I work in two different schools. Each school has a collection of nonfiction books about animals, but I like to save the library books for students to check out.
The Research Source
For this, I like to use the free ebooks from the Epic ebooks site. The collection is larger than that of the school libraries. The ebooks are also quite current. I wish I had the budget to update our nonfiction collection with print copies of some of the ebooks Epic has. In the meantime, it’s great to have Epic as a resource for this project. If you’re not sure how to set up an Epic account for your classroom or library, I wrote a post about it that gives all the details.
The Research Packet
Once each student has chosen his or her source of information, I have the student fill in the title and author of the book on their Citation page in the packet. Here is a pdf version of the packet for you to access.
Creating a Citation
I show students how to find the copyright information in the ebook and fill that in on their citation page as well. Here’s a quick video showing how to access the copyright information in an Epic ebook. It’s a little tricky to find. Once students have gathered the copyright information, they use Citation Maker to create a citation to save in Google Docs. If you aren’t sure if your school has access to Citation Maker, talk to the school librarian.
Gather the Facts and Create a Slideshow Using a Template
Students use their chosen book source to fill in the information in the packet. If you are teaching online, the students can open the pdf with DocHub to edit. Once all of the information is filled in, students are ready to begin their slide show. Here’s the master slide show template for you to access. You can make your own copy and edit as needed, then have each student make a copy. (Or you can make one for them in the Google Classroom when you create an assignment.) Using the facts from their research, students fill in the information on their Google slides.
Adding Finishing Touches and Turning in the Slide Show
When students have entered their facts into the Google slides, they may add transitions, a theme and even music. (I wrote a post about how to add sound to Google slides.) To turn the slideshow in, I have them get a shareable link and post in a Google classroom discussion area in Classwork. That way, they may view each other’s creations. Super fun!
Student Project #2: Google Slides Biography Research Project
This research project is similar to the project above, except the source for the research is different. Of course, the research packet is different as well, but the idea of gathering facts is the same. This project is suitable for use with second-grade through fifth-grade students. For second and third graders, I usually expect them to find fewer facts for each slide. The Google Slides projects which I offer are easily adaptable for a variety of grade levels.
The Research Source
For this project, I have students use Kids InfoBits (now renamed Elementary Research in Context). Check with your school librarian to see if you have this database or a similar one like PebbelGo. This database, published by Gale Group, has a fantastic section called People, with different categories to investigate. I usually have one grade level study scientists, one grade level study presidents, and another grade study historical figures. You get the idea.
The Research Packet
Once each student has chosen his or her source of information, I have them copy and paste the link to their source into a group discussion board in the Google classroom. Since there are so many sources in the database, doing this helps students remember which source they need to return to for fact-gathering. Here’s the packet in pdf form:
Creating a Citation
One super nice thing about using a Gale Group database like this is that the citation is already made. It’s just at the bottom of the article. Each student just needs to go to the bottom of the article, then copy and paste it directly into the Resources page on their slide show.
Slideshow Template
Here’s a link to the template. Just as in the previous project, you can make your own copy. Also as in the previous project, students may customize the appearance and function of their slideshow. When ready to turn in, each student may share a link in the Google classroom for others to access and view.
Student Project #3: Google Slides National Park Road Trip Project
In the spring, I like to have students plan a road trip. This is one of the best Google Slides projects for focusing on geography. I encourage fourth graders to take advantage of the Every Kid Outdoors program. It’s a great way to see some of the beautiful national parks in the United States.
The Research Source
For this project, I have students use the National Park Service website. It’s an easy source to use when looking up articles about specific National Parks. There is a handy tool where students can find a park by state.
The Research Packet
Each student chooses three national parks to visit and writes facts about each one. Using a website like Mapquest, I have students find the distance from one destination to another. Here’s the packet in pdf form:
Creating a Citation
To create a citation in Citation Maker, I just have students copy and paste website information directly into the Citation Maker tool and generate a Google doc. Each student should cite the National Park Service website and whichever map website you have them use.
Slideshow Template
Here’s the template. Just as in the previous project, you can make your own copy. Also as in the previous project, students may customize the appearance and function of their slideshow. One thing I do for this project is to have students take a screenshot of each map when figuring the distance from one destination to another. It provides a great visual connection for their journey. When ready to turn in, each student may share a link in the Google classroom for others to access and view.
Student Project #4: Google Slides State Capital Road Trip Project
The fifth-grade road trip is similar to the fourth-grade road trip. The main difference is that instead of national parks, fifth graders travel to different state capitals. Since not all students are familiar with the different state capitals, I have them draw four slips with the names of capitals, and they get to choose three of them to use for their project. I don’t mind if some students study the same capital. It’s the luck of the draw for my students. You may have a better way of choosing destinations. If you do, I’d like to know about it. I’m always on the lookout for fresh teaching ideas!
The Research Source
For this project, I have students use an online encyclopedia. Our schools use World Book Kids. Check with your school librarian to see if you have something similar. It’s an easy source to use when looking up articles about specific places.
The Research Packet
Each student chooses three capital cities to visit and writes facts about each one. Using a website like Mapquest, I have students find the distance from one destination to another. Use the same packet for this Google Slides project as for the previous project.
Creating a Citation
One awesome thing about using World Book Kids is that the citation is already made. It’s just at the bottom of the article. Each student just needs to go to the bottom of each article, then copy and paste it directly into the Resources page on their slide show. Each student will have three articles to cite, plus the website for the maps. You may choose to use the Citation Maker tool to cite the map site.
Slideshow Template
Here’s the template, which is the same as the template for the previous project. Just as in the previous project, you can make your own copy. Also as in the previous project, students may customize the appearance and function of their slideshow. One thing I do for this project (as with the fourth-grade road trip project) is to have students take a screenshot of each map when figuring the distance from one destination to another. It provides a great visual connection for their journey. When ready to turn in, each student may share a link in the Google classroom for others to access and view.
Student Project #5: Google Slides Foreign Country Research Project with Digital Storytelling
Here is one of my favorite Google Slides projects. While the older elementary students are working on their road trip projects, second and third graders have a project of their own. I have them do foreign country research and create their own ebook. Not sure where the Google slides some in? It’s part of the project, but not until the very end.
The Research Source
For this project, I have students use the World Book Kids online encyclopedia. Check with your school librarian to see if you have something similar. It’s a great source to use when looking up articles about foreign countries.
The Research Data Sheet
Each student chooses a foreign country to study and writes facts about it. I usually choose a continent for students to look up in the encyclopedia, then they may choose a country from that continent. Since I work with seven hundred students, I feel more organized that way. If you are a classroom teacher, you may wish to have students choose a foreign country anywhere in the world. Here is a free printable data sheet and storyboard you may use.
Creating a Citation
Since World Book Kids is the source, the citation is already made. It’s just at the bottom of the article. Each student just needs to go to the bottom of each article, then copy and paste it directly into the Resources page in their ebook.
Creating the Ebook
To create the ebook, I have students use a fun site called StoryJumper. I wrote about it in a related article about digital storytelling. It’s free for teachers and students to use. Students need to create a login, but this program is amazing, so it’s worth it to me.
To simplify things, I use the initials of the schools I serve along with a number, then I only had to create 32 student accounts. If you are a classroom teacher, you can create a free account, then assign each student a username and password. I just have to caution students to only work on their book, not anyone else’s in their little online library of projects. Students begin by creating a cover.
Users may add pages, along with dialogue and illustrations. A new option of recording narration is available as well. The kids have a great time creating their stories.
Here’s the storyboard I have students follow. They don’t write on the storyboard. It is their guide for which information from the datasheet goes on each page. Students use the information they found to create a story.
Slideshow Template
The one disappointing thing about StoryJumper is there is no way for students to share the interactive story. It can be uploaded into Google classroom for their teacher to view, but classmates won’t see it. Here’s my workaround solution. Demonstrate how to take a screenshot, and students may take a screenshot of each page and place the screenshot into a Google slide show. When ready to turn in, each student may share a link in the Google classroom for others to access and view. Here’s the template for the Google slide show, which is just a blank slideshow ready to be filled in with screenshots. You may add or delete slides as needed. Students may add transitions to make it seem like readers are turning a page when they view it.
Another Fun Google Slides Idea
Looking for another fun way to use Google Slides? I’ve got ready-made online classroom seating charts with two different classroom background sizes. It’s ideal for busy teachers, and you can customize the charts to fit your needs. They can be used over and over, and you can have them for free. You’ll get a link to the Google Slide Online Classroom Seating Chart file, and you will be able to customize it by selecting File, then Make a copy. I hope it simplifies things for you.
Get my free online classroom seating charts!
Save Time With These Templates
If you’re looking for an engaging game idea for online or in-person students, how about an online virtual bingo game? Don’t worry, if you don’t have any time to create bingo boards, I’ve made some for you. I’ve designed templates for many special occasions:
- Back to School Bingo (perfect for the first week of school)
- Summer Fun Bingo (perfect for the last week of school)
- Baby Shower Bingo
- Birthday Bingo
- Christmas Bingo
- Halloween Bingo
- Valentine’s Day Bingo
- Wedding Shower Bingo
- Blank Bingo Board Template
- All templates in one eBook!
Take me to the other templates!
Going to Give One of These Google Slides Projects a Try?
I hope you have found something to try on this list of Google Slides project ideas. I have a lot of fun with Google slides. It’s an excellent way for students to share information with each other. Do you have any fabulous Google slides projects? I’d enjoy learning about them. I’m always on the lookout for more project ideas.
Have a wonderful week, and have fun creating exciting Google Slides projects!
Related Posts:
- Free Ebook Site For Kids Offers Home Access
- How to Add Sound to Google Slides
- 26 Easy Ways to Use Pear Deck With Google Slides
- Fabulous Flipgrid Ideas for Remote Learning
Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and school librarian who uses her job as an excuse to stay up far too late reading books and noodling around with tech tools. To learn more about what this website has to offer, click on over to the About page.