If you want to adapt the PowerPoint (PPT) files, you need to download them to your computer. DO NOT just click on them. Instead, right-click and choose Save as Target (or Save Link As). Then, choose Save. Open the files within PowerPoint.

PowerPoint Sidekicks

Use DK Clipart for visuals and create your own project.

PowerPoint Sidekick: Sequencing - Timelines

Besides comic strips, another way for student to tell stories is through timelines. These are particularly useful in history, but also in other areas of the curriculum where sequencing is important.

Use Indiana's Storyteller digital photo collection from the Indiana Historical Society for ideas.


PowerPoint Sidekick: Information Formats


PowerPoint Sidekick: Information Evaluation

PowerPoint Sidekick: Sequencing - Callouts

Use “callout” bubbles in PowerPoint to create comic strips, show conversations, provide directions, and many other activities. Open Call-Out Starter. Create call-out bubbles. What would this person say about this place? Open More Call-Outs. Create an assignment for one of the photos.

PowerPoint Sidekick: Sound

Sound is a great way to address the diverse learning needs of your students. Sounds can be inserted into most software tools. Begin by incorporating audio into existing projects. For example, you might record audio directions or information in Spanish. Add questions and answer audio buttons to projects. Next, try audio on single slide projects.

PowerPoint Sidekick: History and the Things They Carried

Primary sources can be exciting resources for learning when students are able to make personal connections to the contents of these materials. The key is building meaningful applications. Seek out photographs and other materials that contain the experiences of children.

Think about all the ways you can bring history alive through primary source documents. Students need to be able to analyze historical documents. Start with Explore and adapt the analysis worksheets from NARA (NARA Worksheets (PDF files): Artifact, Cartoon, Document, Map, Photograph, Poster, Sound). Create an Analysis Worksheet for your grade level. Then, create your own PowerPoint-based tool. If you need ideas, use the web evaluation project for inspiration.

try itThink about ways that learners could use bubbles for identifying parts of primary documents. Search the National Archives for particular treaties, papers, and other well-known documents. Also, search Marcopolo for a particular document and you'll find lesson ideas and links to primary sources.

PowerPoint Sidekick: Sharing Understandings

From electronic portfolios to world walls, there are many ways to use PowerPoint tools for storing and sharing work.

Create your own "TV station" with a continuous running presentation before/after school, during lunch, or at special events such as parent nights or book fairs. Use a class mascot as the narrator.

Create your own classroom programming where the students are the stars. Preview new ideas with the teachers as the talent or ask students to be the stars as they review key concepts producing new examples to promote retention and transfer of learning.

You don't necessarily need video for an effective project. Consider combining still photos with audio clips. You and your students can produce great interviews using PowerPoint.

From safety tips to health eating habits, there are many ways your students can express their understandings of important issues through the use of public service announcements and advertisements.

PowerPoint Sidekick: Inquiry Guides

Let's put it all together. Designing effective, efficient and appealing PowerPoint Learning Spaces involves more than just building a PowerPoint Sidekick. The most effective learning spaces combines authentic assignments and hands-on learning with technology tools to create synergy in the classroom. Consider activities that involve students in asking questions, solving problems, and conducting inquiries.

As students are learning about the inquiry process and specific information skills, it's helpful to provide Inquiry Guides that help students through a specific task.

Plan an inquiry-based project based on the idea that much of science involves processes, procedures, and cycles. Or, plan a mystery based on an objects.

Explore and compare different cycles. Focus on meaningful questions, tools for organizing information and thoughts, and broadening perspectives.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Farm to Table
  • Animal/Plant to Fossil
  • Photosynthesis
  • Mitosis
  • Life cycle
  • Rock cycle
  • Lunar cycle
  • Water cycle
  • Cicada cycle
  • Growing cycle
  • Star cycle
  • Boomtown to Ghosttown
  • Migration

Do a MarcoPolo search for your topic of interest or the world "cycle".

Resources

Whether creating PowerPoint Sidekicks or presentations, it's helpful to have sources for visuals and sounds. Some are provided below:

Visuals

Sounds

Workshop Handouts


Developed by Annette Lamb, 10/06.