Biology - Six Kingdoms

VoiceThread is collaborative multimedia slideshow that holds images, documents and videos and allows people to navigate slides and leave comments using voice, text or video.

• All NPS students have access to a VoiceThread account
• Try the log-in insructions below.  
  • Go to www.nps.ed.voicethread.com
  • email: StudentID#@newton.k12.ma.us
  • password: StudentID#

Timetoast allows you to create dynamic timelines online.

• It's free online (you don't need the paid account).
• Beware:  because the timeline you create is interactive with dynamic images, you won't be able to print it out to turn it in.  Instead, you'll have to give your teacher a link to view your timeline online.  Be sure to clear this with him or her before you use this tool for your project.

Here's a sample timeline I made for Rosa Parks (to see it in larger format, use this link)
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/rosa-parks-civil-rights-activist

The bibliography for this project including citations for all of the images can be found here.
http://easybib.com/public/list/key/2a53cf

'ThingLink can be used to add multiple hyperlinks to any image you upload and host it online. You can make your images come alive with music, videos or any other web content. 

• It's free online. 
• Take a look at their gallery to get a better idea of why this is such a popular presentation tool.

Here's an example. Hover over the photo to see the clickable links that have been added to the image.

Do you have a long script for your video? Consider using a teleprompter tool like Teleprompt.me (note that it is voice activated -- "allow" microphone use so the prompter can advance as you read the script automatically) or CuePrompter.

Smore makes it easy to create online fliers and posters with slick templates and simple click and drag manipulation. Consider using smore to jazz up that old paper poster project and provide a means for all students to shine--not just those who are good at drawing, cutting and pasting.

Here's a sample smore flyer: https://www.smore.com/ja9c-the-senses

Prezi is an online alternative to PowerPoint. "Make your presentations zoom!"

• It's free online (you don't need the paid account).
• Watch the video below to learn how to use it--it takes a little practice, but can create great-looking presentations.

Create animated videos and presentations using Powtoon. Powtoon is available for free in NPS GoogleDrive Apps.

- Login to your NPS GoogleDrive account

- Create > Connect more apps > search for Powtoon > click Connect

- Create, select PowToon

Create your own Comic. Includes fully -posable characters, dynamic panels, props, and speech bubbles. Free online -- click on icon above or link below to go to the site: https://www.pixton.com/ca/

Adobe Spark is an app from Adobe that allows users to create template based social media graphics (Spark Post), web stories (Spark Page) and animated videos (Spark Video) using a simple online interface

The Spark Page module is designed to allow users to create online magazine style web pages. The templates and layout options available are very modern and are designed to present your work in an elegant and engaging way that focuses on visual content.

Adobe Spark is free, but you will need to log in with your Google account. 

Watch this teacher's video tutorial on how to use Adobe Spark below.

Lucidpress is an app that can be used to create presentations, brochures (including trifold), newsletter/papers, magazines, flyers, posters, etc.  

• You can choose between digital documents and those that you can print.
• It's full of really helpful templates to build off of.
• You can share your document with others to edit, just like Google Docs.
• Best of all, Lucidpress is a free Google App that you can access using your NPS Google Drive account!  
  • Log into Google Drive, click create, click on "Connect more apps," then search for Lucidpress. This will save you the need to create an account with an email and password. Once you connect to Lucidpress through Google Drive, the app will open as a new tab in your browser.  
  •  Click on the Lucidpress logo at the top left of the screen to see all of your Lucidpress documents.

From iTunes: "Haiku Deck is the simple new way to create stunning presentations – whether you are pitching an idea, teaching a lesson, telling a story, or igniting a movement. Featured on the iTunes “New and Noteworthy” and “What’s Hot” lists, Haiku Deck makes it fast and fun to create beautifully designed slideshows you’ll be proud to share." It's available as an iPad app, and as a desktop tool. 

Haiku Deck is designed to move you away from reading a bunch of slides. To see the "speaker's notes" that would accompany the second presentation below, click here.

This app lets you create Green Screen videos right from an iPad. It's available on all the library iPads. Use it with our green screen and tripod to set up your own video studio. When you’re finished with your project, remember to click "save" to render the video. Once the video has rendered, which might take 10 minutes or more, then you’ll be able to upload it to Google Drive.

Need help with the Green Screen app, check out Do Ink's FAQ page and other help features.

Do you have a long script for your video? Consider using a teleprompter tool like Teleprompt.me (note that it is voice activated -- "allow" microphone use so the prompter can advance as you read the script automatically) or CuePrompter.

Need to film your green screen project? Sign up with the form below to reserve a green screen, iPad and tripod: 

Google Slides is an easy way to create presentations. It allows real-time collaboration. Auto saving. Easily import images, videos and more. Use premade templates and themes or start from scratch.  

Check out this helpful Slides Cheat Sheet:

A way to create web sites. This tool is connected to your Newton Public Schools Google Drive account. You can add text, videos, images, links, maps, and more.

To access, log into your Google Drive and choose "New."  Then click "More" and choose Google Sites. 

Google Site Exemplar: 

Check out this site we made for the Family Chemistry Project.

Here's a page on how to use google sites.

Display your information visually! Easel.ly includes pre-made templates based on the type of data (timelines, maps, etc.) or themes (the environment, science, sports). Add your data, and create a beautiful presentation. 

Canva is a design tool that helps you create for images Web or print, including blog graphics, presentations, Facebook covers, flyers, posters, and more.

• It's free online (while certain images and graphics require payment, there are hundreds of free options)
• You can work collaboratively, sharing and editing your designs with a classmate or teacher.
• There are dozens of pre-set templates, icons, and images to start you off, or you can create from scratch, and upload your own images to customize.
• When you're finished you can publish the images online or download them to print or use in other projects.
• If you want to print as a poster, we recommend you download as a .pdf, then open using Adobe Reader. When you go to print from Adobe Reader , select "Poster" under Page sizing & handling. 100% size will print on 6 pieces of regular sized paper (8.5"x11"). 80% size will print on 4 pieces. You will need to trim the white margins and then tape them together on a poster board. The library has a paper cutter if you need it, but no color printer!
  • If you are using a Chromebook or don't have access to Adobe Reader, recommend you download as a .pdf, then upload to a block poster printing site like blockposters.com, use the site to carve up your poster across multipe sheets of 8.5"x11" paper, then download the multi-page poster. You will need to trim the white margins and then tape them together on a poster board. The library has a paper cutter if you need it, but no color printer!