Lesson Spotlight: Book Covers
Do you want to get your students excited about reading more books? This activity requires students to locate 5 or more books relevant to their age group. Once they locate a book of interest, they read the summary and get ideas about how to decorate a book cover based on that summary. This unit will show students how to add the book summary to a Google slide template. Once they set up the slide with the written information, they will learn how to use tools in Google slides in order to decorate the book cover to complement the book. They will learn some basic tools in Google slides and tips on design. Check out an example of a book cover for Wonder by R.J. Palacio and a book cover for The Ousiders by S. E. Hinton
Bonus lesson: There is a Google slide template that includes enough slides for students to share their work and have their peers see their work and provide positive and constructive feedback. Prior to having students give feedback, I show them this video so they have a better understanding on how to give good feedback. You can explore other examples by searching for Sandwich feedback, which basically has the evaluator give positive feedback followed by constructive advice and then finalizing the feedback with something positive. The Google slide template has a helpful video for the teacher and students so they can complete this assignment with ease. This unit will give the teacher and students a greater depth in the power of Google Apps. Students can learn about other books based on what their peers have put together. My students enjoy looking at projects created by their peers. This collaboration opportunity will allow students to have a conversation with their classmates about their word and image choices used to visually represent the book they are representing. Hopefully students will be inspired to check out some of the books represented on the shared classroom slideshow.
Be sure to use my free resource to learn some amazing tips for navigating Google. These tips will make your life easier. The tips shared in this free resource provide fabulous tips that have taken me years of attending tech workshops, reading various blogs and sites to gain further understanding of Google and teaching it to my middle school students since 2009 when I became a Google Certified Innovator. Once a teacher can understand the resources shared on this free resource, they will be able to come up with creative ways to share digital projects with their students.
After completing my lessons with your students, I would love your feedback on any of my units. Fill out the survey and I will randomly draw names for another free digital lesson at the end of each month. I encourage any educator who uses my resources to reach out to me if they have issues. I plan on dedicating my time to helping teachers to make their lives easier. I know how hard it is to be a teacher. We have so many hats to fill and teaching is only part of a teacher's job. I think back on my first years of teaching and am amazed how much technology has changed. I have spent a great deal of my free time to become more proficient with tech integration in the classroom. I have continued to modify my lessons to maximize the learning experience of my students. I find it challenging and very exciting. You can see student comments by visiting this link.
