For those using Google Workspace (particularly in the primary setting), it can often be difficult to turn lesson content into ‘interactive’ learning experiences. Whilst the functionality of Docs and Slides (to name but a few) is fantastic, it can often be harder for younger children to access at the desired level. However, Google Drawings goes a long way to solving those issues.
Drawings is a Google tool which is often underused – part of this may be down to the fact that shortcut is not currently available on the Google waffle (nine dots). There is also no Drawings app available for iPad or Android and must be accessed through the URL or a Google Search. However, there is automatic integration with Google Drawings from the dropdown menu in Google Classroom.
Making Learning Interactive
The Drawings interface is very user friendly and contains all of the same functionality and toolbars of you main Google apps, like Slides and Docs. Images can be copied across from other sources. The ‘textbox’ tool will be one of your most commonly used, as each individual textbox can then be moved for labelling activities. Drawings really lends itself to the creation of ‘drag and drop’, ‘cloze procedure’, ‘labelling’, ‘sequencing’ and ‘scratch and reveal’ activities. The children find this more enjoyable that a labelling activity that may involve typing values onto a table in Google Docs, or simply typing numbers to order a story sequence.
Sample ‘Drawings Activities’
This activity revolves around labelling from a map of Ireland. The text boxes may be moved and positioned within the correct county. A copy of this activity can be found here.
This activity involves children mixing and matching between 3D shapes and their associated nets. A copy of this activity can be found here.
This activity showcases how Drawings can be used for cloze procedures and vocabulary development. This specific activity relates to vocabulary from the novel ‘Holes’. A copy of this activity can be found here.
This activity demonstrates how Drawings can be used for sequencing. Children are asked to sequence the images from the story ‘The Three Pigs’ or ‘Na Trí Mhuc’ as Gaeilge. A copy of this activity can be found here.
This activity was designed for children to match the relevant Gaeilge sentences from the story ‘Na Trí Mhuc’ with its corresponding picture. A copy of this activity can be found here.
It is clear to see how Google Drawings can be used to turn some potentially monotonous learning activities into meaningful learning experiences. Drawings can also be very beneficial in creating activities using the Google Workspace suite for younger children. Take some time to experiment with Drawings and think about the kind of earning experiences it could be useful for in your own classroom.