First Unit of the Year
Learning Target: "I will design and create a powerful presentation that effectively communicates information."
"Powerful Presentations" is the first unit I teach to all 6th-8th grade students as they will be expected to create presentations at some point during the year in all of their other classes.
Each grade level worked with a specific presentation tool:
* My planning involves progressing from simple to complex tools.
6th Grade:
Google Slides |
7th Grade:
Prezi |
8th Grade:
PowToon |
This Is How I Teach It...

*You can access all materials for FREE directly from their website. iPads are optional.
Note: I divided the content in the iBook in the following manner...
- Unit 1= 6th Grade
- Unit 2= 7th Grade
- Unit 3= 8th Grade
- Read the "Introduction" and complete "Set-up Submit work" with Teacher name and email.
* I provide them with my email so they can copy and paste it directly into their book.
Final Product:
- Students will create a powerful presentation using (Google Slides, Prezi, PowToon) that effectively communicates information on their assigned topic using knowledge gained from the resources in the iBook (rubric attached below).
Once the students are in their groups, they designate a group leader for the day who will be responsible for...
- Opening and saving a copy of the assigned chapter Google Doc (links below) in their Design Tech folder
- Sharing the Google Doc with their group members to collaborate on
- Setting up the presentation using the designated tool (Google Slides, Prezi, PowToon)
6th Grade
01 Digital Life 101
02 Scams and Schemes 03 Cyberbullying: Be Upstanding 04 A Creator's Rights Rubric: Google Slides |
7th Grade
01 My Media
02 A Creator's Responsibilities 03 Safe Online Talk 04 Which Me Should I Be? Rubric: Prezi |
8th Grade
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Homework:
- Read and complete the activities under assigned iBook chapter.
- Submit completed chapter to teacher.
- Begin developing powerful presentations collaboratively with group.
- The JigSaw strategy ensures that all students are familiar with the content they are responsible for
- Students said they thought it was more fair to present this way
- 4 color coded tables
- 1 iPad stand per table (*we purchased them here)
- 4 markers per table
- 1 poster chart with essential question on the top placed on each table
* I used the "Essential Questions" at the top of every Common Sense Media lesson plan.
I gave each student a colored slip of paper.
2. Students were then re-grouped by color
They were then asked to sit at the table with their color on it.
3. I uploaded the links of all four presentations onto Edmodo for easy access during presentations.
- Students were given 10 minutes to present and help their peers answer the essential question.
iPad Observation:
* The presenter had to set up their iPad to record themselves presenting.
* Their homework was to watch the video with their presentation and complete a self-evaluation.
* Since the presenter's iPad was recording their work, they borrowed a peer's iPad and accessed their presentation via
Edmodo.
- The new presenter was the one who's poster chart was now on the table.
- This sequence repeated itself until all students presented to their peers at the table.
- Unit Assessment
a. Common Sense Media provides wonderful online unit assessments.
* 6th: Unit 1, 7th: Unit 2, 8th: Unit 3 - Self-Evaluation
a. Students evaluated themselves as presenters and their final group presentation using the rubrics linked above
Sample Student Work
The concept of Powerful Presentations took a bit longer to grasp and the overall presentations did not meet the technology expectations. There were, however, massive improvements from the first draft to the final draft and I would like to share some of the best slides... Please click on the galleries below to view before and after photos.
Final draft image retrieved from: Fonds-Decran
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Final draft image retrieved from: SA Business Index
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Final draft image retrieved from: Credit
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Final draft image retrieved from: Assassin's Creed
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What About You?
Please comment and provide your feedback below to share ways you have taught your students about powerful presentations. I would love to see samples of your students' work!