SketchUp for Schools
This browser-based version of the SketchUp modelling software includes a large library of existing components (doors, windows, furniture, etc.) and many materials options to make your designs look realistic. Great for creating complex models.
Grades 6-12
TinkerCAD (Online / Chrome App)
This very simple CAD (computer aided design) program is easy to learn and use. Drag and drop 3D shapes onto your build plane and combine them to make your model. Great for creating simpler models and for designing objects for 3D printing.
Grades 2-12 (Students under 13 require parent permission to create personal accounts. Teachers can create student accounts.)
Online Voice Recorder
A great choice if all you need is a quick sound recording. Audio files can be trimmed but not fully edited.
Grades PreK-12 (Youngest students will need adult assistance.)
Twisted Wave (Online / Chrome App)
Twisted Wave is a browser-based audio editor that is available either as a Chrome App or online. Edit or record audio files up to 5 minutes in length.
Grades PreK-12 (Youngest students will need adult assistance.)
Beautiful Audio Editor
This is a more powerful, multi-track audio editor. It allows you to layer voice and music tracks, add effects, and use envelopes to fade volume. Also available as a mobile app.
Grades 6-12
Flat (Online / Chrome App)
Flat allows you to write your own sheet music and hear it played by a variety of instruments. The program is also collaborative, allowing you to cowrite music with classmates or simply share you work with others digitally.
Grades 9-12 (Students must be age 13+ to create a personal account.)
Canva
Quickly and easily create flyers, posters, infographics, and more using Canva’s design templates and image library. You can also upload your own image files to use in your projects.
Grades 2-12 (Students under age 13 can log in with Google and use Canva under direct adult supervision.)
SumoPaint (Online / Chrome App)
SumoPaint is a browser-based photo editor and paint program. It offers lots of advanced features, but basic use is quite easy. Create for free online or download the app for your Chromebook.
Grades K-12
Pixlr Editor (Online / Chrome App)
Pixlr Editor is also a photo editing website and Chromebook app. It has fewer paint tools than SumoPaint and is not quite as simple, but it offers additional tools for retouching photographs including spot heal and red eye reduction tools.
Grades 6-12
Adobe Spark
“Create impactful graphics, web pages and video stories in minutes with Spark’s free graphic design app.” “With Spark you can easily create high quality reports, research papers, posters, writing assignments, presentations and so much more.” Log in with Google.
Grades K-12
Book Creator
Create your own books and add drawings, sound, images, comics panels and more. Publish and share your books online, or download them as ebooks. Free accounts allow the user to create 1 library and store up to 40 books at a time.
Grades K-12 (Parent permission is required for all students under 18.)
Google Tools
Your Google account offers a large number of tools for creating a wide variety of graphics and publications. Google Sites is a quick and easy way to build a website for your class project or school organization. Slides can be used to create much more than slideshows including flyers, e-books, and choose-your-path interactive stories. my Maps lets you add your own tags to a Google map and annotate them with captions, images and links. Tour Builder takes that idea one step further and guides the viewer through a series of locations in a particular order to recreate a story or journey.
Grades K-12
Piktochart (Online / Chrome App)
Piktochart helps you use visuals to quickly and powerfully communicate information. Create your own infographics with the help of “over 600 professionally-designed templates.”
Grades 4-12 (Students under 13 require parent permission to create an account.)
Storybird
Use professional artwork as inspiration for your own original picture books, short stories, novels, and poems. Finished work can be read online or purchased as an ebook or print book.
Grades K-12 (Students under 13 require parent permission to create personal accounts. Teachers can create student accounts.)
WeVideo
“Advanced video-editing featuers make easy through a simple interface.” Free accounts allow you to store up to 1 GB and export up to 5 minutes of video monthly.
Grades 4-12 (Students under 13 require parent permission to create an account.)
Screencastify
“A lightweight screen recorder for Chrome. Capture, edit and share screencasts in seconds.” Free accounts allow videos up to 10 minutes in length and up to 50 videos per month. All files are stored in your Google Drive.
Grades PreK-12 (Youngest students will need adult assistance.)
Stop Motion Animator
“A simple tool for creating stop motion animation sequences using a webcam.”
Grades PreK-12 (Youngest students will need adult assistance.)
CoSpaces
“Provides all the tools necessary to make, code and explore your own 3D creations, even in VR.” CoSpaces makes it easy to get started creating and provides lots of features for more sophisticated creators to explore. Login with Google.
Grades K-12
Google Street View Apps
The Google Street View app for your phone or tablet lets you create your own 360 degree images by splicing together still photos. Just turn and point your camera at a series of dots to capture the full photosphere.
Grades K-12 (Students under 13 require parent permission to download the app. Students of all ages can capture images on teacher devices.)
Story Spheres
Add sound tags to 360 degree images to provide more information to the viewer or add backgroud audio for a more immersive experience.
Must be 18+ to create an account. Students may create in partnership with an adult using that adult’s account.