Create lovely Google Site headers using Canva

This term the Grade 6s and 7s have been creating websites to use as digital portfolios. They used Google Sites for their websites and made their Google Site headers using Canva. Canva is a wonderful graphics online application. As a teacher I could apply to get Canva free for myself and all my students - my application was successful, so all the classes use Canva. The students came up with the loveliest of designs.

Learner examples

How did we go about making the website headers? 

Once again I found a relevant Youtube video to use to teach myself the steps. Here is an example of one of the videos that I followed for guidance  - 'How to Create Custom Banner and Buttons for Google Sites' from Vestal's 21st Century Classroom Channel:  https://bit.ly/3x5CkkV.

Create beautiful websites using Google Sites and Canva together

The Grade 6s and 7s have been creating websites to use as digital portfolios throughout the year. They used Google Sites for this. Of course, Canva, my favourite graphics application, helped the students create stunning sites.

How to create website buttons using Canva

They made superb headings for their websites using Canva  (see previous post) and they also created attractive buttons for each page using Canva. They used the following headings (we brainstormed the ideas for these headings based on last years ICT work): 
- About me
- My blog
- My stories
- My other writing
- My projects
- My videos and graphics
- My coding examples

They have started uploading this term's work to their digital portfolios, and so far have uploaded an 'About me video' and an 'I am' poem to their About Me page.

I blurred our learners' faces using https://www2.lunapic.com/editor/?action=blu

Learner examples

How did we go about making the website buttons? 

When I learn to do something, I usually find a relevant YouTube video or two, and then I create a relevant PowerPoint to guide my lessons with the learners. (You can see that I use Google Workplace and Microsoft interchangeably!) I convert this PowerPoint to Google Slides and add it to my Google Classroom lesson so that it is always available for the learners to look at. (I use Google Classroom for every lesson). This procedure works really well for me. 

Here is an example of one of the videos that I followed for guidance in making buttons - 'How to Create Custom Banner and Buttons for Google Sites' from Vestal's 21st Century Classroom Channel:  https://bit.ly/3x5CkkV.

Thinking of creating a Google site? Some excellent tutorials

Thinking of creating a simple website without any knowledge of HTML? Google Sites is a free and easy way to create and share webpages. Basically, you would follow this sequence:

Log into your Google account and go to http://sites.google.com

1. Click the Create button
2. Choose the Blank Template
3. Name your site. You'll notice it creates the URL based on the name but you can change that if you wish. The name you choose must be unique in your domain.
4. Select the Themes section, and choose a theme (i.e. iceberg)
5. Choose the More Options section, and write a short description of your Site.
6. Type the captcha code (if you get one)
7. Click the Create button at the top of the pageIt is as simple as that!

I came across some great tutorials on creating a Google site by Mike Raveneck and thought I would share them here.

1. Creating a Google Site - Sites Tutorial 1 of 5



In the first tutorial of this 5 part series, Mike shows how to create a Google Site.

• He shows how to log in to Google, then to Google sites and choose ‘Çreate sites’.
• You can choose a template which can be changed later. You could end up with a site that looks like this one:

2. Basic Editing Features of Google Sites - Sites Tutorial 2 of 5



This tutorial reviews some of the basic editing features of Google Sites, including inserting and formatting options. To get to your newly created site, log in to Google and type in Google sites and navigate to the site you have created. 

• Mike shows the essential editing features which are common to most word processing documents.
• He explains Insert, Format, Table and Layout
• He shows how to insert a YouTube video
• He demonstrates inserting a Google document. This will be a live document that incorporates any changes made in the document in Google Drive.
• He demonstrates uploading an image and inserting a Google map
• He demonstrates inserting a horizontal line, Google +

3. Page & Site Settings of Google Sites - Sites Tutorial 3 of 5



This tutorial illustrates a number of the page and site settings for modifying pages within a Google Site. This is the third tutorial in a five part series on using Google Sites.

• Click on More in the right hand corner.
• Mike looks at page settings and demonstrates the various options of website, file cabinet, list or announcement.
• He discusses page templates and site actions
• He talks about changing the navigation bar to a horizontal navigation bar; and aslo about managing the site.
• Mike discusses the Google Help section also available under the More button.

4. Adding a New Page to Your Google Site - Sites Tutorial 4 of 5

This tutorial reviews some how to add new pages and subpages within a Google Site.

• Click on the new page button on the top right.
• Create your pages first. Afterwards add them to your navigation bar.
• Mike also discusses how you go  about nesting pages under the horizontal navigation bar.  Once can change to a sidebar if required,

5. 'Managing' Your Google Site - Sites Tutorial 5 of 5



This tutorial reviews how to manage a Google Site using the features within the 'Manage Site' area of the Site. It is the final video in a five part tutorial series on using Google Sites.

• There is only 100MB of storage available in a Google site
• Under the Manage sites hyperlink under ‘More’ you can create a copy of the site.
• You can change the theme of your site under manage site – change theme.
• Further problems can be ironed out by looking through the Site Help section under More.

GVC# 12: Preparing the class to do a collaborative recycling project using Google Sites

Now it is time to seriously learn about Google Sites in class as we will soon be brainstorming with the rest of the team on content for our chosen topic of recycling.  So in the next few lessons we will be finding out about Google sites and also creating a Google site for our class just to get to know the application. Here is how we approached it:

1. First we brainstormed the topic of Recycling and came up with a number of headings. The students then researched the word recycling on Google and added to the headings.
2. We selected what we thought was important and shared them among the class.
3. We reviewed the issue of copyright for words – the students were encouraged to read a paragraph and then write it in one’s own words. 
4. Once we had done our research we were ready to learn about Google Sites and how to upload our information to Google Sites. This is the presentation I used.
5. We also learned a way of citing images and citing resources on our site.

How to create a Google Site from Fiona Beal

6. Here is is our internal class Google Site after we uploaded all our information.


https://sites.google.com/a/therockacademy.co.za/grade5project/

I think we are ready to contribute to the global project. Now that we have learned something about recycling ourselves it will be easier to collaborate.

GVC #5: Tutorials on Google Sites

Google Sites is a free and easy way to create and share webpages without any knowledge of HTML? . Basically, you would follow this sequence:

Log into your Google account and go to http://sites.google.com

1. Click the Create button
2. Choose the Blank Template
3. Name your site. You'll notice it creates the URL based on the name but you can change that if you wish. The name you choose must be unique in your domain.
4. Select the Themes section, and choose a theme (i.e. iceberg)
5. Choose the More Options section, and write a short description of your Site.
6. Type the captcha code (if you get one)
7. Click the Create button at the top of the pageIt is as simple as that!

I came across some great tutorials on creating a Google site by Mike Raveneck and thought I would note them here.

1. Creating a Google Site - Sites Tutorial 1 of 5



In the first tutorial of this 5 part series, Mike shows how to create a Google Site.

• He shows how to log in to Google, then to Google sites and choose ‘Çreate sites’.
• You can choose a template which can be changed later. You could end up with a site that looks like this one:

2. Basic Editing Features of Google Sites - Sites Tutorial 2 of 5



This tutorial reviews some of the basic editing features of Google Sites, including inserting and formatting options. To get to your newly created site, log in to Google and type in Google sites and navigate to the site you have created. 

• Mike shows the essential editing features which are common to most word processing documents.
• He explains Insert, Format, Table and Layout
• He shows how to insert a YouTube video
• He demonstrates inserting a Google document. This will be a live document that incorporates any changes made in the document in Google Drive.
• He demonstrates uploading an image and inserting a Google map
• He demonstrates inserting a horizontal line, Google +

3. Page and Site Settings of Google Sites - Sites Tutorial 3 of 5



This tutorial illustrates a number of the page and site settings for modifying pages within a Google Site. This is the third tutorial in a five part series on using Google Sites.

• Click on More in the right hand corner.
• Mike looks at page settings and demonstrates the various options of website, file cabinet, list or announcement.
• He discusses page templates and site actions
• He talks about changing the navigation bar to a horizontal navigation bar; and aslo about managing the site.
• Mike discusses the Google Help section also available under the More button.

4. Adding a New Page to Your Google Site - Sites Tutorial 4 of 5

This tutorial reviews some how to add new pages and subpages within a Google Site.

• Click on the new page button on the top right.
• Create your pages first. Afterwards add them to your navigation bar.
• Mike also discusses how you go  about nesting pages under the horizontal navigation bar.  Once can change to a sidebar if required,

5. 'Managing' Your Google Site - Sites Tutorial 5 of 5



This tutorial reviews how to manage a Google Site using the features within the 'Manage Site' area of the Site. It is the final video in a five part tutorial series on using Google Sites.

• There is only 100MB of storage available in a Google site
• Under the Manage sites hyperlink under ‘More’ you can create a copy of the site.
• You can change the theme of your site under manage site – change theme.
• Further problems can be ironed out by looking through the Site Help section under More.

GVC#4: Make a Google site in six steps - it really is as easy as that!

Since we will be creating a Google site in the Global Virtual Classroom, it's time for me to get to know Google Sites for myself. Recently I saw a Google+ post from Google for Education that said ‘Make a Google site in minutes’. This immediately caught my attention as I imagined it would take a much longer time than that.  The post in question said that all one needs to do is follow the six steps listed below. I tried it and, quite honestly, it IS as simple as that!

What is a Google site?
A Google site can be seen as an interactive website that is quick and easy to create without any knowledge of HTML. It is a quick way   to make information accessible to others.  A group can work together on a Site to add file attachments, information from other Google applications (like Google Docs, Google Calendar, YouTube and Picasa), and new free-form content.

Why use a Google site?
Sites are great for class websites, student eportfolios, private discussion boards with parents, group projects, research projects and more. 

Video tutorial on creating a Google site
At our first Google Summit in South Africa we were privileged to have Chris Betcher from Australia presenting. He is well-versed on creating Google sites and here is his video tutorial ‘Íntroduction to Google sites’.

                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nilei4D-Ay4&feature=youtu.be

Text-based tutorials on creating a Google site
The following two really superb tutorials can be found on Chris Betcher’s own Google site called ‘Summit stuff’ http://goo.gl/Y2Nrel.

• Designing Google Sites: Part 1
• Designing Google Sites: Part 2

Google Sites Examples
Click on the following image to be taken to a page of Google Sites examples to copy