Are you looking to spice up your elementary music class and engage your students more effectively? Have you ever considered integrating technology into your teaching methods? If not, then let me introduce you to Canva, an easy-to-use graphic design tool that can revolutionize your teaching approach. In this blog post, we will explore five exciting ways to use Canva for your elementary music class.

5. TPT Free Inside Canva

Canva offers a kind of TPT. It is in its beginning stages, but teachers are now submitting their lesson plans and templates they have made in Canva and sharing them with others. These resources can provide you with a plethora of teaching materials, ranging from lesson plans to worksheets, and much more. This feature can be a great tool, especially for teachers who are looking for new, innovative ways to enrich their classroom lessons.

4. Quick Sub Plans

Need a quick lesson plan? Canva has got you covered. With Canva's worksheet templates, you can easily create a lesson plan within minutes. These templates are customizable, allowing you to tailor them according to your teaching needs. Additionally, Canva provides a translation tool, which can be incredibly helpful. This tool can translate your lesson plan, directions on your worksheets, or your family newsletter into different languages, making it easier for all your students and families to understand the class material.

3. Fun Projectables

Canva also provides you with the resources to create engaging projectables. You can use elements, photos, and animation tools to create compelling visual aids that can be projected during your class lessons. These projectables can be used to elaborate on the topic at hand, or even create a fun, interactive learning environment for your students. Don’t forget the fun presentation tools, like pressing “c” on the keyboard and confetti comes on screen.

2. Using the AI Image Generator

The AI Image Generator is another fantastic tool that can be beneficial for those who may struggle with creating images from scratch. This feature leverages artificial intelligence to generate images based on the input you provide. For example, I wanted to create visuals for the song, “Oh In The Woods”. I wrote the words, “tree in a hole in the ground with grass all around” and it created an image that worked well for the song. This tool can be a real game-changer, especially when you're short on time or if you're not confident in your drawing skills.

1. Drawing with Shape Assist

Shape Assist is a feature in Canva that makes it easy to create shapes and images. This feature is fantastic for teachers who may feel artistically challenged. Draw a shape and hold down the mouse when you complete the shape. Canva will turn it into the shape you were attempting to draw. This can be a great tool for creating diagrams, illustrations, or any other visual aid that can help your students grasp the concepts you're teaching.

BONUS

Check out the Magic Write to rewrite, summarize, “sprinkle fairy dust”, and more to assist you in writing newsletters, rewriting directions, creating stories, summarizing your bio, etc. I had Canva turn Five Little Pumpkins into a blog post and then used their animation tools to visualize it. The possibilities are endless!

Canva is an excellent tool for teachers, especially those teaching elementary classes. Its wide range of features can make teaching more engaging, interactive, and fun, both for the teachers and the students. So why wait? Start exploring Canva today and see how it can transform your teaching methods!