Looking for a more creative approach in your lessons? If you are a teacher or trainee teacher, these 7 inspiring websites will help you plan outstanding and more creative lessons.
They are totally free and can be used in any subject for different purposes.
#1. WindowSwap – Travel anywhere with this inspiring website!
WindowSwap is a free website that offers views through someone else’s window from other parts of the world.
Tired of looking at the same landscape during the quarantine, a couple from Singapore decided to create a website that allowed people look through others’ windows as a sort of “escape”. Anybody can take part in this project. Users can submit a video from their window or balcony, adding their location. Relax by virtually travelling to remote places! Beach scenes and city walks await!
How to use WindowSwap in our lessons? Here you have a few ideas!
Even though this might sound like a simple tool, WindowSwap is a great website to make more creative lessons as it helps you add a realistic component to them. If you are a languages teacher, you can ask your students to describe the different locations using the target language; if you teach geography, use this website to discuss geographical locations, climate, standards of living, etc.
#2 TweetGen – Create the most realistic (fake) tweets!
This is the best page to create fake tweets! TweetGen allows you to generate fake (but very realistic) tweets in a minute! You can choose the account, number of likes and retweets, and you can even add images and the verified check mark so that your tweet looks real!
In languages, we can use this online tool to create fake celebrity tweets including grammar or vocabulary we are studying, for instance. TweetGen is a quick way of creating original materials and helping students understand how grammar or vocab works in context. If you teach other subjects, like Psychology, Business or History, you can use this tool to make controversial tweets for class debates.
#3 Radiooooo – The hit tune machine
In No Panic Spanish we know the crucial role that culture plays in learning a foreign language. One of the best and most enjoyable ways of improving our linguistic skills is listening to popular music from foreign countries. Radiooooo is a vintage-looking website that allows you to explore music from around the world. The five o’s represent the five continental landmasses, all of which you can hear music from. One of the most inspiring websites to use in your lessons!
How to use it in your lessons? You can visit this website to provide a cultural context when teaching a historical event. Another idea can be to pick popular songs to explore the vocabulary or grammar.
#4 Kahoot! – The king of quizzes
In case you haven’t heard about it before, Kahoot! is an interactive way of assessing knowledge using a game format. Research has shown that using Kahoot! improves student participation, also contributing to improved final grades. This website will improve classroom dynamics and create a more positive environment.
You can join it for free and play others’ quizzes or create your own according to your students’ needs. Kahoot! will keep them engaged and it is very easy to play as quizzes can be played on any device by just entering a code on the website.
The best way to use this app is to review previous content. Another advantage is that you can use it both in face-to-face and distance learning!
Be prepared to be asked to play in every lesson! Some students will even want to bribe you to play these addictive quizzes!
#5. Days of the Year – Raise awareness!
This page is helpful as it helps improve awareness of global issues or random facts.
Bringing some general knowledge adds a fresh component to your lessons. Having incorporated this in my teaching for two months, my pupils are excited to see what International day it is when they have a lesson with me.
Important: Don’t forget to link these days to lesson content or some cultural aspect of the language. They can also be used to teach new words, vocabulary or to just simply tell an anecdote that will make your lesson more memorable. They are also available in Spanish here.
In other core subjects, like History, this website might be particularly useful. Definitely an inspiring website to consult!
#6. Canva – The best tool for creative people
I am going to be honest. I have always been a huge fan of PowerPoint to create presentations and resources for my lessons. But in 2020 I discovered Canva, and there was no turning back.
Canva is a website that helps businesses create graphs and presentations using professional templates, icons, frames and more. With this tool, your materials will look more creative than ever! Even if you decide not to pay the subscription, you will have access to thousands of templates, fonts, photos, etc. It is simple, intuitive, free and one of the most inspiring websites nowadays. What else could we ask for?
In terms of teaching, you can use Canva for creating presentations, worksheets and any material that you can think of! This tool will make you feel as if you were a professional designer.
#7. LearningApps.org – The distance-learning saviour
LearningApps is a friendly, versatile tool for learners and teachers. It allows you create interactive activities that you can use in your lessons or as homework. You can create your own activities using the templates provided or adapt activities, and then easily share them with your students.
There are games and quizzes such as matching, categorising, filling in answers or multiple-choice tasks.
Effective and easy to use in any subject!
Wrapping Up
I hope these 7 inspiring websites gave you some ideas for your future lessons! Of course, nobody says you need to use these in every lesson you teach. But it’s always good to provide an element of surprise and fun from time to time! This will boost your students’ engagement and participation. Happy surfing!