Google Classroom Tutorial | How Students Can Draw Their Responses in Google Classroom

Do you use Google Classroom in Kindergarten? Did you know that students can draw their responses in the Google Classroom app? I wrote this Google Classroom tutorial because I just learned that this week and my mind was blown!

I have received so many requests to add digital recording sheet options to my Little Readers units, but I was hesitant because I didn’t think it would be as interactive. Boy was I was wrong!

This Google Classroom tutorial will walk you step-by-step through the process. Please note, your students must have the Google Classroom app to use the drawing tool. They can draw in Google Slides too, and I included a quick tutorial for that at the end, but it is more complicated.

Opening the Assignment in Google Classroom

When you create your assignment in Google Classroom, you will attach the Google Slides you want students to complete and then click “Make a Copy for Each Student.” This step is important!

Students will then click on the assignment in their classwork tab.

In order to use the drawing pen, students must open the assignment in the Google Classroom app.

How to Access the Assignment

Students will click Your Work at the bottom of the page to access the Google Slides.

This will bring up the Google Slides assignment. Students will click the link.

If you send a large file, it will take a while to load. I suggest only sending a page or two as an assignment.

Teachers, if you are using my Little Readers curriculum, you get all the response pages in one file. In Google Slides, You can click the thumbnail of the response page that you want and export that into a new presentation.

How To Use the Pen Tool in Google Classroom

When the assignment opens, students will click the pen tool at the top.

This will bring up a variety of writing tools at the bottom. Students can then use a stylus or their finger to write or draw.

Students can click the pen to change the color or size. They can also change to an eraser, highlighter, or text.

How Students Will Turn In Their Work in Google Classroom

When they are done, students will click save. This step converts the Google Slides into a PDF.

You can see that there are now two attachments to this assignment. The PDF has students’ work.

Students will click Turn In to send the assignment back to you.

How To See Student Responses in Google Classroom

You can then click on the assignment to see individual student responses. If you click the student’s name, you will be able to see both attachments.

What If Students Don’t Have the Google Classroom App?

Students can still draw in Google Slides, but it is way more complicated. This chart will show you how:

Students will choose the line option and then click the scribble line.

They can click and use their mouse to draw. The only problem is that each time they let go of their mouse it will stop to format the shape.

They will need to click the scribble tool button between each stroke.

This is possible, but obviously complicated. If you choose to go this route, I suggest practicing with students first.

Of course, you can also let parents print the pages directly from Google Slides.

What If I Want To Add An Assignment That Isn’t Digital?

Remember, you don’t need me to convert everything to digital for you! You can easily do it yourself. This blog post walks you step-by-step through how to: send parents only certain pages of a PDF, turn your printable resources digital, and how to create a Google Forms activity.

Using Seesaw instead? This tutorial will walk you through how to upload the student response pages as a new assignment!

Looking for the Little Readers Kindergarten Reading Curriculum? Click here!

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