30 ideas on how to use Seesaw

1. Seesaw Website
Activity Ideas

2. Table of Contents
English & Language Arts …… Slides 3 - 9
Math …… Slides 10 - 16
History & Social Studies …… Slides 17 - 20
Science …… Slides 21 - 25
Art & Music …… Slides 26 - 30
Share How You Use Seesaw …… Slide 31

3. Activity: Practice spelling and then reading new
vocabulary words aloud.
Tip: Take a photo of a completed vocabulary worksheet
or list of words written on the whiteboard. Use the audio
recording tool to record spelling each word aloud. Then
record reading each word aloud.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K-5.1.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
English & Language Arts: Spelling

4. Activity: Describe what you did this weekend using an illustration plus voice recording or writing.
Tip: Draw what you did this weekend on paper and take a photo of it, or create a drawing in Seesaw by choosing Add Item >
Drawing. Use the audio recording tool to describe the illustration, or use the text tool to write a sentence description.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish
writing. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2 - 5.5. Create audio recordings of stories or poems.
English & Language Arts: Writing & Fluency

5. Activity: Show key ideas and details from a book.
Tips:
● Level I: Take a picture of your book and share a key fact using the voice recorder tool. Ex: The Grinch took a
Christmas tree from a house.
● Level II: Take a picture of a book and describe your favorite character. Be specific why you picked this character. Ex: "I
liked the dog Max. He is funny. Max is funny because a little dog pulled a big sled up a mountain."
● Level III: Take a picture of a character in your book and describe how they overcame a challenge. Ex: Take a photo of
The Grinch and his heart growing; "The Grinch was sad that he stole Christmas and his heart was small. Then he felt
good and his heart grew. He was able to save Christmas because he was happy."
Supports Common Core: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K-5.4 Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with
appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License
English & Language Arts: Reading Comprehension

6. Activity: Take a photo of a good fit book and share the title,
author, and illustrator. Advanced students can record a review of
the book.
Tips:
● Level I: Take a photo of the book cover. Use the voice
recording tool to share the book's title, author, and
illustrator.
● Level II: Take a photo of the book cover. Use the voice
recording tool to share the book's title, author, and
illustrator. Use the text tool to type the book's title into
the text box.
● Level III: Take a photo of the book cover. Use the voice
recording tool to record your review of the book. Use the
text tool to type the book's title into the text box..
Supports Common Core: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4.
Present information such that listeners can follow the line of
reasoning and the organization, development, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience..
English & Language Arts: Reading Comprehension

7. Activity: Fill in the missing parts of an incomplete sentence so that it uses correct grammar.
Tip: Take a photo of an incomplete worksheet or sentence on the whiteboard. Use the drawing tool to fill in the blanks.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1-5.1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English
grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
English & Language Arts: Grammar & Spelling

8. Activity: Practice and document reading fluency by reading a page from a new book.
Tip: Take a photo of a page of a book. Use the audio recording tool to record reading aloud, taking care to speak clearly
with expression.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2-5.5. Create audio recordings of stories or poems.
English & Language Arts: Reading Fluency

9. Activity: Persuasively describe one thing you would do if you were president.
Tip: Work with a partner to brainstorm ideas of what you would do if you were president. With your partner's help, record
a video of yourself describing what you would do and why. Use the text tool to add a one sentence caption about your
video.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1. Prepare for and participate in a range of conversations, building
on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1 - 5.6. Produce complete
sentences when appropriate to task and situation.
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License
English & Language Arts: Persuasive Speaking

10. Activity: Practice counting 1-2-3-4…, or counting in multiples 2-4-6…, 3-6-9…, 4-8-12…,
Tip: Take a photo of a number line or number tiles laid out on the floor. Use the audio recording tool to record yourself
counting out loud.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4.A: When counting objects, say the number names in the
standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one
object. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.5: Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a
line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count
out that many objects.
Math: Counting & Counting in Multiples

11. Activity: Identify geometric shapes, angles or fractions around the classroom.
Tip: Take a photo of a geometric shape, angle or fraction you can find in the classroom. Use the drawing tool or text tool to
explain. Ex: the clock is a circle, where my desk leg meets the tabletop is a right angle, the windows divide the wall into
fourths.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.A.1: Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and
describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.G.A.3: Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the
words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of. Describe the whole as two of, or
four of the shares.
Math: Identify Shapes or Fractions

12. Activity: Compare two different geometric shapes. Ex: A square has four sides and a hexagon has six sides.
Tip: Use the drawing tool to draw two shapes. Use the voice recorder to record their differences and similarities.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.B.4: Analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional shapes, in
different sizes and orientations, using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, parts (e.g., number of sides and
vertices/"corners") and other attributes (e.g., having sides of equal length). CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.G.A.1: Recognize and draw
shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces.1 Identify triangles,
quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.
Math: Compare Shapes

13. Activity: Explain how to tell time on an analog clock or digital clock.
Tip: Take a photo of the classroom clock or a clock drawn on the whiteboard. Use the drawing tool to point out what
represents the hour and what represents the minutes. Use the voice recorder to tell what time it is on the clock.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.B.3. Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and
digital clocks.
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License.
Math: Telling Time

14. Activity: Create a short tutorial explaining how to solve a math problem.
Tip: Take a photo of a math problem you successfully solved (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc). Imagine
you were teaching a friend how to solve it, and use the voice recorder to explain how to find the correct answer.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.A.1: Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems
involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.A.1: Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems
involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.1: Represent and solve problems involving multiplication and division.
Math: Problem Solving

15. Activity: Collect a set of data and then graph it. Ex: How many of each color M&Ms are in my package of M&Ms, what new
piece of playground equipment do students want, how many siblings do people in the class have.
Tip: Take a photo of your completed graph. Use the voice recorder tool to explain your results.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.B.3. Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to
represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step "how many more" and "how many less" problems
using information presented in scaled bar graphs. For example, draw a bar graph in which each square in the bar graph might
represent 5 pets.
Math: Data Collection & Graphing

16. Activity: Differentiate between different types of coins and show how to add them up.
Tip: Spread the money out in a single layer on the desk and take a photo of it. Circle all the pennies in red, nickels in blue,
dimes in green and quarters in orange. Tell how many cents you have.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.C.8: Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes,
nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do
you have?
Math: Counting Money

17. Activity: Learn to find your state on any map.
Tip: Practice finding your state on a map. Have students locate the state using various maps of your region, a United States
map, or a globe in your classroom - even go digital and show examples. Use the camera tool to capture one of your
examples and use the drawing tool to outline and identify your state. Correctly type your state's name in the text box.
Reach Group: Place a star at your state’s capital city and dots at major states.
Supports Common Core Standard: Geography: Places and Regions 4.3.3. Locate your state on a map as one of the 50
United States. Identify and describe the location of the state capital, major cities and rivers in your state.
Map: Apple Maps
History & Social Studies: Geography

18. Activity: Explore the differences between how people lived in
the past compared to the present day.
Tip: Share with your class different types of transportation,
dress, use of technology, and entertainment both past and
present. Use the drawing tool or import an image from the
camera (ex: find historical images online, or try creating a
collage of past and present in a collage app, like PicCollage) to
compare past and present.
Supports Common Core Standard: Historical Knowledge 1.1.1.
Compare the way individuals in the community lived in the past
with the way they live in the present.
Images: Library of Congress and Creative Commons 2.0 License
History & Social Studies: Past v. Present Comparisons

19. Activity: Share your family's immigration story or another important event from your family's history.
Tip: Have students interview their parents about where their family came from, when they came to the United States, how
they got here. Have them bring in a photo of their family from home, or draw their family on paper or using the Seesaw
drawing tool. Then use the audio recording tool to describe their family heritage.
Supports Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.6. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and
communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
Photo: Creative Commons 2.0 License
History & Social Studies: Family Heritage Stories

20. Activity: Identify a natural or man-made landmark and describe it's historical significance. Brainstorm important places in
your town, in your state, in your country, or somewhere you visited while on a trip with your class.
Tip: Use the web to find an image of your important place, or create a drawing. Use the audio recording tool to record why
you think it is important and why people want to visit it.
Supports Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in
diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4. Present
information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization,
development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License.
History & Social Studies: Historical Landmarks & Events

21. Activity: Explore community sounds and create your own instrument.
Tip: Take a walk around the school and use your ears to identify sounds. Listen closely and take notes of what you hear.
Then use the drawing tool to create your own instrument. Use the audio tool to record the sounds your new instrument
will produce. Reach Group: Use the text box to correctly identify the instrument as percussion, strings, etc.
Supports Common Core: Physical Science 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 : Observe and describe how sound is produced by vibrations.
Science: Sounds and Vibrations

22. Activity: Find and label plants at your school, or from a web image search.
Tip: Take a virtual field trip and save images from the web to your device, or use the resources in your school to capture
images of plants using the camera tool. Use the drawing tool to number the different parts of a plant. Then, use the audio
tool to describe the different parts of the plant that correspond to each number.
Supports Common Core Standard: Life Science 3.1.1 : Observe, describe and ask questions about plant growth and
development.
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License
Science: Plant Growth and Development

23. Activity: Create digital and physical animal display.
Tip: Show a video, read books, or discuss different types of animals with your class. Have each student draw an animal on
paper or in Seesaw with the drawing tool. Then use the audio tool to describe physical characteristics and habitat. Reach
Group: Use the audio tool to compare and contrast two different animals.
Supports Common Core Standard: Life Science K.3.1, K.3.2. Observe living organisms, compare and contrast their
characteristics, and ask questions about them.
Science: Animal Characteristics & Habitats

24. Activity: Show how you conducted an experiment and explain
what you discovered.
Tip: Have students divide into groups to conduct an experiment.
Designate one student as the photographer and have them take
photos or videos to document the experiment method while the
other students conduct the experiment. After finishing, take a
photo of the results. As a group, use the audio recording tool to
describe what you found. Be sure to tag all students in your group
on the tagging screen so the photos go into everyone's journal.
Supports Common Core: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3. Follow
precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments,
taking measurements, or performing technical tasks. CCSS.ELA-
LITERACY.RST.6-8.7. Integrate quantitative or technical
information expressed in words in a text with a version of that
information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram,
model, graph, or table).
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License.
Science: Experiment Recap

25. Activity: Describe a weather phenomenon and explain what regions of the country or world it affects. Ex: tornados,
earthquakes, drought, snowfall, hurricane.
Tip: Use the drawing tool to draw a picture of your weather. Use the voice recording tool or text tool to describe your
weather and where in the world you can experience it.
Supports Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research
projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. CCSS.ELA-
LITERACY.CCRA.W.8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and
accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
Science: Weather

26. Activity: Let the fine art debate begin! Use pieces of artwork as discussion pieces with your students. Introduce them to
art vocabulary and encourage each student to form an opinion on a piece of art.
Tip: Take a picture of an art piece and pair students in small groups. Using the audio tool, each student will have an
opportunity to share and discuss their findings about the art piece. Reach Group: Encourage your class to use their new
art vocabulary terms. Highlight these words by typing them in the text box.
Supports Common Core Standard: Visual Literacy 1.4.2. Respond to art based on personal preference and actively listen
to others, recognizing that people have different preferences.
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License
Art: Critical Thinking and Discussion

27. Activity: We use different symbols to represent and communicate meaning without writing out words. Create an original
symbol to represent an idea.
Tip: Use the camera to capture a photo of a unique symbol you created on paper. You can also use the drawing tool to
create a symbol or add to an existing symbol in a photo. Then, use the audio tool and explain what your new symbol
means. Be specific and use descriptive words about your new creation. Reach Group: Give your new symbol a unique
name and enter it in the text box.
Supports Common Core Standard: Creating Art 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 1.6.4. Create artwork about self, family, and personal
experiences. Identify and use symbols to express ideas. Demonstrate thoughtfulness and care in creating artwork.
Art: Symbolism and Communication

28. Activity: Use Seesaw’s camera to keep a digital record of student progress in your art class. Digitally catalogue items like
cutting, line drawing, and painting.
Tip: It’s in your curriculum to document progress on certain methods and it’s hard to keep all of those clippings straight.
Have your class do a ‘freeze frame’ where they pause during a cutting activity and snap a photo using the camera tool in
Seesaw. Reach Group: Use the audio or text tool to add a quick note: lesson 1/3, or first trimester progress. You can use
the website of Seesaw to review any past lessons and share with other staff members.
Supports Common Core Standard: Creating Art, Studio Production.
Art: Portfolio of Key Skills & Progress

29. Activity: Identify different colors, forms, textures or patterns around your classroom or school.
Tip: Use the camera to document what you find and use the voice recorder to compare and contrast them. Ex: Organic
forms vs geometric forms. The apple in my lunch is an organic form. It has curved lines and is not symmetrical. The desk
my apple sits on is a geometric form. It has straight lines and sharp corners. Most geometric forms are man-made.
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License
Art: Shape, Color, Texture Identification

30. Activity: Periodically record yourself playing your musical instrument so you can compare your progress over time.
Tip: Partner up and use the camera to take a photo of your partner playing their instrument, or take a photo of the song
you're going to play. Use the audio recording tool to record the song.
Image: Creative Commons 2.0 License
Music: Portfolio of Key Skills and Progress

31. Share examples on Twitter @SeesawEdu
Join #SeesawChat on Twitter. Every 2nd and 4th
Thursday at 4pm PST to talk with other teachers
about how they use Seesaw in their class.
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