Google Sites:

Beginner

Cheers,

Google Sites are very easy to make, and a great place to store all the content that you'll be using in your class.
To create a Google Site, visit https://sites.google.com
Choose a template or create from scratch by clicking "Blank"
Scroll down to view and open old sites
Any Google Site that you create are all saved in your Google Drive

Add text clicking "insert" then "image" and typing in the box that appears.
Resize the box, change the font type/size as needed
Add images by clicking "insert" then "image" and either search for or upload your own.
You can also double click anywhere on the size to add text or images.

Change the theme of your site by clicking "Theme" and then selecting one of the options.
Please note how you can customize the colors to be anything that you'd like.
Pro-tip: try not to use more than 3-4 basic colors on your site.

A Google Site is saved to your Google Drive, which means that you can add collaborators that can help you design your site.
Click the "Share" button in the top right and enter the names of the people you'd like to help design your site.
Pro-tip: if you're working with a team of teachers, create one Google Site for the entire grade level.

Layouts are quick and easy ways to design your site.
Click "Insert" and scroll down a bit to see the different layouts that are available.
When one is clicked, it adds it onto your site.
You can add images, text, or links using your new layout.

Pages and subpages are a great way to keep your website organized.
Click "Pages" then, "+", then "New page"
Give your new page a simple and easy to understand title.
Change the order of your pages by dragging them around; they appear up the top of your Google Site by default
You can make "Sub-pages" (or "Nested pages") by dragging them on top of one another.

Customize the header at the top of your Google Site
Choose what type of "Header" you want your site to have: "Title only", "Banner", "Large Banner", "Cover", or click the trash can to remove the banner entirely.
The header can be different for each "page" on your site.
Click "Change image" then "Select image" choose one of the pre-made templates
Click "Upload" to choose an image from your own computer.
You can also choose an image from Google Drive or a Google Photos album

Google Slides make great visuals for class announcements and assignments
Once your slideshow is created, change its settings to "Anyone with the link can view" OR just give the students in your class access by typing in their Google Accounts.
On your Google Site, select "Insert" then "Slides"
Click the slideshow you created, and drag it where you'd like it to appear.
Pro-tip: whatever is the first slide on your slideshow will always appear first on your Google Site.

Click the "Gear"
Select "Announcement Banner"
Choose whether or not you want to the banner to appear by toggling it on or off
Choose the "Announcement Banner" color. I recommend making it something that will stand out.
Type the message you want to appear
Add a clickable button by typing a message in the "Button label" box
Type a website you want the button to take the students to in the "Link" box.

Click "Insert" then "Youtube" and search for any video that you'd like to add
Find a video on your own, and copy its URL after clicking "Insert" then "Youtube".
Find a video, click "Share" then "Embed" and copy the code that appears. Head to your site and click "Embed" then "Embed code" and paste what you copied into the white box.
Add a Youtube video that you created by clicking "Insert" then "Youtube" then "Uploaded"

Have a bunch of videos that you want to share with your students? Create a Playlist on Youtube and add it onto your Google Site.
Once your playlist is created, click the arrow (share) and then "copy" the URL that appears.
Head to your Google Site, click "Insert" then "Embed"
Paste the link you just copied in the "By URL" box.
Pro-tip: Whatever video is FIRST on the Youtube Playlist will also appear FIRST on your site.

Click the three dots, then "Version History"
Click through the older versions of your site till you find the one that you want to restore.
Click "Restore this version" once you find the one you're looking for.
Don't forget to press "Publish" for your viewers to see the change!

Press "Insert" then "Map" to add a map layer to your site.
Search for a location OR add a map that you already created at mymaps.google.com
Adjust the size of the map as needed, but it's usually a good idea to add a text description next to each map that you add.

Once your site is ready to go, you can publish it to the web for your students to see.
Click "Publish" and then type in the URL that you want it to be found under.
If the one you want is already taken or unavailable, try a new name.
If the site is being published on a personal gmail account, it'll be found at sites.google.com/view/your_website_name
If the site is being published on a school account, it'll be found at sites.google.com/yourschooldomain/yourwebsitename
Pro-tip: make your class website easier to access by using bit.ly OR creating a custom domain (like https://www.mrpiercey.com)

Google Sites

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