This document provides many ways that Wordle, a graphic representation of frequently used words, can be used in the classroom. It lists ideas such as creating Wordles for teacher appreciation, book characters, classroom rules, and more. It also gives tips for customizing Wordles by emphasizing certain words or grouping words. Web links are provided for Wordle creation tools and examples of other Wordle lesson ideas. The document encourages contacting the author for more Wordle resources and sharing ideas.

1. Ways To Use Wordle
In Your Classroom
Jen Wagner
Revised April 2014

2. What is Wordle http://www.wordle.net/
a graphic representation of most frequently used words.
in a speech, in a poem, in a book, in your head,
in scripture, in historical document, on a blog,
in a wiki, overhead in your classroom,
on twitter/plurk, at a presentation or staff meeting,
and more!
However, it is NOT limited to only frequently used words -- you
can create a wordle to be what you wish the wordle to be.

3. Expand Wordle
If you use a screen capture tool (such as Jing) and
online venues (such as BigHugeLabs or SmugMug)
you can create some one-of-a-kind gifts, posters,
and more.
http://www.jingproject.com/
http://bighugelabs.com
http://www.smugmug.com/

4. Wordle Hints
•Retype the words you wish emphasized 2 to 3
more times than the other words to make them
stand out
•Use a ~ between words to group words together
such as We~The~People
•Look through your font choices
•Under layout – you can determine the maximum
word usage. Can make your wordle truly POP!

5. Teacher Appreciation
Have students brainstorm thoughts and memories about their
teacher. Print as poster, mousepad, or magnet.

6. Mother's Day/Father's Day
After children create wordle, place the image on a mug. Or use
fabric transfer paper and make a tie.

7. Famous Speeches
You can find a collection of speeches at
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/previous.htm

8. Class Rules
Create your listing of rules or let students create their list. Print as
a poster or desk reminders.

9. Student Names
Doublecheck and triplecheck you have EVERYONE before printing.

10. Correct Way To Spell
Start a list each month of frequently misspelled words, change
your wordle each month & compare.

11. Ways To Say Things Differently
This can be done in a variety of ways including using the = sign.
Such as cat=katze or synonyms/antonyms

12. Characters In A Book
Excellent way to share plot, character study, theme, and more.

13. Artwork Reflection
Overlay students reflections on a piece of artwork -- a famous
artist or your own classroom artists.

14. State Reports
Create a unique state report, country report, animal
report……….any report.

15. Classroom Lesson
Turn your spelling book or grammar lessons into a wordle of
review.

16. Poetry
Have your students find (or create) a picture that shows a poem.
Customize the wordle coloring palette.

17. Tell Me About……
Take a well known item (Olympic rings, maps, household item,
etc) and create a wordle inside the object.

18. Guess The Book…
Have your students create book jackets based on characters, plots,
and locations w/in a book.

19. Review A Historical Document
Have students review a document & pull out the words they feel
should be emphasized!

20. Create a Memory
This idea was use in Texas on June 12, 2009. It could also be used
for class subjects or field trip memories.

21. Information Review
Clipart courtesy FCIT: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/

22. Special Effects Information
Many people have asked how I created the special effects (such
as overlays of artwork)
I enjoy the software Paint Shop Pro … and within paint shop pro
(or any graphics program) – you can create layers in which to
manipulate your artwork.
The image I used would become the bottom layer and the
wordle (which I used a screen capture) would become my
second layer.
I also used opacity (to subdue some of the backgrounds) and
also used EFFECTS to create bevels and shadows.

23. Other Ways To Use Wordle
• Rodd Lucier has 20 ways on his blog at
http://thecleversheep.blogspot.com/2008/10/top-20-uses-for-wordle.
• Murcha has a slideshare of ideas at
http://www.slideshare.net/murcha/using-wordle-in-the-classroom-pre
• Samantha Lunn has 23 ideas at
http://languagesresources.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/23-ways-
to-use-wordle-in-the-mfl-classroom/
• Terry Freedman has 5 ideas at
http://www.techlearning.com/article/Blogs/20322
• Tom Barrett has a growing list at
http://www.ideastoinspire.co.uk/wordle.htm
• Chris Thomas has an excellent tutorial at
http://www.iprimary.co.uk/tutorial.php?tutorialID=002

24. More Than Wordles
http://jenniferlwagner.weebly.com/wordles.html

25. Feel Free To Contact Me
Please visit my Wordle Resources at: http://jenniferlwagner.weebly.com/wordles.html
Please visit my Wordle Pinterest pages at: http://pinterest.com/ProjectsByJen/daily-wordles/ &
http://pinterest.com/ProjectsByJen/other-people-s-wordles/
Project By Jen’s Wordles are Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States
License