Create an Animated Banner in Google Classroom

You can personalize your Google Classroom by creating an animated banner. The animation can represent the unit or theme your students are studying. The animation will add interest and excitement to your Classroom page.

I prefer using free software to create. By using Google Slides AND Screencastify, you can create an animated image, record the screen, and download it as a GIF. Upload the file to your Google Classroom theme. The banner image will be animated. Super cool!

Follow the below steps to create an animated Google Classroom banner:

Design Animation in Google Slides

1. Open a new Google Slides presentation.

2. Change the size of the slides by clicking on File => Page Setup => Select Custom => Enter 800 x 200 PIXELS.

3. Design the background of the first slide or insert an image. Add an image that you plan to animate. This could be your Bitmoji. To duplicate the slide, click on the slide => Edit => Duplicate.

4. Slightly move the image/Bitmoji. Duplicate the slide. Repeat these steps until your image has completed the movement.

Design Animation in Google Slides

1. Click on File => Publish to the Web.

2. Click on both boxes to place a checkmark. Then click on Publish.

3. Copy the URL.

4. Open a new Chrome browser tab. Paste the URL in the Omnibox (address bar). The 3000 number means 3000 milliseconds. To make the images move more quickly, enter a smaller amount (100, 150, 200) and press the enter/return key. If the motion is too fast, increase the number. If the action is too slow, decrease the number.

Record the Screen Using Screencastify

1. Add the Screencastify Chrome extension from the Web Store.
2. To record the tab that is playing your Google Slides presentation, click on the Screencastify extension button.

3. Record the browser tab.

4. Trim the video clip.
5. Click on Download. Select Export Animated GIF.

6. Move the slider so that the size is closest to 800×200.

1. Open Google Classroom.
2. Click on Upload Photo.

3. Click on the Select Class Theme button.

4. The animated GIF will appear as your Classroom banner.