Widgets
Word cloud
The word cloud widget lets you collect short responses from every student and see the most common words or phrases grow larger right on your classroom screen. As students send in their answers from their own devices, the display updates live, so you can instantly spot trends, key ideas, or common misunderstandings.
Teachers use word clouds to gather student opinions, check for understanding, brainstorm ideas, or make quick exit tickets. It’s a simple way to get everyone involved, even the quieter students, and to make class discussions more visual and engaging.
Ways teachers use it
- Brainstorming ideas for a writing assignment or project.
- Checking for understanding by asking students to sum up a lesson in one word.
- Running a quick exit ticket: 'What is one thing you learned today?'
- Gathering opinions or first impressions about a new topic.
- Voting on class activities or books by submitting favorite choices.
How to set it up
- 1Add the word cloud widget to your classroom screen from the widget menu.
- 2Type your prompt or question for students to answer.
- 3Share the QR code or code that appears on the screen so students can join on their own devices—no sign-up needed.
- 4As students submit their answers, watch the word cloud update in real time.
- 5Discuss the results with your class or use them to guide your next steps.
Tips
- Keep your prompts short and clear for the best results.
- Encourage students to use one or two words for more effective word clouds.
- Review the cloud together and ask follow-up questions based on the largest words.
- Use the word cloud at the beginning or end of a lesson for quick check-ins.
Questions teachers ask
Do students need accounts to participate?
No, students just scan the QR code or enter the code on their devices. No sign-up is needed.
Can I save or share the word cloud after class?
Yes, you can take a screenshot to save or share the results with your class.
How many students can respond at once?
The word cloud supports responses from the whole class at the same time.
Can I use it on any projector or whiteboard?
Yes, it works on any computer, projector, or interactive whiteboard.
Templates with this widget
Pre-K (ages 3–5)
Morning meeting for pre-K (ages 3–5)
A gentle morning meeting screen for pre-K with routine, date, time, and a question for little learners.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade
Morning meeting for kindergarten–2nd grade
A welcoming, interactive morning meeting screen for K–2 with date, time, checklist, and student word cloud.
Grades 3–5 (ages 8–11)
Morning meeting for grades 3–5
A welcoming morning meeting screen for grades 3–5 with routine steps, time, and a daily question.
Grades 6-8 (ages 11–14)
Morning meeting for grades 6–8
A ready-to-use morning meeting template for grades 6–8 with routines, timer, and interactive question.
Grades 9–12 (ages 14–18)
Morning meeting for grades 9–12
A ready-made morning meeting screen for high school: routines, today’s date, timer, and word cloud for student input.
Pre-K (ages 3–5)
Class discussion for pre-K (ages 3–5)
Start a simple class discussion with pre-K using word clouds, polls, and a timer.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade
Class discussion for kindergarten–2nd grade
Lead a class discussion for K–2 using a word cloud, poll, checklist, name picker, and timer.
Grades 3–5 (ages 8–11)
Class discussion for grades 3–5
A ready-made screen for leading class discussions with interactive tools for grades 3–5.