1

HOW TO SET UP A GMAIL SITE ACCOUNT

Google Sites is a free and easy way to create and share webpages. These directions will help you create your own personal website or a classroom website. You can have multiple sites in your email account.

First you must have a gmail email. If you don’t, you need to stop and create an account.

If you have a gmail email, then go to www.google.com

Click on more

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Then when the drop down box opens, click Sites.

Sign in with your new gmail email username and password.

2

HOW TO CREATE A GOOGLE SITE.

Keep track of your website address. I suggest you write it here.

https://sites.google.com/site/________________________________________

Click on Create Site now.

If the name of the site you requested is already taken, it will ask you to try again……and again until you get one that is available.

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Click on Create Site.

Name your site what you want to see on each page. Ex. Whittier Grade 1, John’s Favorite Web Sites. Whatever you type here will appear in your URL in the next line.

You can choose any template. For now, let’s click on Blank Template. You can create a classroom site later.

You can choose a theme if you want or just accept the default theme.

If you want to restrict access to your website to only certain people, click More Options.

3

You have now created your site. Now you need to work on creating your pages.

HOW TO CREATE AND EDIT YOUR PAGES.

Your HOME page will open automatically. You can edit it right away.

If you want to insert a picture, you need to go to the web and find a clip art graphic that is copyright free. Here is a website that has many to choose from that are appropriate for teachers:

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/

When you are done with your changes or have worked for 15 minutes, you must click save. You can immediately edit the page again.

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Click Edit Page.

You cannot change the title, the word HOME, or the left sidebar from this page.

Check out the various things you can insert by clicking on insert and table.

4

HOW TO ADD AN ATTACHMENT

Click Edit Page.

Click on Attachment at the bottom of the page. A box will open.

Click Choose File.

Find the file you want to upload on your hard drive or flash drive.

Click OPEN and it will upload the file automatically. You can remove it later if you change your mind.

HOW TO CREATE MORE PAGES

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Click on Create Page

Give the page a title. Ex. Homework Assignments, Science Web Sites, All About Me,….

You will most likely want to click Put Page Under Home.

Click Create Page.

5

TO ADD MORE SITES

Click on My Sites.

Click on Create New Site.

Follow the directions for creating a new site on page 2 of this document.

These are the most important things to know. If you want to do more advanced changes you can follow the following directions.

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Click on the little circular pointy object at the end of your username.

6

HOW TO MAKE ADVANCED CHANGES

The two areas you might want to try are listed below.

Page Settings:

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Click on More actions.

7

Manage Site

This section allows you to make many many changes to your pages.

Especially look at site settings and site appearance.

Site Settings: General

Site Appearance: Site Layout

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8

Site Appearance: Colors and Fonts

Site Appearance: Themes

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9

Browse more themes brings up this window.

Teaching with Primary Sources Governors State University