Word clouds are known by a variety of names including wordles, text clouds, and tag clouds. These fantastic graphics can reveal trends and allow you to present ideas, text, and concepts in a way that is eye-catching and compelling for students. Trying to find the right tool? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together a list of the best free word cloud generators for teachers.
Why use word clouds in the classroom?
Word clouds are fun to look at and will get students’ attention. You can take words and turn them into cool images using different shapes, fonts, and color schemes. While you can use a tool to create them for your classroom, students may enjoy making their own with just a piece of paper and some markers.
Here are some suggestions for using word clouds with students:
- Use word clouds as an icebreaker activity, e.g., What was the most fun thing you did over summer break?
- Activate prior knowledge of a topic.
- Describe book characters, historical figures, famous scientists, etc.
- Brainstorm writing topic ideas.
- Summarize topics to develop an understanding.
- Find the theme for a class discussion.
- Explore the meanings of challenging vocabulary words.
- Use word clouds as an exit ticket to assess understanding and identify gaps in learning.
Depending on which tool you choose, there may be a bit of a learning curve when you start using word clouds in your classroom. But the effort will be worth it in the end!
Free Word Cloud Generators for Teachers
1. WordArt.com
If you’ve been using word clouds for a while, you may remember that this tool was known as Tagul up until 2017. Rebranded as WordArt.com, this popular and highly customizable free word cloud generator for teachers is widely used in the classroom and even among professional designers.
Try it: WordArt.com
2. WordClouds.com
This user-friendly free online wordle creator can be used on computers, tablets, and smartphones. There are many options for generating and tailoring your word cloud. Need inspiration? Check out their gallery of wordle examples!
Try it: WordClouds.com
3. Word Cloud Maker
You may not have as many settings with Word Cloud Maker as you do with other generators, but the features it does offer are powerful. They have great layouts and shapes you can use to create something that’s truly engaging and unique.
Try it: Word Cloud Maker
4. WordItOut
As with other word cloud generators on this list, WordItOut allows you to create wordles from words, phrases, spreadsheets, and even whole documents. This tool also gives you the ability to embed your creations in your non-commercial blog or website.
Try it: WordItOut
5. WordSift
You’ll have limited options for layouts with WordSift, which only offers five templates, but this is still a great free word cloud generator for teachers. The data visualization is fantastic and you can adjust the colors, font, orientation, and even the scale of words.
Try it: WordSift
6. ABCya
The interface for this word cloud generator is so simple and fun! Once your text has been input, you can easily add effects to your wordle. Want to shake things up? Hit the “randomize” button to instantly change shapes, fonts, and font colors.
Try it: ABCya
7. MonkeyLearn Word Cloud Generator
This AI-powered tool is ideal for the classroom. Using advanced relevance algorithms, it will automatically recognize compound words and collations while removing stop words. The interface is modern, free of ads, and easy to navigate.
Try it: MonkeyLearn
8. TagCrowd
If you’re looking for minimalist word maps, TagCrowd is a great word cloud generator. The tool is very basic, but you still have the ability to adjust settings for languages, word limits, and upper/lower-case letters.
Try it: TagCrowd
9. Jason Davies Word Cloud
This free word cloud generator for teachers allows you to create symmetrical wordles. The interface is incredibly easy to use and generates powerful algorithms so you can make a cool, customized word cloud in seconds.
Try it: Jason Davies Word Cloud
10. EdWordle
It’s easy to create word clouds with EdWordle. Simply add text to create your own or edit existing wordles. You can customize your creations by randomly scrambling words, changing the color and font of individual words, and building “neighborhoods” by having related words appear close to one another.
Try it: EdWordle
What are your favorite free word cloud generators for teachers? Share in the comments below.
Plus, check out this list of 350+ Amazing Online Learning Resources.
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