Canva is a free-to-use design software where you can choose from a wide selection of free images from the library or you can upload your own image. 

It offers a variety of many designs and layouts such as social media, presentation, poster, Facebook cover, Facebook post, Instagram Post, blog graphic, document, card, email header, Twitter post, invitation, and much more. If you select an existing layout, there is no need to set the size of it because it is automatically configured appropriately.

You can add images to the design, which will give you many options such as filtering, crop, copy, bring forward and back, link, transparency and flip.  In addition to image options, you can add pages that include the same layout in the design.  

Another nice option to include on your design is text.  It is a drag and drop feature that will allow you to select a font, size, and color of the text.  You can move it anywhere on the design.  Also, there are a variety of backgrounds that can be added to the design.  Each background is a drag and drop feature.

When you are completed with your design, you have two options, share or download.  The share option will allow you to share it via social media or email. This option will allow users who have the link to collaborate on it together.

The download option will allow you save your design as a pdf or png file.  Note, downloading your design is free only when the free options are used on the design.  

Here is a sample of my project.  In this example, I used the Google Plus layout, uploaded my own image that contained all of the icons, and added a text.  

In a matter of minutes, I was able to create a project.  I would highly recommend you give this free tool a try.  

Classroom ideas:  

• allow students to create a poster or infographic, on a theme such as anti-bullying, character education, digital citizenship, or a how to
• have students create a social media post or presentation of a famous president, character from a book
• allow students to create advertisements, campaigns, and flyers
• Photo collages of historical figures, landmarks, shapes, etc

Visit the design school for help on using this tool.