Tech Tools for Teachers PODCAST

Creative Classroom Time-Savers

December 15, 2025

Promotional graphic for Episode 223 of the Tech Tools for Teachers podcast titled “Creative Classroom Time-Savers.” The image features host Shanna Martin smiling in front of a yellow plaid background. Text on the graphic reads “Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast,” “Episode 223,” and “Creative Classroom Time-Savers.”

December classroom energy is… a lot. Between holiday projects, shorter attention spans, and those weird pockets of downtime between events, it helps to have a few “plug-and-play” creative options ready to go.

This week on Episode 223 of the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast, we’re talking about HelloKids.com—a free site packed with drawing, crafts, coloring, and kid-friendly learning activities that work well for upper elementary and middle school.

HelloKids

Screenshot of the HelloKids homepage showing colorful navigation buttons for drawing, crafts, coloring, games, reading, and movies. Grade level buttons from Pre-K to 8th grade are displayed below. Featured content includes a cartoon pencil character, a “How to Draw a Minion” guide, a basketball game called Tap-Tap Shots, and educational icons like U.S. presidents.Section titled “Kids Crafts and Activities” featuring five thumbnails: a DIY Easter sock bunny made from pastel socks, a handprint Valentine’s craft in progress, a purple origami flower, a red yarn heart, and a blue origami cat.Drawing tutorial labeled “Step 1” with two overlapping blue outlines: an oval labeled “An oval for the head” and a teardrop shape labeled “A drop for the body,” showing the first step in drawing a teddy bear. Instructions on the right say to start with the body using those two shapes.Section titled “Reading and Learning” featuring a large image of Little Red Riding Hood with the wolf, and five small image tiles including outer space, a bare tree, Aladdin with a lamp, and Hansel and Gretel at a candy house. A sidebar paragraph explains the value of reading and accessing literature for early learning and development.

HelloKids is an easy-to-navigate site with a ton of creative content you can use in class, at home, or in enrichment settings.

Website: https://www.hellokids.com/

1) Drawing for Kids

One of the coolest parts of the site is the Drawing for Kids section. You’ll find:

  • Step-by-step drawing guides (think “old-school drawing books,” but online)
  • Visual-only drawing sequences that require students to think through the steps (and could even be used as a writing prompt: “Write the directions for this drawing.”)
  • Video drawing tutorials if you prefer that format

This is great for:

  • Quiet work time
  • Brain breaks with structure
  • Art integration into ELA (draw a character, then write a story)
  • Practicing sequencing and directions

2) Crafts and Activities

The Crafts and Activities section includes DIY projects, recycled-material crafts (toilet paper rolls, cereal boxes, milk cartons), Play-Doh workshops, origami, masks, and more.

Shanna’s teacher tip here is a good one: don’t always give full free-range. Instead, push out one specific page or link the exact activity you want in a choice board.

3) Online Coloring Pages

HelloKids also offers online coloring pages where students can:

  • Color digitally
  • Erase/recolor
  • Restart
  • Save/download finished work

Sometimes kids just need a low-stress reset, and this gives them that without you having to print anything.

4) Reading and Learning

Surprisingly, HelloKids has a Reading and Learning section too:

  • Short stories and classic fairy tales
  • Poems and riddles
  • Crosswords and simple learning activities

There are even language options (you may find some content available in French and other languages), which can be a fun extension activity.

Bonus Resource: Art Hub for Kids (YouTube)

Shanna also shouts out Art Hub for Kids, a family-friendly YouTube channel with step-by-step drawing tutorials. If your students (or your own kids) love drawing videos, this is a strong companion resource.

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