Build the activity in Canvas
Canvas is a workspace next to the Gemini chat. Gemini writes the code for you and runs it there, so you can play the activity straight away and ask for changes in plain English.
Write your own prompt
Use the prompt recipe below in Gemini with Canvas switched on, then follow steps 1 to 5.
Use the recipe → Start B · Not sure where to start?Use the AISA EduSim Gem
A Gemini Gem that already holds the prompts for building an HTML activity. You just describe your class and topic.
Use the Gem →Let the Gem write the prompt for you
- Open the EduSim Gem with your AISA account.
- Type your grade, subject and topic. It's fine to say you're not sure where to start.
- Answer its questions until it builds the activity.
- Play it, then copy the code (Part 2) and paste it into the Hub (Part 3).
Make a single self-contained HTML file: a [sorting game / quiz / matching game / flashcards] for Grade [X] [subject] called "[title]". [Say what students do, one step at a time.] After each answer, explain in one sentence why. Show a score and a Play again button at the end. Clear, simple English for EAL learners, big buttons that work on a laptop, iPad or phone, no external images or links.
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Turn on Canvas
In Gemini, click the + at the left of the chat box. Click More tools, then Canvas.
A Canvas chip appears in the chat box, so Gemini knows to build something rather than just reply.
Can't see Canvas? Make your browser window wider; the menu hides it in a narrow window. Or end your prompt with Build it in Canvas. -
Canvas onAsk GeminiCanvas
Our real prompt, with Canvas switched on. 2Describe the activity and send
Copy the prompt recipe above, paste it into the chat box and change the words in brackets. Then click the send arrow.
Two phrases do the heavy lifting:
- "a single self-contained HTML file" puts everything in one file, which is exactly what the Hub needs.
- "big buttons that work on a laptop, iPad or phone" makes it easy to use on student devices.
Be specific about content. Say how many questions, the grade, and where your students live. Our prompt asked for examples a teenager in the UAE would hear. -
3
Meet the Canvas toolbar
After a minute or two the activity opens in Canvas. Across the top:
- Code / Preview: switch between the code and the working activity.
- Download: saves the HTML file to your computer.
- The share icon: the quickest way to copy the code (Part 2).
- The full screen icon: hides the chat so you can play it bigger.
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4
Play it like a student
Play every question in Preview. Get some wrong on purpose to see the feedback.
Want a change? Just ask in the chat, for example Make the buttons bigger or Replace question 4 with one about school uniform. Gemini updates the same Canvas.
Check every answer. Gemini can label a line wrongly or give a weak reason. You are the subject expert. -
5
Got an error? Ask again
When lots of people use Gemini at once you may see Sorry, something went wrong or Pro is in high demand. This happened to us during the demo.
Type Please try again and build it in Canvas. and send. You don't need to paste your prompt again.
Copy the code: two ways
The Hub needs the code, not a Gemini link. Both ways below copy the whole file. Try Option A first; if nothing pastes in Part 3, use Option B.
Copy contents
Click the share icon in the Canvas toolbar, then Copy contents.
Two clicks → Option B · If A doesn't workSelect all in the code
Click Code, click inside the code, press ⌘A then ⌘C.
Works every time →-
A
Option A: Copy contents
In the Canvas toolbar, click the share icon (three connected dots, next to Download). Click Copy contents.
Look for Copied to clipboard at the bottom left. The whole file is now copied, so go to Part 3 and paste it.
Don't click Share. It makes a public Gemini link straight away. The Hub gives you a better link, a QR code and a Classroom button instead. -
B
Option B: Select all, then copy
Use this if Option A doesn't paste anything.
- Click Code in the Canvas toolbar.
- Click inside the code box, anywhere in the code.
- Press ⌘ Cmd + A to select all of it. The code turns blue.
- Press ⌘ Cmd + C to copy.
Now switch to your Activity Hub tab to paste it (Part 3).
Click in the code first. If you press ⌘A without clicking in the code box, you select the whole Gemini page instead, chat and all.
Paste it into the Hub and publish
The Activity Hub turns your code into a web page with its own link. It reads your code, guesses the title, grade and subject, and adds it to a shared library for AISA staff.
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Open Create
In the Activity Hub, click Create an activity, or + Create at the top.
The page has three parts: 1 Paste your code, 2 Check the preview and 3 Describe it for the library.
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Paste your code
Switch to your Activity Hub tab. Click inside Paste your HTML here and press ⌘V. Or click the Paste button.
The preview on the right starts running straight away.
Downloaded the file instead? Click Upload file and choose the .html file. Copied some of Gemini's chat along with the code? That's fine, the Hub tidies it up. -
3
Check the preview
Use the icons above the preview to see it at desktop, tablet and phone size. Play a few questions in phone view: that's how it looks when students scan the QR code.
- ↻ restarts the activity.
- Full screen and Download are there too.
Under the code you'll see its size, for example 522 lines · 27 KB. A handful of lines usually means only part of the code was copied, so copy it again.
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Check what the Hub guessed
Scroll to 3 Describe it for the library. Fields marked AUTO-DETECTED are guesses from your code. In our demo:
- Activity type said Quiz. We changed it to Game.
- Grade level(s) only had 10 ticked.
- Short description was a line of text from inside the game.
Colleagues search by these details. A clear title, grade and description is what makes your activity findable in the library. -
5
Fix the details, then publish
- Grade level(s): click every grade it suits. We added 9 and 11.
- Short description: say what students do, in one sentence.
- Tags: words a colleague might search for, separated by commas.
- Shown as: your name as it appears in the library.
Click Publish & get link. It takes a few seconds.
Find, share and remix colleagues' work
Every published activity goes into the shared library. Before you build something new, check whether a colleague already has.
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Search and filter
Search by topic, title, concept, tag or teacher. Click a grade such as Gr 10, or use the subject, activity type and sort menus.
My activities shows only yours.
Each card has Open and quick icons for the QR code, Google Classroom, Download and Remix.
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Remix to make it yours
Click the Remix icon on a card, or Remix (make my own copy) in the … menu. The code and details load into Create.
Change them, then publish your own copy with its own link. The original stays as it is.
Remix with Gemini. Copy the code from the Remix page, paste it into Gemini and ask, for example, Keep the design but change the questions to Grade 7 science: states of matter. Paste the new code back and publish.
Publish one activity and play it on your phone
- Use the prompt recipe or the EduSim Gem to build an activity for a lesson you're teaching soon.
- Copy the code with Option A. If it doesn't paste, use Option B.
- Paste it into the Activity Hub, fix the auto-detected details and publish.
- Scan your QR code with your phone and play it to the end.
- Find a colleague's activity in the library and remix it for your class.
Check it
Play every question
Gemini can sort an example into the wrong category or give a weak reason. Check every answer and explanation.
Test on a student device
We asked for no external links, but our game still loaded its styles and font from the internet (look near the top of the code). It needs Wi-Fi, so test it on a student laptop or iPad on the school network.
Keep it free of student data
Anyone with the link can open it and colleagues can see it in the library. No student names, photos or personal details in the code or description.
Know what it doesn't do
Our game shows a score on screen but doesn't send results to you. If you need evidence, ask students to screenshot their score or follow it with a Google Form.