Step-by-step guidance on finding, using, and customizing KWK slide decks. Reference this resource throughout camp whenever you need to prepare slides for your day.
Accessing KWK Slides
Slide decks for all other camp moments, including “Welcome to KWK” slides and Capstone Project work time slides, are already copied into your Camp Folder on Google Drive.
How to Use Mainframe Slides
Mainframe slides are the presentation decks you'll run your entire camp day from: one deck per day, Days 1 through 10. Instead of switching between separate files for brain breaks, lunch, lessons, and closing circles, everything lives in a single presentation in order.
Your Mainframe decks are pre-populated in your Team Folder on Google Drive. Before each camp day, follow the steps below to prepare that day’s Mainframe deck.
Step 1: Review Your Schedule
Open your Daily Agenda in your Camp HQ and find the schedule for the day you're customizing. Compare it to the Mainframe deck for that day and note:
- What lesson slides need to be added
- What activities are missing from the template
- What template slides you don't need
Step 2: Add Technical Lesson Slides
Find the "Technical Lesson" placeholder slide(s) in the Mainframe deck.
Option A: Link to External Slides
- Add a link on the placeholder slide to your lesson slide deck
- Use this if you prefer to present from a separate deck
Option B: Embed Slides Directly
- Copy and paste your lesson slides directly into the Mainframe deck
- Delete the placeholder slide
- Tip: If you embed multiple lessons, add a Table of Contents slide at the beginning with links to each section for easy navigation
Step 3: Add or Remove Activities
Add missing elements: If your Daily Agenda includes extra brain breaks, integrations, or special activities not in the Mainframe template, create new slides for them. Include clear instructions and expectations for scholars.
Remove unused slides: Delete any template slides that don't correspond to activities in your day's schedule. For examples, if you're not doing a certain brain break or integration, remove those slides.
Step 4: Final Check
Go through your Mainframe deck and verify:
Every moment of your camp day has a corresponding slide
Slides are in the right order matching your Daily Agenda
Opening and closing circles slides are completed with camp-specific details
All technical lesson content is added (linked or embedded)
Activity instructions are clear for scholars
Step 5: Create the Scholar Version
Once your Mainframe deck is finalized:
- Make a copy of the deck
- Remove ALL speaker notes and team-only content
- Save the clean version in Scholar Folder > Slide Decks (Scholars' Version)
- Add the link to Quick Links so scholars can access it
Optional Customization of KWK Curriculum Slides
Every deck benefits from a review before you teach it. Some slides require light personalization and you'll always want to familiarize yourself with the flow and timing of a lesson before presenting. The guidance below covers optional preparation steps if you want to make slides feel more like your own!
Step 1: Review Existing Content
Before making any changes:
Read through the lesson slides from start to finish
Review speaker notes for instructional guidance
Check the corresponding curriculum site lesson for context
Note the lesson's learning objectives
Ask yourself:
- What are scholars supposed to learn by the end?
- What prior knowledge are we building on?
- Where might scholars struggle?
Step 2: Make a Copy
Never edit the original KWK slide deck. Always work from a copy. How to make a copy:
- Open the slide deck
- Go to File > Make a copy
- Rename it:
[Curriculum] - [Lesson Name] - [Your Name](e.g.,WD - Lesson 2: HTML Syntax - Karlie Kloss)
- Save it to your camp's Team Folder > Instructor Slides
Step 3: Customize
Walk through the deck and flag slides where you want to make changes. Common customization opportunities:
Add Your Own Examples
Replace generic examples with ones that resonate with your scholars or your teaching style.
Example:
- Original slide: "Let's create a variable called
nameand set it to'Sam'"
- Your version: "Let's create a variable called
favoriteSongand set it to'Espresso'" (using a current pop culture reference)
Adjust Timing
Try-Its and Practice activities include suggested timing, but adjust based on your pacing needs.
How to adjust:
- If scholars tend to work quickly → Shorten practice time or add extension challenges
- If scholars need more support → Extend practice time and plan for a code-along
Add Checks for Understanding
Insert slides that gauge comprehension before moving forward.
Examples:
- "Turn to a partner and explain what a variable is in your own words"
- "In the chat, give me an example of when you'd use an
if/elsestatement"
- "Thumbs up if you feel confident, thumbs sideways if you're unsure, thumbs down if you're confused"
Reorder Content
If a concept builds better in a different sequence, rearrange slides.
Example: Some instructors prefer to show the final product FIRST, then break down how to build it, rather than building step-by-step.
Add Scaffolding
If a concept is complex, break it into smaller steps.
Example: Instead of one slide with all the code, create 3-4 slides that reveal the code line by line with explanations.
Remove Content
If you're short on time or something isn't relevant, delete slides.
Caution: Don't remove core learning objectives. Trim examples, not foundations.
Adding Speaker Notes
Speaker notes are your personal teaching notes. Add anything that helps you teach confidently: analogies or metaphors, common scholar misconceptions to address, questions you plan to ask, or transition language to the next concept.
KWK Branding
When creating new slides or making significant edits, use the KWK Brand Guide to maintain visual consistency. The KWK Slide Theme Template below is a resource you can use for creating a new slide deck using KWK’s slide theme. The KWK Branded Timers are timer videos that you can integrate within any slide deck to guide timing during camp activities.