Year 3

Creating media – Desktop publishing

During this unit, learners will become familiar with the terms ‘text’ and ‘images’ and understand that they can be used to communicate messages. They will use desktop publishing software and consider careful choices of font size, colour and type to edit and improve premade documents. Learners will be introduced to the terms ‘templates’, ‘orientation’, and ‘placeholders’ and begin to understand how these can support them in making their own template for a magazine front cover. They will start to add text and images to create their own pieces of work using desktop publishing software. Learners will look at a range of page layouts thinking carefully about the purpose of these and evaluate how and why desktop publishing is used in the real world.

Lesson 1: Words and Pictures

Learning objectives: To recognise how text and images convey information

I can explain the difference between text and images
I can recognise that text and images can communicate messages clearly
I can identify the advantages and disadvantages of using text and images

In this lesson, learners became familiar with the terms ‘text’ and ‘images’ and understood that text and images need to be used carefully to communicate messages clearly. Learners were able to give advantages and disadvantages of using text, images, or both text and images to communicate messages effectively.

Lesson 2: Can you edit it?

Learning objective: To recognise that text and layout can be edited

I can change font style, size, and colours for a given purpose
I can edit text
I can explain that text can be changed to communicate more clearly

This lesson built on last week’s lesson, in which we looked at using images and text to communicate a message effectively. In this lesson, we looked at desktop publishing. We thought about how to make careful choices regarding font size, colour, and type in an invitation. The use of the Return, Backspace, and Shift keys were explored and we were taught how to type age-appropriate punctuation marks.

Lesson 3: Great template!

Learning objective: To choose appropriate page settings

I can define the term 'page orientation'
I can recognise placeholders and say why they are important
I can create a template for a particular purpose

Today, pupils looked at the role of an editorial designer, being the person who is responsible for putting content together. They were introduced to the terms 'templates', 'orientation', and 'placeholders' within desktop publishing software. They created their own missing poster template, which they will add content to during the next lesson.

Lesson 4: Creating a missing poster online

Learning objective: To choose appropriate page settings

I can define the term 'page orientation'
I can recognise placeholders and say why they are important
I can create a template for a particular purpose

Today, pupils looked at the role of an editorial designer, being the person who is responsible for putting content together. They were introduced to the terms 'templates', 'orientation', and 'placeholders' within desktop publishing software. They created their own missing poster template, which they will add content to during the next lesson.