Description
This is day two of a four-week unit plan that helps students learn the basic terminology, functions and foundations of design. Topics covered include typography, color, grids, formatting, spacing, measurements and modular design.
Objectives
- Students will identify the four basic categories of type.
- Students will learn and recite definitions of design terms.
- Students will know how to read and apply measurements.
- Students will know how to format type using common design language.
- Students will know the basic concepts of color application, purpose and use.
- Students will learn and practice how to work within a grid using appropriate spacing and modular design strategies in Adobe InDesign.
- Students will create layouts using different column grids using Adobe InDesign.
- Students will learn and practice how to place, size, crop, edit and apply a stroke to photos using Adobe InDesign.
- Students will learn and practice how to place, size and format headlines and body copy using Adobe InDesign.
- Students will learn and practice how to use the various tools and functions of Adobe InDesign that are critical to layout presentation.
Common Core State Standards
| CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.4
|
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context. |
| CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.5 | Analyze how the text structures information or ideas into categories or hierarchies, demonstrating understanding of the information or ideas. |
| CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.7 | Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem. |
| CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.9 | Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible. |
Length
This is day two of a four-week unit if class meets daily (55 minutes/class). Adjustments can be made accordingly.
Resources
Computer/projector
Slideshow: Understanding typography
Middle school differentiated slideshow: Understanding typography
Whiteboard/markers
Pen/paper/journal
Old newspapers and magazines
Scissors
Lesson step-by-step
1. Journal: Bell Assignment—10 minutes
Using the LCD projector, display a newspaper, magazine or yearbook spread that you find interesting/appealing on the screen. Ask students to write in their journal what stands out to them in the design. What are they most drawn to and why?
Discussion – Make a list of the various comments students provide, i.e. color, display type, photo, etc. Tally their votes. Do their votes match your thoughts? Why or why not?
2. Present/discuss the “Understanding Typography” powerpoint in class—30 minutes
- Type classifications
- Terminology / formatting / alignment
- Measurements
- Mixing typefaces
3. Typography Homework Assignment—10 minutes (finish as homework if necessary)
Looking through old newspapers and magazines, find and cut out examples of the following type classifications:
- 2 examples of serif fonts
- 2 examples of sans serif fonts
- 2 examples of script fonts
- 2 examples of novelty/decorative fonts
Glue the examples to a sheet of paper (or multiple sheets depending on example sizes). Number and label them accordingly.
4. Clean up—5 minutes
Assessment
Assignment should be graded/evaluated using the “Typography Assignment Rubric.”