#4: Photoshop for Fifth Graders: The First Step is Word

Before we get into Photoshop, we’ll start with a program your fifth grader is most likely comfortable with: MS Word. For basic image editing, Word does a pretty good job, so we’ll start with a project using Word’s tools:

  • Open a blank document in MS Word. Insert a picture with multiple focal points (see samples). pic
  • Duplicate the image once for each focal point.
  • Click one image to activate toolbar.
  • Crop each duplicate to show just one of the focal points
  • Double click the image to bring up the ‘Format Picture’ dialogue box.
  • Change the fill and border (line). Use the ‘Picture—image control’ tab to change to washout, grayscale, etc. Say OK.
  • Click image once to display the ‘dot. Rotate picture creatively.
  • If you use pictures from the internet, be sure they’re royalty free.

I’ve put it all on one page for you if you want to print it out:

Image editing with MS Word
Image editing with MS Word

Next, we start Photoshop with easy auto fixes.

Photoshop lesson plans here.


Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

Author: Jacqui
Welcome to my virtual classroom. I've been a tech teacher for 15 years, but modern technology offers more to get my ideas across to students than at any time in my career. Drop in to my class wikis, classroom blog, our internet start pages. I'll answer your questions about how to teach tech, what to teach when, where the best virtual sites are. Need more--let's chat about issues of importance in tech ed. Want to see what I'm doing today? Click the gravatar and select the grade.

2 thoughts on “#4: Photoshop for Fifth Graders: The First Step is Word

    1. Word has easy photo editing tools that can segue into Photoshop. If you don’t use Word, there are many online photo editing tools that build excitement in students. Then move into PS.

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