The program that says ‘pro’ more than any other is Adobe Photoshop. Believe it or not, there are a whole list of skills easy enough for a fifth grader (maybe even fourth, but I haven’t had time to test it on them yet).
Here are the basic skills fifth graders can learn in Photoshop if you’ve prepared them with basic computer skills. I’ve provided links but they aren’t live until publication:
- Photoshop artwork–already live
- Photoshop actions–already live
- Photoshop basics
- Photoshop filter and rendering tools
- Photoshop starters–auto-correct with the auto-correction tools–those quick fixes that make a photo look cleaner (coming up)
- Photoshop crop tool–with the lasso and the magic wand
- Photoshop clone tool– within a picture and to another picture
- Photoshop–change the background (put yourself in front of the Eiffel Tower or on top of Hoover Dam)
- Photoshop tools–add custom shapes
- Photoshop–start with Word (a little dated but still useful)
Get started
Custom shapes are great fun in Photoshop, and one of the simplest skills to learn.
- Open a picture in Photoshop
- Select the ‘custom shape’ tool
- Select the tool you’d like (i.e., crowns, fences, borders)
- After you add a custom tool, select the ‘style’ at the top
- You’re done
For a step-by-step guide with more detail, check out Photoshop Essentials.
For more advanced students, here are extras:
Make your own
If you want to make your own custom shapes, here’s a good video on that;
Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:
https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm
“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”
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, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
