Title:

Using a table template in Microsoft Word to display a Cinquain

Overview:

This is a hands-on activity that will require students to consider placement, font size and a color scheme for their product. After writing a Cinquain (a non-rhyming form of poetry) based on research, students will use a technology productivity tool such as, Microsoft Word, to type text, edit, and print their poem for display.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  1. Placing text in a table template
  2. Changing fonts
  3. Coloring text
  4. Editing text
  5. Centering text
  6. Formatting text to bold
  7. Shading cells in a table
  8. Coloring table borders
  9. Changing line styles

Materials and Equipment:

  1. Lab or Computers with Microsoft Word
  2. Finished Cinquain poem
  3. Cinquain Table Template
  4. Color printer

Procedure:

  1. Orient the students to the Cinquain template.
  2. Table Toolbar: Make sure the Table Toolbar is visible (View, Toolbars, Tables and Borders; drag to the right side of the screen)
  3. Have them type their Cinquain title in the first box.
  4. Font Size: Verbally instruct the students how to highlight and change font size from 12 to 28 or 36 pt.
  5. Align Text: With the cursor still in the cell, show students how to align text with the formatting toolbar icons. Finish with all text centered.
  6. Font Style: Discuss what “default font” means and verbally walk them through highlighting their title and changing the font style. Allow them to try two or three fonts.
  7. Font Color: Highlight title again and orient students to the Font Color Toolbar and pull-down menu, including more colors and standard and custom color tabs. Allow them to try two or three different colors.
  8. Cell Shading: Orient the students to the Shading Color pull-down menu on the Table Toolbar. Have them choose More Colors and notice the similarity to the Font Color Toolbar.

Rule of thumb: when shading a cell or background: light-colored text needs dark-colored background; dark-colored text needs light-colored background. Choose several cell colors to see the differences in combinations of text and cell color.

  1. Border Shading: Orient students to the Line Weight icon on the Table Toolbar. On the Borders tab, discuss the differences within the settings, styles, colors, and widths. Allow students to try different combinations of border styles, colors, and widths. After a few minutes, allow students to set the border back to the default.

10. Color Scheme: Address the idea of a color scheme in regards to font, borders and

cell shading.

11. Font Scheme: The title should be in a larger, thicker font than the rest of the

poem. Lines 2 through 5 of the poem should all be a single, easy-to-read font.

  1. Students may now type the rest of their cinquain in the table and make font, alignment, and color changes to the table and contents.

Assessment Strategies:

Provide a student/teacher checklist of above activities.

*Display: Cut paper to 8.5 x 5.5, mount on construction paper and laminate to share with class.

Websites:

  • Cinquain

Submitted by: Jo Ellen Mattingly

**See sample product and table template below

Penny

Round

/ Smooth
Tossing / Flipping / Shining

Make A Special Wish

Lucky

Created by:

Table Template

Created by: