Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS 1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 8
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Printing Craft
Curriculum Theme: Trade
Previous Lesson: Hand Composition: Tools, Terminologies And Type Alloy Constituents.
Topic: DESIGN FOR PRINTING
Subject Matter: Concept of design for printing, Elements of art and design, Principles of art and design, Instruments for design and their uses, Layout of a good design, Simple designs like complementary cards and letter-heads

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define the concept of design for printing.
List at least five elements of art and design.
State at least five principles of art and design.
Explain the importance of a good layout in design.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the role of design in effective communication.
Participate actively in discussions about design principles.
Show interest in creating well-designed printed materials.

Psychomotor Domain:

Identify and correctly use common design instruments.
Create a simple layout for a complementary card.
Design a basic letter-head.

Collaborate with peers to discuss design ideas.
Share their simple design creations with the class.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Basic Technology (Primary 1-3, 4-6 & JSS 1-3)
State Unified Scheme of Work for Senior Secondary Schools
Printing Craft for Senior Secondary Schools by A. O. Ojo

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Ruler
Pencil
Eraser
Compass
Design templates
Sample layouts of complementary cards and letter-heads
Graph paper
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how visual elements are arranged to create effective printed materials. It enables them to apply basic design principles, which is important for producing clear and attractive documents in various daily life and professional contexts.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of drawing and identifying common shapes and colours from their earlier art lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

DESIGN FOR PRINTING

Concept of Design for Printing

Design for printing involves planning and arranging visual elements like text, images, and graphics on a surface to create a visually appealing and effective printed material. It aims to communicate a message clearly and attractively.

Elements of Art and Design

The elements of art and design are the basic building blocks used to create a work of art. These include:

Line: A mark with greater length than width.
Shape: A two-dimensional outline or area.
Form: A three-dimensional object.
Space: The area around or between objects.
Colour: The property of light as seen by the eye.
Texture: The perceived surface quality of a work of art.
Value: The lightness or darkness of a colour.

Principles of Art and Design

The principles of art and design are rules or guidelines that artists use to arrange the elements of art in a work. These include:

Balance: The distribution of visual weight.
Emphasis: Creating a focal point.
Movement: The path the viewer’s eye takes.
Pattern: Repetition of an element.
Repetition: Recurring elements to create unity.
Proportion: The relative size of parts to a whole.
Rhythm: Created by the repetition of elements.
Unity/Harmony: The feeling that all parts belong together.
Variety: The use of different elements to create interest.

Instruments for Design and their Uses

Various tools are used to create designs for printing. Some common instruments and their uses are:

Ruler: Used for drawing straight lines and measuring.
Pencil: Used for sketching, drawing, and marking.
Eraser: Used for correcting mistakes and removing pencil marks.
Compass: Used for drawing circles and arcs.
Set Squares: Used for drawing accurate angles and perpendicular lines.
Drawing Board: A flat surface to support paper during drawing.
T-square: Used for drawing horizontal lines and guiding set squares.

Layout of a Good Design

Layout refers to the arrangement of elements on a page. A good design layout ensures clarity, readability, and visual appeal. Key considerations for layout include:

Margins: Space around the edges of the page.
Grids: Underlying structure for aligning elements.
Typography: Choice and arrangement of fonts.
Image Placement: Positioning of pictures and graphics.
White Space: Empty areas used to improve readability and focus.
Hierarchy: Visual order of importance for elements.

Simple Designs: Complementary Cards and Letter-heads

These are common printed materials that require careful design.

A complementary card is a small card used to convey a brief message, often with a gift. It typically includes the sender’s name, company logo, and a short message like “With compliments.”

A letter-head is the heading at the top of a sheet of letter paper, typically consisting of a name, address, logo, and sometimes contact details of an organization or individual. It creates a professional impression.

Designing these involves applying the elements and principles of design to create a balanced, clear, and attractive presentation.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to mention any printed materials they often see (e.g., textbooks, newspapers, posters, business cards). The teacher then introduces the topic, “Design for Printing,” explaining its relevance to these materials.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson and understand the lesson’s context.

Step 2: Concept of Design for Printing

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the concept of design for printing, emphasizing that it involves planning and arranging elements to communicate effectively. The teacher uses examples from the instructional materials.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions for clarification, and discuss their understanding of design.
Learning Point: Pupils understand what design for printing means.

Step 3: Elements of Art and Design

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Listing/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher lists and briefly explains the elements of art and design (line, shape, form, space, colour, texture, value) using visual examples from the sample layouts and templates.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the examples, and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify and recall the basic elements of design.

Step 4: Principles of Art and Design

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the principles of art and design (balance, emphasis, movement, pattern, repetition, proportion, rhythm, unity/harmony, variety), demonstrating how they are applied in the sample designs.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the application of principles in samples, and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand how design elements are organized using principles.

Step 5: Instruments for Design and their Uses

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Identification
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents the design instruments (ruler, pencil, eraser, compass, etc.) and demonstrates their correct uses for basic drawing and layout.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the instruments and their uses, identifying them.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify and understand the use of various design instruments.

Step 6: Layout of a Good Design and Simple Designs

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Practical Activity
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the considerations for a good layout. The teacher then guides pupils through creating a simple layout for a complementary card or letter-head on graph paper, demonstrating how to arrange text and graphic elements.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils follow the teacher’s demonstration, using their rulers, pencils, and graph paper to attempt simple designs.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the basic steps for creating a design layout and practice simple designs.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is design for printing?
Mention three elements of art and design.
State three principles of art and design.
List two instruments used for design and their uses.
What is the difference between a complementary card and a letter-head?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reinforcing the importance of design in printing. The teacher gives an assignment: “Design a simple complementary card for your school principal, including the school logo and name.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and apply it in an assignment.

Lesson Keywords

Design – The planning and arrangement of elements to create a visual product.
Elements of Art – Basic building blocks of design such as line, shape, and colour.
Principles of Design – Guidelines for organizing design elements, like balance and emphasis.
Layout – The arrangement of visual elements on a page or surface.
Complementary Card – A small card conveying a brief message, often with a gift.
Letter-head – A pre-printed heading on stationery, usually with a company’s name and logo.

Differentiation

The teacher will provide additional support to pupils who are struggling by offering simplified design templates and one-on-one guidance. More advanced pupils will be encouraged to experiment with more complex design layouts or colour schemes for their creations.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure all instructional materials, especially design instruments and sample layouts, are readily available before the lesson. Encourage practical application and allow pupils sufficient time to practice their design skills. Emphasize the connection between theoretical concepts and practical design work.