Page Planning
Luke 14:28
“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?”
Just as a builder needs a plan before construction, we need to organize our yearbook before designing it.
Planning helps us use our time wisely, work together, and finish what we started.
What could happen if everyone started designing yearbook pages without first creating a plan?
Remember: A great yearbook doesn't happen by accident. It starts with thoughtful planning, teamwork, and a commitment to doing our best.
Today's Lesson: Every Page Needs a Plan!
Imagine building a house without a blueprint. You might forget a bedroom, put a door in the wrong place, or run out of space!
Creating a yearbook works the same way. Before we start designing pages, we need a plan.
Today, we will learn how to organize our yearbook, assign responsibilities, and decide what belongs on each page.
1. What Is Page Planning?
Page planning is deciding what information, photographs, and designs will go on each page of the yearbook.
A good yearbook tells the story of our school year. We want someone to open it years from now and remember the people, friendships, activities, and special moments.
Our goal is to make sure every page has a purpose and that we don't leave out important memories.
2. Understanding Yearbook Sections
Yearbooks are divided into sections that organize different types of memories.
Portrait Pages
Individual photographs of students, tutors, and staff. These pages help us remember who was part of our school year.
Events and Activities
Special events, field trips, celebrations, and school activities. These pages show what happened throughout the year.
Candid Pages
Natural, unposed photographs of students learning, laughing, creating, and spending time together.
Feature Pages
Interviews, student spotlights, class highlights, and stories that make our yearbook personal.
3. What Is a Page Ladder?
A page ladder is a visual map of the entire yearbook. It shows what content belongs on each page and helps us organize the book before designing it.
Think of it as our yearbook blueprint!
Example: Yearbook Page Ladder
PAGE 2
Welcome
PAGE 3
Table of Contents
PAGE 4
Student Life
PAGE 5
Student Life
PAGE 6
Class Portraits
PAGE 7
Class Portraits
PAGE 8
Special Events
PAGE 9
Special Events
Example only. Our actual page assignments will come from the class spreadsheet.
Two facing pages are called a spread. For example, pages 4 and 5 can work together to tell one story.
When planning a spread, think about how the photographs, headlines, and text will look together.
4. Assigning Yearbook Responsibilities
We will use our Yearbook Folder Student Assignments spreadsheet to organize our work.
Each folder will represent a page or spread in our yearbook. Students will be responsible for planning and completing their assigned sections.
Your responsibilities may include:
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Choosing photographs that tell a story
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Writing headlines, captions, and short descriptions
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Interviewing students or tutors
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Designing the layout in TreeRing
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Checking spelling, names, and accuracy
Remember, even though you are responsible for your assigned pages, we are creating one yearbook together!
5. In-Class Activity: Map Out Our Yearbook
Today, we are going to create our page ladder and begin planning our assigned sections.
Step 1: Review the spreadsheet. Find your assigned folder and identify which page or spread you will create.
Step 2: Decide what belongs on your pages. Think about the story you want your section to tell.
Step 3: Sketch your layout. On paper or in TreeRing, create a rough design showing where your headline, photographs, captions, and other content will go.
Step 4: Make a content checklist. Determine what you already have and what you still need to collect.
Step 5: Share your plan. Explain your ideas to the class and listen to suggestions.
6. Think Like a Yearbook Designer
Before finalizing your plan, ask yourself:
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What is the main purpose of my page?
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What photographs will help tell the story?
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Do I need to interview anyone?
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What headline would make someone want to look at this page?
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How can I make my page match our yearbook theme?
Homework:
Write down your content ideas for your assigned page or spread.
Copy your completed answers into Google Classroom to submit your assignment.