New
New
Year 3

Placeholders in templates

I can plan the layout of a document by choosing a suitable template.

New
New
Year 3

Placeholders in templates

I can plan the layout of a document by choosing a suitable template.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Templates are premade layouts of a document that can be used as starting points for creations.
  2. The orientation of a page can be either landscape or portrait.
  3. Placeholders are areas on a template that show where text or images will go.

Keywords

  • Template - premade layout of a document

  • Orientation - the direction a page is set up to face

  • Placeholder - an area on a template that shows where text or images will go

Common misconception

It is easier to create a document by adding all the detail first and changing the layout later.

It's more efficient to plan the layout first before adding all the details. Organising the structure early helps avoid major formatting changes later, making the document easier to edit and read.


To help you plan your year 3 computing lesson on: Placeholders in templates, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

File needed for this lesson

  • Newsletter templates 220.72 KB (PPTX)

Download this file to use in the lesson.

Pupils can use the premade templates on Canva or the downloadable file. You could also use other software to model how templates are used. Modelling how to use a template helps pupils understand how placeholders guide content layout and can be adapted for their own designs.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pupils will need access to a device with software that allows editing and formatting text. Examples in this lesson use Google Slides https://oak.link/google-slides and Canva https://oak.link/canva

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

5 Questions

Q1.
Which software helps you to create cards, posters, and certificates?

word processor
Correct answer: desktop publishing
web browser
spreadsheet

Q2.
What is the term for the style in which text appears on a document?

Correct Answer: font, fonts

Q3.
Match each formatting option to the correct description.

Correct Answer:font colour,changes the shade of the text, for example from red to blue

changes the shade of the text, for example from red to blue

Correct Answer:bold,makes text thicker and stand out more

makes text thicker and stand out more

Correct Answer:italic,makes text slanted for emphasis

makes text slanted for emphasis

Correct Answer:underline,adds a line beneath the text

adds a line beneath the text

Q4.
Arrange the steps for changing the font style in a document.

1 - Open the document.
2 - Highlight the text.
3 - Select a new font style.
4 - Save your changes.

Q5.
If you want your heading to stand out, what might you change?

font style
font size
font colour
Correct answer: All of the above

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a template in desktop publishing?

Correct answer: a premade layout of a document
a type of font
a colour for text
a tool for printing

Q2.
What is the term for the direction a page is set up to face?

Correct Answer: orientation

Q3.
What word describes a box in a template that shows where to add an image?

Correct Answer: placeholder, place holder, placeholders, place holders

Q4.
Why is it helpful to use placeholders in templates?

They change the page colour.
They print the document.
Correct answer: They help organise where information will go.
They make the text bold.

Q5.
Which approach is more efficient when creating a document?

Add all the details first, then arrange the layout.
Correct answer: Plan the layout first, then add the details.
Print the document before checking the layout.
Ignore the layout and focus only on the content.

Q6.
Put these steps in order for using a template to make a poster.

1 - Choose a template.
2 - Add text and images.
3 - Review your work.
4 - Print the poster.