Mood Makers Slides Mood Makers
Color Theory & Emotional Impact
The Power of Color
[ Poster A: Deep Blue & Gray ]
"The Haunted Forest"
[ Poster B: Bright Pink & Yellow ]
"The Haunted Forest"
Which one feels like a scary movie? Why?
The Designer's Toolbox
Warm Colors
Red, Orange, Yellow. They feel energetic, happy, or intense.
Cool Colors
Blue, Green, Purple. They feel calm, professional, or sad.
Complementary Colors
Opposites on the wheel (Blue/Orange). They POP!
Color Psychology
Red
Urgency, Passion, Hunger
Blue
Trust, Security, Calm
Yellow
Optimism, Youth, Attention
Green
Wealth, Growth, Nature
Orange
Playfulness, Friendly, Warning
Purple
Wisdom, Luxury, Creativity
Mission: Palette Picker
Choose a Mood from the list below.
Excitement Sleepy Professional
Mood Makers Teacher Guide Mood Makers
Teacher Facilitation Guide | Lesson 1
Grade 5
Lesson Overview
This lesson introduces the foundational role of color in visual communication. Students will move from intuitive reactions to intentional design choices by learning about the color wheel and color psychology.
Essential Question
How do designers use color to tell us how to feel before we even read a single word?
Key Vocabulary
Complementary, Warm/Cool Tones, Palette, Color Psychology, Hue.
The Hook: Poster Swap (10 mins)
Use the "Mood Makers Slides" for the visual comparison.
Discussion Prompts:
"Describe Poster A in three words. Now describe Poster B."
"Why does the blue poster feel more 'mysterious' while the pink one feels 'fun'?"
"What happens to our brain when we see bright yellow versus deep purple?"
Activity: Palette Picker (25 mins)
Students will use the "Palette Pickers Worksheet" to create four distinct emotional palettes.
1
Identify the Vibe
Assign students one of the following scenarios: 1) A high-energy sports brand, 2) A luxury spa, 3) A futuristic tech company, 4) A cozy bakery.
2
The Rule of Three
Instruct students to choose one dominant color, one secondary color, and one accent color for their main palette.
3
Digital vs. Physical
If using digital tools (Canva, Google Drawings), students can use hex codes. If physical, use markers or colored pencils to fill the worksheet circles.
Common Pitfalls to Watch For
"Rainbow" Designs: Students often want to use every color. Remind them that constraint creates impact. Suggest they limit themselves to 3-4 colors total.Low Contrast: If a student chooses pale yellow and white, warn them that their text won't be readable later in Lesson 3. Palette Pickers Worksheet Palette Pickers
Design Lab | Lesson 1 Activity
Student Name
1
The Color Vibe Check
Draw a line to match each color to the emotion it most likely communicates in design.
Red
Blue
Yellow
Green
Growth & Nature
Urgency & Excitement
Trust & Calm
Happiness & Warning
2
The Palette Lab
Choose four different moods. For each mood, create a 4-color palette using the circles below. Think about contrast and emotion!
Mood 01
Mood 02
Mood 03
Mood 04
Pro Tip
Try choosing one Primary color that takes up the most space, and one Accent color that is used for small, important details (like a "Buy Now" button)!
Type Talk Slides Type Talk
Finding Your Visual Voice
Serif Sans Display
Does this feel right?
DANGER!
WRONG VOICE
You are cordially invited to
WRONG VOICE
The Big Three
Aa
Serif
Small "feet" on the ends of letters. Feels classic, serious, and trustworthy.
Aa
Sans Serif
No feet! Clean and simple. Feels modern, digital, and friendly.
Aa
Display / Decorative
Unique and fancy. Use only for titles. Hard to read in big blocks!
The Perfect Pair
Bigger Heading
Simple, easy-to-read body text. This creates Contrast.
Bold + Thin
Display Title + Sans Serif Body
Voice Matching
We're going to match Brands to their Fonts.
Type Talk Teacher Resource Voice Matching Game
Teacher Resource | Lesson 2
Game Guide
Objective
Students will apply their knowledge of font "voices" by matching specific typography styles to target messages and brands. This reinforces the idea that design is intentional communication.
How to Play
Preparation: If you have access to a whiteboard or digital board, prepare 6 "Messages" on one side and 6 "Font Examples" on the other.The Reveal: Reveal one message at a time (e.g., "A formal invitation to the White House").Selection: Ask students which font family (Serif, Sans Serif, or Display) fits best and WHY.The Match: Move the corresponding font next to the message.
The Master Match List
Scenario / Brand Best Font Choice The "Voice" A high-tech robot company Sans Serif (Geometric) Modern, Clean, Precision A history museum exhibit Serif (Classic) Trustworthy, Timeless A circus or carnival poster Display (Decorative) Exciting, High-Energy A law firm or doctor's office Serif Serious, Professional
Make it a Contest!
Divide the class into teams. Show a "Wrong Match" (like the movie poster examples from the slides) and the first team to correctly identify the Font Family and explain why it doesn't work gets a point.
Bonus Point: If they can name the correct font family to replace it with!
Type Talk Worksheet Type Talk
Design Lab | Lesson 2 Practice
Student Name
1
Spot the Family
Look at the words below. Write Serif , Sans Serif , or Display under each one.
Classic
Modern
FUNKY!
2
The Pairing Challenge
Design a heading and body text pair for these two scenarios. You can write the words or sketch how the letters would look.
Scenario A
Prompt: A futuristic video game cover called "GLITCH WORLD"
The Heading (Eye-catching)
The Body Text (Easy to read info)
Scenario B
Prompt: A luxury watch catalog called "PRECISION"
The Heading (Eye-catching)
The Body Text (Easy to read info)
Why choose?
In your Scenario A design, why did you choose that specific font style for the heading?
Eye Trackers Slides Eye Trackers
The Logic of Layout
5-Second Challenge
SALE
BUY NOW
This is small text about our store and we have many things for sale including socks and shoes and hats and some other things that you might like if you come to our store on Tuesday between 4 and 5 pm unless it rains then we are closed early.
WELCOME TO OUR SHOP
50% OFF EVERYTHING EXCEPT SHOES
Where is the store address? (It's not there!)
Visual Hierarchy
Hierarchy is the ORDER in which people see things.
1
Size: Big things first.
2
Color: Bright things next.
3
Space: Give it room to breathe.
I AM FIRST
You see me second
And then you read this little bit of detail at the very end.
The Invisible Grid
Alignment Matters!
Grids keep elements aligned. This makes designs feel organized and professional, not messy.
Use a 3-column grid
Line up your edges
Don't touch the corners!
Fix the Flyer
You will receive a "scrambled" flyer.
Layout Fixer Teacher Guide Layout Fixer Guide
Teacher Resource | Lesson 3
Facilitation Guide
The Challenge
Students will transform a chaotic design into a functional informational flyer. The goal is to move from "it looks cool" to "it communicates clearly."
The "Scrambled" Elements
If doing this physically, provide students with these cut-out pieces. If digital, provide them as separate movable images in a slide deck.
Heading:
Annual Talent Show!
Date/Time:
Friday, Oct 24th @ 6:00 PM
Location:
School Cafeteria
Action:
FREE TICKETS AT THE DOOR
Illustration:
Large colorful star or microphone graphic
The Hierarchy Checklist
Guide students to place items based on this priority list:
The Hook (What is it?)
Headline & Main Graphic (Make these BIG)
The Details (When & Where?)
Date, Time, Location (Clean Sans Serif fonts)
The Action (What do I do?)
"Buy Now" or "Free Entry" (High contrast buttons)
Teaching the Grid
If students are struggling, tell them to draw 3 vertical lines down their paper. Tell them that every element must start or end on one of those lines. This instantly fixes "messy" alignment.
Layout Logic Worksheet Layout Logic
Design Lab | Lesson 3 Practice
Student Name
1
Find the Fail
Look at this messy flyer. Circle three areas that are confusing or hard to read. Use the space below to explain why.
!!! SAVE BIG !!!
Store Sale
we have everything you need for the summer time come visit us at our main branch which is located on main street just behind the big tree and if you come today you get a free hat but only if you buy a shirt first so dont forget that.
BUY
Your Analysis:
A.
B.
2
The Grid Master
Sketch a new layout for the "Talent Show" using the grid below. Think about Hierarchy: What should they see first? Second? Third?
Draft Your Layout Here
Checklist
Headline is the BIGGEST text
Main graphic has its own space
Date & Time are aligned to the grid
"Free Entry" button pops!
Why this layout?
Briefly explain how you used Size or Color to guide the eye.
Pixel Perfect Slides Pixel Perfect
Drafting the Digital Poster
The Project Brief
Topic
The 5th Grade Innovation Fair
Your mission is to design an informational poster that gets people excited and tells them exactly when and where the event is happening.
March 15th, 5-7 PM
Include 1 Main Headline
Use a 3-Color Palette
Pair 2 Font Families
Know Your Audience
"A design for everyone is a design for no one."
If for Kids (K-2):
Bright, high-contrast colors
Large, friendly display fonts
Big, fun illustrations
If for Parents/Teachers:
Sophisticated, muted colors
Clean Serif or Sans Serif fonts
Organized, grid-based layout
Tech Checklist
1
Set Your Canvas
8.5 x 11 inches (Standard Paper)
2
Import Assets
Bring in your 1 main photo/graphic.
3
Lock the Grid
Turn on guides or use a background grid.
Draft Time
First, complete your Poster Blueprint.
Random Client Cards Resource Random Client Cards
Teacher Resource | Lesson 4 Project Hook
Print & Cut
Cut these cards and have students draw one at random. Each card dictates the "Client" they are designing for, which will guide their color, type, and layout choices.
Client #01
The Pre-K Picassos
Audience: Kids aged 3-5 and their parents.
Desired Vibe: High energy, messy, and fun!
Requirement: Must use Primary Colors (Red, Blue, Yellow) and a Display Font for the title.
Client #02
The Tech Titans
Audience: Science teachers and local inventors.
Desired Vibe: Futuristic, clean, and professional.
Requirement: Must use a Grid System with lots of "white space" and Sans Serif fonts only.
Client #03
The Earth Guardians
Audience: Families interested in nature and recycling.
Desired Vibe: Calm, organic, and trustworthy.
Requirement: Must use an Earth-Tone Palette (Greens, Browns, Tans) and a Serif Font for the body text.
Client #04
The Midnight Gamers
Audience: Teenagers who love video games and neon.
Desired Vibe: Dark, glowing, and mysterious.
Requirement: Must use a Dark Background with Neon Accents (Pink or Green) and high contrast.
How to use:
After students draw their card, they should stick it to the corner of their desk. This acts as their "Project Brief." Throughout the lesson, walk around and ask: "How does this font choice serve your specific client?"
Poster Blueprint Worksheet Poster Blueprint
Design Lab | Lesson 4 Project Plan
Student Name
1
The Project Brief
Target Audience:
Goal Mood/Vibe:
Required Constraints:
(Check your client card!)
2
Style Choices
Color Palette (3 Colors)
Font Pairing
Heading Type:
Body Type:
3
Thumbnail Wireframe
Draw a simple box-sketch of your layout. Use boxes for images and lines for text. Remember the Grid!
Poster Canvas
Drafting Notes:
Main Hook Placement:
Info Alignment:
Teacher Approval Signature
The Big Reveal Slides The Big Reveal
Critique, Iterate, & Export
Iterative Design
DRAFT 1
Good start!
But maybe the text is too small...
BETTER
FINAL POSTER
Clearer & Bolder
Based on feedback from the team.
The "I Like, I Wish, I Wonder" Rule
I Like...
Mention one strength.
I Wish...
Mention one change.
I Wonder...
Ask one question.
Export for Success
Print (PDF)
Best for physical posters and paper handouts. Keeps images sharp!
Web (PNG / JPG)
Best for school websites, emails, or digital screens.
The Finish Line
1. Give 2 classmates feedback.
Critique Facilitation Guide Critique Facilitation Guide
Teacher Resource | Lesson 5 Gallery Walk
Facilitation Guide
Gallery Walk Setup
Option A: Digital
Students leave their posters open on their screens. Classmates rotate every 3 minutes with their feedback worksheets.
Option B: Printed
Tape posters to the walls. Students walk around the room. Use sticky notes for immediate feedback if worksheets aren't used.
I Like, I Wish, I Wonder
Encourage students to use specific design vocabulary (Hierarchy, Palette, Alignment) in their feedback.
I Like...
"I like how you used a bold display font for the title, it really fits the high-energy vibe."
I Wish...
"I wish the contact information was aligned to the grid because right now it looks a bit messy."
I Wonder...
"I wonder if using a brighter color for the 'Buy Now' button would help people see it faster?"
The "Helpful Designer" Mindset
Designers often get attached to their work. Remind students of these rules:
Don't take it personally: They are critiquing the design, not the person.Say "Thank You": Even if you don't agree with the feedback, thank the person for their perspective.You are the Boss: You don't have to change everything. Choose the feedback that makes your message clearer.
The Export Session
In the last 15 minutes of class, walk through the export process. Show students where to find the "Download" or "Export" button and how to select PDF Print or PNG.
The Glow Up Guide Worksheet Final Glow Up
Design Lab | Lesson 5 Peer Review
Student Name
1
The Gallery Walk Log
Review two of your classmates' posters. Provide thoughtful, helpful feedback using the design rules we've learned.
Reviewing Designer:
I Like:
I Wish:
I Wonder:
Reviewing Designer:
I Like:
I Wish:
I Wonder:
2
The Glow Up Plan
What is ONE thing you will change in your design to make it better?
Example: "I'm going to make my date and time 20% larger so it's easier to find."
3
Ready to Export?
Spell check is done
Everything is aligned to a grid
Only 3 colors are used
Fonts match my audience voice
I have one clear "Hierarchy #1"
EXPORTED AS PDF
