Formatting an Existing MS Word Document

Title: Change the formatting of an existing MS Word document

Overview:  In this lesson, students will import/copy an existing Word document into Google Docs for the purposes of reformatting the document.

Content/Context: What is the language, literacy, math/numeracy, science, social studies or other content that forms the context for the technology use?

Length of lesson: 2 hours

Digital Literacy Standards addressed: Microsoft Word - 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17

College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) and/or Transitions Integration Framework (TIF) Standards addressed: TBC

Lesson Objective(s): At the end of this lesson, students will be able to: format a document in Google Docs

Assessing Mastery of the Objective(s):  By the end of this lesson, students will have amended key elements of a document as evidenced by changing those elements within the document and producing a finished, formatted document. Key elements include the text font, font size, line spacing, bulleted or numbered lists, document correction.

Materials/links: An existing document in Microsoft Word (Attached is a document which can be used for the lesson)

Lesson Outline:

Introduction: Students will be instructed as to the nature of the task and of the expected outcome.

Explanation/Modeling: Students will be shown how to perform the individual tasks involved and the location of the functions within the MS Word software to complete those tasks.

Guided Practice: Student will be guided step-by-step through the formatting process. Each change process will be taken in turn.

Independent Practice: Students will make the necessary changes to the document and make their own choices as to what those changes look like in the finished document. The teacher to facilitate the actions to be taken by walking the classroom.

Student Reflection on Learning, Closure, Connection: Formatting of documents relevant to the purpose of the document, e.g. resume, poster, party invitation, business letter, personal letter.

Teacher Notes: This is a lesson I have used at ESL levels 3 and above. Students usually complete the lesson in the two hours of instruction, with varying degrees of success. 

NB: Students make their own decisions on the font, size and color they select, as long as the completed document is legible. (Show how large fonts will affect the document.)