Adding Text and Images to Slides

Active, hands-on practice makes abstract formatting rules concrete for young learners. When Year 2 pupils physically insert, resize, and recolor text and images, they connect visual choices directly to clarity and audience needs. This kinesthetic experience builds lasting understanding that text and images work together to communicate, not just decorate.

• Year 2
• Computing
• 4 activities
• 20 min–35 min

Learning Objectives

1. Design a slide that effectively integrates a title, body text, and an image.
2. Evaluate the impact of font size and color choices on the readability of text on a slide.
3. Justify the selection of an image based on its relevance and support for the slide's text.
4. Demonstrate the ability to format text by changing font size, color, and alignment.

Project-Based Learning

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

Pairs Challenge: My Pet Slide

Pupils work in pairs to open presentation software and create one slide about a pet or animal. They add a bold title, three bullet points of facts, and insert a relevant image from the computer's library. Pairs then swap devices to suggest one formatting improvement for readability.

Prepare & details

Design a slide that effectively combines a title, text, and an image.

Facilitation Tip: During Pairs Challenge, circulate and prompt pairs to read their slides aloud from the back of the room to check readability at a distance.

Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology

Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making

Project-Based Learning

⏱ 25 min·Small Groups

Small Groups: Readability Relay

Divide class into small groups with shared devices. Each group formats the same slide text in three ways: small font light colour, large font dark colour, and mismatched styles. Groups test readability by reading aloud from 2 metres away, then vote on the clearest version and explain why.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the impact of different font sizes and colors on readability.

Facilitation Tip: For Small Groups, provide a checklist of formatting rules so students refer to it while they work.

Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology

Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making

Project-Based Learning

⏱ 35 min·Whole Class

Whole Class: Image Match-Up

Project a class topic slide with text but no image. Pupils suggest and justify image ideas verbally, then vote using mini whiteboards. Teacher inserts the winning image; class discusses how it supports the text before pupils recreate it individually on their devices.

Prepare & details

Justify the choice of an image to support the text on a slide.

Facilitation Tip: In Image Match-Up, freeze the slides on the board occasionally so pupils can vote on which image best matches the text shown.

Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology

Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making

Project-Based Learning

⏱ 20 min·Individual

Individual: Design Your Own

Pupils independently build a slide on a summer holiday theme, adding title, two sentences, and one image. They format for readability and self-evaluate using a checklist: 'Is my title big and bold? Does the image match my words?' Share one highlight with a partner.

Prepare & details

Design a slide that effectively combines a title, text, and an image.

Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology

Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making

Teaching This Topic

Start with direct demonstration of one key rule at a time, then let pupils practise immediately. Model thinking aloud: 'I chose size 36 for the title because it’s the first thing people see.' Avoid overwhelming them with too many options at once. Research shows young learners benefit from scaffolded, iterative practice with clear success criteria they can see and touch.

What to Expect

By the end of these activities, pupils will confidently balance visual hierarchy and readability. They will judge font sizes and colours based on function rather than preference and justify image choices by linking them to their words. Their slides will be clean, readable, and purposeful.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Pairs Challenge, watch for pupils who make all text very large on the slide.

What to Teach Instead

Ask partners to step back and read the slide aloud together. Prompt them to notice which parts are hard to read when far away, then adjust only the title to be larger while shrinking the body text.

Common Misconception

During Small Groups, watch for pupils who choose bright, colourful images without connecting them to the text.

What to Teach Instead

Require each group to explain their image choice aloud. If their reasoning is weak, ask, 'How does this picture help someone understand your words?' and prompt them to pick a new image if needed.

Common Misconception

During Image Match-Up, watch for pupils who select images based only on colour or 'fun' factors.

What to Teach Instead

Have pupils hold up their chosen image and read the text aloud. Classmates vote with thumbs up or down. Discuss why some images fit better than others, focusing on relevance over brightness.

Assessment Ideas

Peer Assessment

After Pairs Challenge, partners present their slides to each other. Each partner identifies one element that is easy to read and one that could be improved, explaining why. The presenter then makes one adjustment based on the feedback.

Exit Ticket

After Whole Class: Image Match-Up, give students a blank slide template. They must add a title, two sentences of body text, and one image. On the back, they write one sentence explaining why they chose a specific font size for their title and one sentence explaining why they chose their image.

Quick Check

During Readability Relay, teacher displays several slides with varying font sizes and colours on the board. Students hold up fingers to indicate if the text is 'easy to read' (1 finger) or 'hard to read' (2 fingers), and briefly explain their choice for one example.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Early finishers add a second slide with a question or fact related to their topic.
• For students who struggle, provide pre-selected fonts and colours in a palette they can drag and drop.
• Give extra time for a mini-project: design a three-slide presentation on a topic of their choice, applying all formatting rules learned.

Key Vocabulary

Slide	A single page in a presentation, which can contain text, images, and other elements.
Title	The main heading of a slide, usually larger and more prominent than other text.
Body Text	The main content or information on a slide, typically in smaller font than the title.
Font Size	The height of text characters, measured in points. Larger sizes are often used for titles to make them stand out.
Font Color	The color applied to text characters, which can affect readability and visual appeal.
Alignment	How text is positioned on the slide, such as left, right, center, or justified.