Plan well in advance to collect materials you will require for the yearbook. Speak to teachers who handle elementary school classes and get them to take photographs of major events throughout the year. Instruct them to also have a few pictures of everyday events such as a group activity, or a painting workshop. As and when a roll of film is completed, have it developed and store the pictures carefully after labeling them with the name and date of the event.
Decide on a theme for your elementary school yearbook. Invite suggestions from teachers and students and decide upon a theme that is relevant to the year. For example, if your school is celebrating a special event or an important anniversary, make that the theme of your yearbook.
Hold a competition on this theme for elementary school students. Choose the best ones to go on the front and back covers of the yearbook. Select photographs that are relevant to the theme. Prepare witty captions to place alongside the pictures.
Determine if your yearbook will contain articles, polls, comments or quotes from students. Set a schedule for students to provide their input on the theme you specify. Screen the material you receive and select that which gels well with the concept you have for the yearbook. If you are conducting an opinion poll, make sure the entire elementary school population is represented by choosing different students to answer different questions.
Decide the layout of the yearbook in terms of placing articles, photographs, quotes, principal's message, staff photographs and group photographs of each class. Scan all material you are planning to use and use desk top publishing software to arrive at your final layout.
Contact a printer to publish the yearbook. Although this is the last step in creating your yearbook, you should finalize the printer well in advance, before you start designing the layout. Speak to a few printers in your area and compare printing options, quality and prices to decide which printer to use.