lesson 3.3.4 the edit (part 1)
Learn how to assemble and trim your video clips like a pro NLE editor in this KS3 Microsoft Clipchamp masterclass!
Welcome to the cutting room! You have planned your story and gathered your assets, and now it is time to build your masterpiece. Today, you are stepping into the shoes of a Video Editor and Creative Technologist. We are going to fire up Microsoft Clipchamp, drag your files onto the timeline, and start chopping, trimming, and assembling your 60-second EcoSchools blockbuster!
Learning Outcomes
The Building Blocks (Factual Knowledge)
Recall the primary function of a timeline and media bin in non-linear editing software.
Describe the difference between trimming the edge of a clip and splitting a clip in half.
The Connections and Theories (Conceptual Knowledge)
Analyse how the sequence and length of individual clips affect the overall pacing of a video.
Evaluate the rough cut of a video sequence against the project's strict 60-second time constraint.
The Skills and Methods (Procedural Outcomes)
Apply the import function to bring your gathered EcoSchools assets into the media bin.
Apply clip manipulation skills to drag, drop, and sequentially arrange media on a timeline track.
Create a trimmed, cohesive video sequence that contains no empty gaps or dead space.
Digital Skill Focus: Use basic video editing techniques in Microsoft Clipchamp to import media, arrange clips sequentially on a timeline, and trim unwanted footage.
Welcome to Post-Production
You have planned the narrative and gathered your assets. Now, it is time for the magic of post-production. We are going to use a Non-Linear Editor (or NLE) called Microsoft Clipchamp.
An NLE is a type of software that lets you place video clips, audio, and images in any order without permanently changing your original files. It is totally flexible, allowing you to experiment and make mistakes safely!
The Project Bin
In Clipchamp, the area where all your raw files live is called My Media. In the film and television industry, this is often called the Project Bin. Before you can begin editing your timeline, you must Import your files from your hard drive into this bin.
Boil this entire section down to exactly three bullet points. What are the absolute, unmissable facts you need to take away today?
Task 1 Stocking the Bin!
Time to get your tools ready! You cannot build a house without bricks, and you cannot edit a video without media.
1
Get Organised!
Open Microsoft Clipchamp from your app menu or web browser.
If it's the first time you've used it, you might need to run through some setup tasks.
Click Create video project.
Depending on the version of M365 you use, you might have to cancel the AI generated video option.
Look at the menu on the far left. Click on My media.
Click the Import media button.
Find the folder where you saved your EcoSchools assets in Lesson 3.
Select all your images and audio files, then click Open.
Outcome: All your project files should now be visible as thumbnails inside the 'Your media' tab in Clipchamp.
Mastering the Timeline
The Timeline is the heart of any video editor. It represents time moving forwards from left to right.
Tracks and Clips
The timeline is made up of horizontal layers called Tracks. You place your individual pieces of media, known as Clips, onto these tracks. You can put video and images on the top tracks, and audio clips (like music or voiceovers) on the bottom tracks. If you stack two visual clips on top of each other on different tracks, the one on the top track will completely cover the one below it!
The Playhead
See that vertical white line moving across the timeline when you press play? That is the Playhead. The playhead tells the software exactly which frame of the video to show on your preview screen right now. If your playhead is hovering over empty space, your screen will just be black!
Sort it out! Pick 5 to 8 key words from the notes. Group them together based on how they connect and give each group a catchy title. Be ready to explain why you grouped them that way!
Task 2 The Assembly Line
It's time to build the skeleton of your EcoSchools video! Get your physical storyboard out and put it right next to your keyboard.
1
The First Draft
Drag your first image or video clip from the Your media bin down onto the top track of the Timeline.
Grab the next clip on your storyboard and drag it so it snaps directly next to the end of the first one.
Repeat this process until all your visual assets are lined up in order.
Drag your background audio track onto a new track underneath your pictures.
2
Check the Flow
Click the Play button or press the Spacebar to watch the playhead move across your clips.
Outcome: A 'Rough Cut' of your video with all assets in chronological order on the timeline, perfectly matching your storyboard sequence.
Trimming the Fat
Your rough cut is probably way too long. The EcoSchools brief states your video MUST be under 60 seconds! We need to edit the length of our clips to improve the pacing and meet our constraints.
The Trim Tool
Trimming means changing the exact start or end point of a clip. In Clipchamp, if you click a clip on the timeline, it gets a green border. You can click and drag the green handles on the left or right edges to stretch the clip out or squash it down to make it shorter.
The Split Tool
Sometimes you want to cut a piece right out of the middle of a clip. Move the playhead to exactly where you want the cut to be, and click the Scissor icon. This is the Split tool. It chops the clip into two completely separate pieces. You can then select the piece you don't want and press Delete or Backspace on your keyboard.
The Final Step
Once your video is perfect, you must Export it. This squashes all your tracks, clips, and audio down into one single video file that you can upload or share!
Become the Quiz Master! Write down three really tricky multiple-choice questions based on these notes. Make the wrong answers sound plausible to try and catch out your classmates.
Task 3 Chop Chop!
Your video is currently a 'rough cut'. Now we need to refine it. The client brief states the video MUST be strictly under 60 seconds.
1
Use the Scissor Tool
Need to chop a video clip in half? Move the playhead to the exact moment you want to cut.
Click the clip on the timeline so it is highlighted green.
Click the Split icon (the scissors) on the timeline menu.
Click the new piece you don't need and press Delete to remove it.
2
Trim the Edges
To make an image stay on screen for less time, click it so it glows green.
Hover over the right edge until your cursor turns into a double arrow.
Click and drag inwards to make it shorter.
CRITICAL: Make sure you drag your other clips to close any gaps you create, otherwise your video will flash black!
3
The Director's Dilemma
Need some advice on what to keep and what to throw away to make your video more exciting? Use this AI prompt to ask a professional editor!
Act as a professional video editor. Explain how to decide what to cut from a video when it is too long. Keep the response strictly under 75 words. The audience is a 12-year-old Key Stage 3 student. Use an encouraging, energetic tone. You must use exactly three bullet points. NO intro, NO outro, NO deviation from the topic, NO follow-up questions.
Want to learn more about how professionals manage this? Try this quick search: Video editing pacing tips
Outcome: A seamless video sequence that tells your story perfectly without any black gaps, and lasts 60 seconds or less.
Hungry for more?
Shortcut Master: Ditch the mouse! Speed up your editing workflow by researching and practicing the common keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Clipchamp, such as using S for the split tool.
Frame by Frame: Ever wondered why some videos look buttery smooth while others look choppy? Find out by researching video frame rates! What is video frame rate FPS?
The Colourist: Explore the 'Filters' tab in Clipchamp and apply a subtle colour change (like making the footage cooler or warmer) to change the mood of your EcoSchools video.
Last modified: May 21st, 2026
