Year 2 Digital Art Pupil Activity Pack (Teacher notes)
Pupil Activity Code: DAX4 – What is it?
Progression of skills in this pack
1. Use lines and fill tools to make interesting patterns and mimic an artist’s style (Mondrian).
2. Add a variety of shapes (outlines and fill) and label them with text.
3. Re-create graphics using pixels with different colours.
National Curriculum Content
Use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content.
3-4 hours
What will teachers/pupils need?
Access to the free PixilArt website, which works on all devices but is also a free mobile app. Important: The PixilArt website includes a tutorials section (in the menu) – we would recommend not allowing pupils on there because it includes tutorials uploaded by users and can not always be appropriate. We would strongly suggest pupils follow the tutorials in the activities below only. PixilArt editor also includes pop-up adverts at the bottom of the screen every once in a while. The adverts are not inappropriate but should be automatically blocked b your school’s firewall. Pupils can select the x to close the adverts.
There is also the free Paintz website for project 3.
Teacher Input/Key Questions
Is it better to do art on a computer? (Easier to rub out, possibly more accurate for shapes/lines, less equipment needed)
You may want to watch each video as a class before the pupils try the activity.
Differentiation
Less able pupils may need to look back at the pixel copying tasks of the Year 1 Digital Art Activity Pack, especially for project 4. For more able, within each activity below, pupils are challenged to improve their art.
Assessment
Pupils can save their project either a JPEG file, PNG or BitMap and there is a screenshot at the end of the first project below demonstrating this. If pupils want to continue their art work the next lesson then they will need to save as .PIXIL files (File and Save as .PIXIL) then open that file the next lesson (File and Open .PIXIL).
Pupil Activity Pack (teacher view)
Introduction to digital art
Watch this video to help you understand why we create art on a computer (digital art) and what digital tools we will be using in this activity pack.
In project 1 below, you will be creating Mondrian -style artwork.
Project 1 – Mondrian Artwork
Use the lines, fill and colour tools of Paint to build Mondrian inspired artwork.
1. Starting your project
Watch the video tutorial below to learn how to set up your page.
2. Create a rectangle shape.
Choose the rectangle shape and then a dark colour.
From the top left-hand corner, click and drag to create a rectangle.
3. Add lines and fill
Click and drag the corner of the digital paper to resize it.
Use the + and – in the bottom right corner to zoom in/out.
Saving in PixilArt
To save your project as an image, click on the FILE in the top left corner and then choose DOWNLOAD AS. PNG, GIF. On the next screen choose DOWNLOAD to save the image to your computer.
Extension challenge
Can you also add diagonal lines into your artwork and fill the triangles different colours?
Add shapes and then label them using the text tools.
Watch the video below and then add a range of 2D shapes. You can use outlines or fill effects.
Label the shapes correctly using the text tool. Watch the video below to help you.
Project 3. Using shapes
Use the Paintz website to create a teddy bear using circles and other shapes. Watch the video to help you.
Plate of Food
Can you use shapes and fill tools to create a plate of healthy food? Start by using the circle shape to draw a plate and then add the other shapes to include from different food groups.
Can you then use the text tool to label the different foods and say which food groups they are (Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Fibre). Use this website to help you.
Project 4. Pixel Art
Can you use the PixilArt website to recreate either or both of the Micky and Mini Mouse graphics below? Watch the video tutorial to help you and once you can have finished could you try and create other cartoon characters using pixels?
(Less able pupils could try the similar introductory activities from the Year 1 Digital Art Activity Pack).
