Year 6 Graphic Design – teacher notes
Pupil Activity Code: A780 – What is it?
Progression of skills in this pack:
Add, adjust and fill shapes
Group shapes to improve accuracy and speed
Add and customise gradient effects
Adjust transparency/opacity for a purpose
Use a colour picker correctly (Keynote and PowerPoint only)
Accurately rotate shapes
National Curriculum Content
Select, use and combine a variety of software on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals.
2 hours
Prior Learning
Pupils should have completed the Year 3 Digital Art Activities before trying this but also be familiar with creating graphics in presentation software using the Year 4 Graphic Design Pack.
What do pupils and teachers need?
The pupil activity pack (see teacher view below and pupil code above) includes 3 activities with each one including a video tutorial for either PowerPoint, Keynote (iPad) or Google Slides, so pupils will need access to one of those pieces of software. Pupils can copy the icon above each activity title and paste it into PowerPoint/Keynote/Google Slides to help.
Teacher Input
The video below (also included pupil activity pack) can be used to introduce graphic design and the project. Discuss with pupils what type of jobs a graphic designer would do (design computer game graphics, design icons for apps, design graphics for websites/magazines/posters etc). Discuss how a computer makes the job easier (includes lots of tools all in one place, speeds up the process with copy/paste and allows greater accuracy than doing it by hand).
For each of the 3 projects, as with our other pupil packs, it is a good idea to watch the video tutorials for each activity together before pupils start and discuss the tools/skills. Finally, it is also a good idea for pupils to create their icons on 3 separate slides in one presentation instead of 3 presentations, making it easier to mark.
Assessment
Pupils should save their PowerPoint, Keynotes or Google Slides files with a suitable file name. The challenge at the end of the pupil pack asks pupils to design their own icon using each of the tools they have covered. This works well as an assessment of how pupils can apply their new skills.
What is Graphic Design?
Watch the video above to learn about graphic design and this project.
Pupil Activity Pack (Teacher view)
Pupil Activity 1. Calculator Icon
In this activity you will learn how to use shapes, fill and grouping to re-create a calculator app icon.
You can copy and paste the icon above into your software to help you by right clicking on the image (tap and hold on iPad) and then click copy or copy image. Next, right click (tap and hold) in Powerpoint, Pages or Google Slides and click/tap paste.
Use the videos for the software you are using below.
Video 1: PowerPoint
This video demonstrates how to copy and paste the original icon above into a slide and then create the icon shape and colour.
Tip: Use the undo keyboard shortcut if you make a mistake (Ctrl+Z).
Video 1: Keynote for iPad
This video demonstrates how to copy and paste the original icon above into a slide and then create the icon shape and colour.
Tip: Use the undo arrow if you make a mistake.
Video 1: Google Slides
This video demonstrates how to copy and paste the original icon above into a slide and then create the icon shape and colour.
Tip: Use the undo arrow if you make a mistake.
Video 2: PowerPoint
This video demonstrates how add the shapes and colours need for the calculator shape.
Tip: Use guide lines to centre your shape in the middle of your icon.
Video 2: Keynote for iPad
This video demonstrates how add the shapes and colours need for the calculator shape.
Tip: Use guide lines to centre your shape in the middle of your icon.
Video 2: Google Slides
This video demonstrates how add the shapes and colours need for the calculator shape.
Tip: Use guide lines to centre your shape in the middle of your icon.
Video 3: PowerPoint
This video demonstrates how to add button shapes using grouping and duplicating.
Tip: Hold down the Shift key when drawing the circle to draw an exact circle shape.
Video 3: Keynote for iPad
This video demonstrates how to add button shapes using grouping and duplicating.
Tip: If you have a physical keyboard, hold down the Shift key when drawing the circle to draw an exact circle shape.
Video 3: Google Slides
This video demonstrates how to add button shapes using grouping and duplicating.
Tip: Hold down the Shift key when drawing the circle to draw an exact circle shape.
Pupil Activity 2. Weather Icon
In this activity you will learn how to use shapes, gradient fill, transparency/opacity, colour picker (Keynote and PowerPoint only).
Start a new slide (Insert and then New Slide in PowerPoint and Google Slides or tap the + in bottom left corner in Keynote)
You can copy and paste the icon above into your software to help you by right clicking on the image (tap and hold on iPad) and then click copy or copy image. Next, right click (tap and hold) in Powerpoint, Pages or Google Slides and click/tap paste.
Use the videos for the software you are using below.
Video 1: PowerPoint
This video demonstrates how to add a gradient effect to the icon shape and use the colour picker to get the exact colour.
Video 1: Keynote (iPad)
This video demonstrates how to add a gradient effect to the icon shape and use the colour picker to get the exact colour.
Video 1: Google Slides
This video demonstrates how to add a gradient effect to the icon shape.
Video 2: PowerPoint
This video demonstrates how to use the transparency tool to show a sun shape through a cloud shape.
Video 2: Keynote (iPad)
This video demonstrates how to use the opacity tool to show a sun shape through a cloud shape.
Video 2: Google Slides
This video demonstrates how to use the transparency tool to show a sun shape through a cloud shape.
Pupil Activity 3. Photos App Icon
In this activity you will learn how to use shapes, gradient fill, transparency/opacity, arrangement, grouping, colour picker (Keynote and PowerPoint only) and rotation to re-create the Photos app icon.
Start a new slide (Insert and then New Slide in PowerPoint and Google Slides or tap the + in bottom left corner in Keynote)
You can copy and paste the icon above into your software to help you by right clicking on the image (tap and hold on iPad) and then click copy or copy image. Next, right click (tap and hold) in Powerpoint, Pages or Google Slides and click/tap paste.
Use the videos for the software you are using below.
Video 1: PowerPoint
This video demonstrates how to add shapes, then duplicate, group and rotate them.
Video 1: Keynote (iPad)
This video demonstrates how to add shapes, then duplicate, group and rotate them.
Video 1: Google Slides
This video demonstrates how to add shapes, then duplicate, group and rotate them.
Video 2: PowerPoint
Use your skills to add gradient and transparency to each shape. Plus adjust the order (arrangement).
Video 2: Keynote (iPad)
Use your skills to add gradient and transparency to each shape. Plus adjust the order (arrangement).
Video 2: Google Slides
Use your skills to add gradient and transparency to each shape. Plus adjust the order (arrangement).
Challenge
Once you have mastered the different skills above, could you design your own app icon for your school, sports team, product etc that includes the following:
– Shapes with gradient fill
– Transparency/opacity effects
– Rotated shapes
Primary Computing Resources
