ICT Unit 2B To select and use different techniques to communicate ideas through pictures
Linked to religious education unit 2C ‘Celebrations (generic)’

The following celebrations offer a context for applying and developing ICT capability through identifying some of the ways in which believers celebrate festivals.

Divali: this could serve as an introduction to the work to be undertaken in year 3. Ask the children to study a variety of rangoli patterns. Explain that although geometric designs are very popular, the motif of the lotus flower is also frequently used. Ask the children to draw the outline shape of the lotus leaf and to fill it in with various designs and colours. They can then experiment with using different colour effects and fill colours.

Chinese New Year: ask the children to draw the head of a Chinese dragon. Explain that the colour red is considered to bring good luck.

Hanukkah: tell the story of Hanukkah candles. Ask the children to draw the candles. Explain that it will be easier if they draw a rough semicircle using the brush tool for the frame first and then add the candles. They could use the spray tool for the flames of the candles. A black background would look very effective.

Holi: tell the children the story of Lord Krishna and Holi. Ask them to use the spray tool to spray the screen with red, representing the coloured waters thrown during Holi. They could then draw the head of Krishna on top of this. A black background would look very effective.

Encourage children to use a range of techniques learnt in previous sessions.

Learning Outcomes

• select the appropriate tools to create pictures that communicate ideas about religious festivals

ICT Unit 4B To use the skills and techniques they have learnt to organise and communicate ideas to elect suitable information and prepare it for processing, using ICT
Linked to religious education unit 3B ‘How and why do Hindus celebrate Divali?’

Show the children designs of colourful geometric rangoli patterns. Use both simple and detailed designs, and discuss how they make us feel. Explain the purpose of rangoli patterns and their use within the festival of Divali. Encourage the children to recognize reflective symmetry in the shapes. Point out that the patterns usually have two axes of symmetry. Tell the children they are going to make a rangoli pattern using different media.

Ask the children to apply the key skills and various techniques they have learnt in the unit to create rangoli patterns with two axes of symmetry. They could also incorporate scanned images of rangoli to make composite images. They should review work in progress and amend the designs, saving draft versions.

Print out some examples of draft and final patterns and compare them. Ask the children to talk about the changes they made to their work in progress. Compare all the patterns made using different media. Which effects were easier to produce with ICT? Which were harder to produce?

Learning Outcomes

• use a variety of media to make rangoli patterns with two axes of symmetry