Lesson: ICT 2B Creating pictures
Linked to Art and Design – Unit 2B ‘Mother Nature designer’
Linked to Science - Growing Plants
Learning Objective : to select and use different techniques to communicate ideas through pictures.
Teaching activity:
- collect seeds of different shapes and sizes,
- look at them under the microscope.
- take photos with the microscope.
- use the paint and special effects options on the microscope to create interesting pictures.
- give pictures a title, discuss what they see as they create the picture
Science Lesson
The children investigated seeds in Science as part of the unit on living things. They discussed what seeds need to germinate and planted runner beans and cress. They recorded what happens to seeds under different conditions. They compared a variety of seeds and looked at their shapes and drew pictures of three different seeds in their Science books.
Resources
 A set of 8 Science lesson plans
Art Lesson
The next stage was to link the work in Science to the ICT unit 2B Creating pictures. In this unit children learn to use ICT to select and use different techniques to communicate ideas through pictures. This work also links to the Art and Design Unit 2B ‘Mother Nature Designer’
The learning objective was to select and use different techniques to communicate ideas through pictures.
Resources
Lesson plan
The class had some previous experience of using the microscope when they had been able to capture a snow flake and put it under the microscope. They had used the snapshot facility to record what they saw. Then they were taught how to use the graphics facilities, working on their pictures of the snowflakes. The result of this work was a colourful display.
Next the children were ask to choose some seeds to put under the miscroscope. Each child selected a different type of seed and worked on these using the painting and special effects tools in the microscope software to create pictures.
This work is similar to an example shown on the NCAction site entitled Fantasy Worlds. Here it is suggested that using ICT helps pupils learn in art and design by enabling them to develop their creativity and imagination through more sustained activities within the programmes of study.
ICT makes it possible to include all pupils in visual research and gives them greater autonomy over the creative process.
It provides more tools to help pupils learn about visual concepts and visual communication.
Examples of children's work and the discussion recorded by the teacher
A runner bean seed has become the universe
This pupil selected a runner bean seed. He focused the microscope with no problem and took his snapshot. He said he was going to turn his seed into a spotty dog and began using the paintbrush to add coloured spots. He then used the fill icon with blue paint on a lighter part of the seed. “ I’ve created the sea” he exclaimed! This became the sea around the North Pole. Next he used the paintbrush with red to follow the lines of the seed. That’s India! “I’m creating a globe” He added England in green but decided it was too close to India and used the undo option to correct his mistake. He was delighted with his work.
“Whoever invented this microscope must be famous – he can turn a bean into a universe!”
Fish "This fish has scales shaped like hexagons"
The fish was created by a visually impaired child. He enjoyed using the microscope because he was able to see small objects that had not been possible before.
He used a runner bean seed and used the F/X function to create hexagons. He made the link with recent work in Numeracy and proudly named the six sided shape. He distorted the shape to become fish scales.
Mrs Bean
This picture was created by an above average pupil, who can often get by without having to think too hard. She needed to be reminded to focus the microscope before taking the picture. She didn’t have an idea of what she wanted to do. She used thick brush strokes and had to start again. We discussed the shape of the bean and what it looked like. She decided to turn it into a face and Mrs Bean was created. She found the process difficult because it made her think and there were no right and wrong answers!
Glowing
This picture was created by a child who has special needs in Literacy and Numeracy. He is not normally artistic and has difficulty in vocalising what he wants to do. He used a runner bean seed and had little conversation whilst working on the picture. However, he found the activity very satisfying. When he finished he was at a loss as to what to call his picture. Another pupil suggested a germ but this was not accepted and he finally settled for glowing!
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Can you see the pink rabbit and pink snake in the blue jungle created from a runner bean seed? |
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One child choose several cress seeds and painted each one carefully to turn some of them into smarties. He was careful to keep inside the edges of the seeds
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