Talking about pixels or binary or arrays in class? Then try out this Christmas themed pixel drawing activity.
This resource is adaptable to however you want to run it and is suitable for KS2 upwards. You could choose to do it on paper, or using our online pixel drawing resource – https://computerscienced.co.uk/site/pixel-drawer/
The instructions are available via this Microsoft Word document (in the resources section below) or you can use the instructions on the task web page.
The first activity is of a Christmas tree and should look like this when complete:
I have not said what the drawing is of on the sheets or instructions – this way you can leave it as a surprise for students or use it as a competition (first student to tell me what it is wins a point etc).
N.B very important!– There are two versions of this task depending on what you want to use it to teach.
In the array method I have arranged the co-ordinates as if they were being accessed in a 2D array going from top to bottom and reading row then column. You could use this as a topic for discussion.
In the co-ordinates method I have arranged the co-ordinates as taught in a maths lesson or when teaching grid referencing going from bottom to top and reading column then row “along the corridor and up the stairs” analogy.
The array method might be useful for older students who are learning about programming whilst the co-ordinates method might be more useful for KS2 and KS3 students to reinforce co-ordinates done in maths.
Like a programming array, I’ve also started the grid from 0 – something that could also be a topic for discussion.
Resources
Web based Instructions Link (array method)
