Using the paintbrush tool to create digital pictures
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can change the style of my digital tools to work in different ways in a painting program.
Key learning points
- The paintbrush tool can change size to alter the thickness of the stroke.
- Tapping on a touch screen makes dots and holding your finger down makes lines.
- Clicking the mouse makes dots and dragging the mouse makes lines.
Keywords
Paintbrush size - how big the paintbrush is
Click/tap - a short press on a mouse button or on a touchscreen
Drag - when you hold down the mouse button and move the mouse or keep your finger on the touchscreen while moving it
Common misconception
Dots of colour only appear when you click and drag.
A single click with the paintbrush tool will make a dot of colour.
Teacher tip
Points of colour are how computer displays create the images we view. This can be seen by using a microscope to view a phone screen close up. Encourage pupils to understand the similarities in this process to the creating paintings using points.
Equipment
Pupils will need access to a device with software that provides freehand digital painting tools. Examples in this lesson use paintz.app https://oak.link/paintz
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.In a painting program, I want to make my circle completely coloured in. Which tool should I use?
Q2.I accidentally drew a line in the wrong place. Which tool should I use to get rid of it?
Q3.What does this tool do?
Q4.I want to make a square border for my painting. What tool should I use?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.You can change how the paintbrush tool looks by changing the ...
Q2.What will changing the brush size do?
Q3.Match the way you use the mouse with the marks it will make in the painting program.
make a dot
make a line
Q4.True or false? On a tablet, you can drag your finger on the screen to make lines of colour.
To help you plan your 1 computing lesson on: Using the paintbrush tool to create digital pictures, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 1 computing lesson on: Using the paintbrush tool to create digital pictures, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 computing lessons from the Digital painting unit, dive into the full primary computing curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.