Middle School

How can students understand the role of pixels in digital art?

Students will create a recognizable image made of colored paper squares.

• graph paper
• colored pencils or markers
• square sticky notes in a variety of colors or squares cut from colored construction paper
• photo-editing program (see Assessment)

Step 1
Ask students to explain what a pixel is and where they have seen images made of visible pixels. They might mention the game Minecraft. Show examples of pixelated images.

Step 2
Divide students into groups of two to three. Give each group at least five different-colored square pads of sticky notes and provide graph paper for each student.

Step 3
Have students mark off a rectangle on their graph paper measuring approximately 15 x 20 squares. Using only the colors available to their group, students color in the squares to create a simple image.

Step 4
Have each group select one studentʼs design to recreate using sticky notes.

Step 5
Have students work together to recreate the selected design on a table, whiteboard, or large sheet of paper, placing each square next to the others to form the image.

As a class, display the finished compositions and discuss the benefits and challenges of creating with pixels. Extend the lesson by demonstrating how changing pixel resolution affects an image in a photo-editing program.

Margaret Hespen is an art teacher at North Clackamas Christian School in Oregon City, Oregon.