Four Elms Primary School have been using 'Art Pad' graphics tablets for almost two years. Each classroom has stand alone computers with a graphics tablet permanently attached. They have discovered exciting ways of combining several of the QCA Art,Design and Technology and ICT units.

Years 1/2 Unit 2D Design and Technology - Joseph’s coat
Through this unit children will learn to use a graphics program to design a model of a simple coat linked to the story of Joseph’s coat of many colours. They learn to use simple paper patterns to make a coat and simple joining techniques for fabrics. They learn to communicate their ideas through talking, freehand drawing and using a graphics program

The CD which accompanies the 'Teaching with Art Pad' book contains a set of templates linked to suggested activities. A Year 1/2 class loaded the Joseph's coat template into RM Colour Magic and were shown how to select the 4-way symmetry tool. With a medium size brush they drew a design in one corner. This is repeated by the symmetry tool. The symmetry tool was switched off and any incomplete lines joined. The flood fill tool was selected to fill the outlined areas with colour. The design was printed on A4 paper in landscape format. The shape was cut out and tabs glued together to form a complete coat.

ICT Unit 4B Developing images using repeating patterns linked with Art unit 2B Mother nature - Designer

In order to become familiar with using Art Pad a mixed Year 3/4 class drew freehand snails and then created repeating patterns using RM Colour Magic symmetry tools.

Years 3/4 Design Technology Unit 6B Slippers
ABOUT THE UNIT
In this unit, children learn how products eg slippers are designed for different purposes and people. They learn that designers must address a range of needs when designing slippers eg appearance, safety, warmth and size. Children learn about making accurate patterns/templates and detailed working drawings. They develop making and finishing skills to enhance the quality of their slippers. They learn to evaluate their products critically against design criteria and identify what to do to improve them.

The children began by bringing their own slippers to school and discussing their design. The teacher brought a slipper which was taken apart to investigate how it was made.Some of the slippers owned by the children had a novelty design and after further discussion Art Pad and Colour Magic was used to create a novelty design for a slipper. The template of a slipper on the Art pad CD was used.

Slipper template and examples of completed work

The template was later used as a basis for textile work on slippers.

Year 5/6 Art unit 6A People in Action
ABOUT THE UNIT
In this unit children explore how to convey movement in their work. They explore dynamic activities such as sport, dance, drama and music as a starting point for making work in two dimensions. They look at how the idea of movement is shown in different kinds of art, such as photography, illustrations, cartoons, paintings, prints, and experiment with different methods and techniques to show movement.

The children used a digital camera to take pictures of each other performing actions.They rehearsed an action such as kicking, flying, skipping and then took a posed still shot. They loaded the image into the Art Dabbler painting program and then used the Art Pad to create an imaginary background. So the picture of the pupil kicking was given a background of a goal and football crowd scene.