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Masterpiece |
This is a wonderful game for those of us with a creative streak. It allows children to explore their artistic side by choosing colours to decorate some fantastic designs. They are all abstract, using tessellation to emphasise the colours and shapes used. The shapes and designs gradually become more difficult and will extend children's imagination and concentration.
There are seventeen designs that can be chosen by clicking on the white arrows at the bottom of the screen. When a new design is selected the old one will not be lost. This means that designs can be returned to at any time during that session. They can be admired in the design screen or the Gallery, or returned to and edited.
On the Design screen:
| Colour palette | |
| Restart the design | |
| Undo |
| Go to the Gallery |
| Exit |
In the Gallery:
| Return to the Design screen |
The pointer will appear as a brush over the shape design and a pointing finger when over the other icons. The tip of the brush is the active part of the pointer.
Click on a colour on the palette to select one and then click on a white space to apply it.
Spaces can be returned to white by repeating the click. Previously coloured spaces can also be recoloured.
A red line will surround the active colour on the palette.
Clicking the undo icon will remove the last colour applied.
To remove all the colours at once, click on the restart icon.
When children have finished colouring a design, they can see it displayed in the Gallery as a masterpiece. Click on the Gallery icon on the toolbar and hear the appreciative applause.
To exit, click on the exit icon on the lower right corner.
Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity
Outcome 4: Children are involved and confident learners
Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators
Colours
Shapes - basic and more complex
Tessellation
Creativity
Editing a picture
Mouse control - single click
Printing
Circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, diamonds, pentagons, hexagons, octagons and dodecagons are all shapes used in this game. They have been tessellated to make some beautiful designs.
Tessellation can be defined as using shapes in a repeated pattern to form a design. Some are made up of one shape that fits perfectly together. Others will not, and the gaps in between will create other shapes.
Talk to children about the shapes and how they have been used. Some are simply one shape used over and over again. Others use the same shape but in a different rotation. In this game each design uses one, two or three different shapes. Initially they are simple tessellations, but become more complex deeper into the game.
Have a look at children's completed masterpieces. Praise their efforts and talk about their choices. Some children will colour randomly, using favourite colours anywhere the fancy takes them. Others will notice patterns and three-dimensional shapes in the design and meticulously colour and edit their creations.
Remember that masterpieces are kept until the restart button is clicked or the game is exited. If children tire of one design they can move onto another and come back to the first one later. They can create a whole portfolio of artwork to display in one showing.
What fabulous JuniorWiz Artists!