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Computer Capers

Fun K-8 home/school activities that reinforce Indiana Academic Standards using computers to encourage students to draw, research, calculate and express! Though we have discontinued the monthly Computer Capers publication, sign-up for our email list to receive notification of upcoming grants and workshops.

Create Your Own Paint by Equation Techno-Artwork

Get creative this winter and use a little problem solving with this math and drawing activity. Think about how a paint by number works. You first have a drawing with numbers in the open spaces and then a key that shows you what color to place in each space. You will need to create the same thing, yet it can all be done on the computer- without the use of "real" paint and brush. Another twist is that instead of just a number in the open space, you could place a mathematic equation so that the user needs to do a little problem solving in order to find out the correct color! Begin in a paint program and use the pencil and shape tools to create a line drawing of a winter scene. Be sure to make all of your spaces enclosed so that when you "fill" the area with a color in the drawing program, it doesn't't bleed into the other spaces. Next draw a box that will display your key. The key will choose the color that coordinates with the right answer. For example, if the equation in the space of the drawing is 2x5, the key shows that green=10 then that space will be filled with green when the user completes the painting. Finally, you will need to place mathematical equations into the spaces that match your key. If you want a space to be green, you will need to come up with an equation that equals 10. Get creative and tricky with your problems! Now your artwork is ready for a user to complete! When they first begin in your painting, have them "Save As" and type in their name so that your original painting stays without fill color and can be used over and over again. Give them some simple instructions and have them get to work, first doing their math problems and then using the paint can to fill it in. You may want to challenge them when they are finished to create a "Paint by Equation" painting for you!

Adapted from Instructor Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004

Indiana Academic Standards

Grade Level 3-5

Mathematics - Computation

Mathematics - Problem Solving