Blackboard

How to play this game

This is a game where children can have lots of fun whilst drawing. They can use their imagination to create wonderful pictures, practice writing letters and numbers, or simply enjoy having a scribble.

This is an open-ended activity, which fosters creativity, exploration and imagination.

It has a large drawing area that can be switched between black and white.

The toolbar is on the right side of the screen:

	There are eight choices in the colour palette.
	Pencil thickness
	Eraser
	Clears the screen - explosion
	Background switch - white and black
	Exit

To draw, choose a pencil colour and thickness and move the pointer onto the background. Click and drag the pencil around to apply the pencil line.

To restart, click on the red X button on the toolbar.

To rub out part of the picture, choose the eraser and click and drag it over the pencil line.

If backgrounds are switched, pictures will be erased.

To exit, click on the small hand at the bottom of the toolbar.

Related Learning Outcomes

Outcome 4: Children are involved and confident learners

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

Developmental skills

Creativity

Colours

Imagination

Eraser use

Toolbar use

Hand-eye coordination

Mouse controls - single click and click and drag

Teaching tips

Here are some ideas children may like to try:
• Have a scribble. Abstract and random drawing is fun and educational. Children can freely experiment and extend their skills without feeling pressured to draw something that is recognisable or stay within the lines. Ask them to change colours frequently whilst they are scribbling and see the screen come to life. Ask them to tell you about their picture.
• Scribbling is a great way to practise click and drag mouse skills. Children do not have to worry about where the pencil is going but can concentrate on the sometimes difficult task of holding down the mouse button and moving the mouse at the same time. This is a great activity for children starting to learn this type of mouse control.
• Once children have become more confident and adept with their drawing skills they will start creating more recognisable pictures. The easy-to-use toolbar will enable them to practise drawing shapes and objects around them. What about a self-portrait?
• As children begin to learn about numbers and letters they will want to practice drawing them. Teachers can help them by firstly drawing a letter or number in a corner of the screen and let children copy it on the rest of the screen. Encourage them to say the name of the letter/number out loud as they draw it.
• Have fun writing their names in a rainbow of colours.

Teachers can use this activity in group sessions as they would any white or black board - you're bound to find many uses for this activity.