Year 1 - Computing

Date: 23rd Apr 2026 @ 7:24pm

This half term in Year One, we have been exploring digital painting and learning how technology can be used as a creative tool in art. The children have enjoyed discovering how drawing programmes on tablets can help them create pictures in exciting new ways, while still using many of the same skills they practise in traditional art lessons.

We began by learning how to use simple digital drawing tools to create self-portraits. The children experimented with different brushes, colours and line styles, and learned how to undo mistakes and try again. This helped to build confidence and encouraged them to explore and take creative risks, just as they would when drawing with pencils and crayons.

Next, we explored shape and colour by creating artwork inspired by Piet Mondrian. Using the drawing programmes, the children practised drawing straight lines and shapes before filling them with bold primary colours using the fill tool. This activity helped the children understand how digital tools can support the creative process by making some tasks quicker, while still requiring careful decision-making and imagination.

Finally, we explored pointillism by creating artwork both on paper and on tablets. The children used small dots to build up their pictures and then compared the two methods. We discussed which approach they preferred and why. Some children enjoyed the hands-on feel of paint and paper, while others liked how quickly they could work digitally and how easy it was to change colours and edit their designs.