Date: 10-17-09 Grade: 7
Teacher Name:  Subject: Art
1. Topic-
Incorporating Excel Spreadsheets into Art
 
2. Content-
Spreadsheet
Cell
Formatting Palette
Pixel
 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
1. To familiarize students with the Excel program and allow them to become more comfortable with it.
2. To give students a unique opportunity to create art through excel cells.
3. To share Excel Art with others through public display.
 
4. Objectives-
1. Students will follow directions to create an artistic piece using the Excel program.
2. Students will observe contemporary art and create their own contemporary piece.
 
5. Materials and Aids-
Computers with Excel Access
Printer w/ paper
Projector
 
6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

1.Students will view a powerpoint showing contemporary art of famous artists, including Andy Warhol.
2. Teacher/students will have a discussion about the elements of contemporary art.
3. Students will be introduced to the project.
 

B. Development-

1. Students will view an example of Excel Art (http://www.artofoffice.com/Excel/Excel-Art)
2. Teacher will demonstrate process for changing color in an individual cell, then multiple cells. Students will also try this.
3. Teacher will demonstrate how to insert a picture to work from. Students will also try this.
4. Teacher will show students how to alter cell size.
 

C. Practice-

1. Students will insert their own picture to Excel.
2. Students will select a color scheme containing 4 colors
3. Students will fill in pixels with colors from their color scheme and will create their own pixel art.

 

D. Checking for understanding-

1. Informal assessment of student progress and discussion with students individually to be sure they understand Excel terminology.
2. Assessment of students color scheme in relation to contemporary art/their image.
3.Assessment of overall ability to create a piece that maintains its appearance once in pixelated form.



Student Directions


Step 1: Select the entire spreadsheet, right click and set the Row Height as 10 pixels. Now right clicks any of the column headers and set the column width as 2 pixels.

Step 2: Set the zoom level of the spreadsheet to around 60%.

Step 3: Go to Page Layout -> Background and set the background image as the Google Logo. We’ll use it as a tracing image.

Step 4: Now click any of the cells that lies above the "G" symbol and set the fill color (paint bucket icon) same as the color of "G". Copy that cell and paste it all over G. You may change the fill color to lighter shades around the edges to slightly reduce the staircase like pixel effect.

Step 5: Follow the same with other symbols but remember to replace the fill colors accordingly. Once done, delete the background image.