Grid magic worksheets

Materials, resources and training

You don't need to use specialist applications in order to use ICT to investigate patterns and pattern making. Everyday office applications, including Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher, have simple images that can be placed, copied, coloured and grouped together. And you can import whatever images you like and crop, copy, reverse, flip and so forth with relative ease.

There are specialist drawing packages, such as Serif DrawPlus and Macromedia Fireworks (all of the examples on the "What is a pattern" page were made using Fireworks), that allow patterns to be assembled but take a bit of investment (to buy and to learn how to use!).

Specialist packages, especially Q4 Technologies GridMagic, are specifically designed for the purpose of creating patterns. Selected work sheets are included from the Grid magic web site. Use this specific link to Grid Magic for trial version information.

ICT facilities

As well as a suitable software package you will need to make sure that you have access to ICT. Most graphics software requires a PC of a high technical specification and, before embarking on a project with a group of students, you need to make sure that you can block book resources for the whole duration of your project.

Training needs

Any teachers involved will need to be conversant with a range of skills including importing, manipulating, resizing, grouping, rotating, mirroring and copying simple shapes and images in various software packages.