Enhancing Understanding of Pixels in Digital Design
Pixels are very important to how our devices display images and videos on screens. Pixels are tiny squares and most screens have millions of them! Similar to the classic guessing game, Battleship, this 2-player game uses pixels - kind of like a computer would draw a letter on a screen.
Let’s get started!
How to Prepare:
- Collect the following items before you begin:
- Graph paper
- Pencil(s)
- An object (eg. a cereal box) placed vertically between the two players, as a barrier to keep each person’s work hidden from the other player
- Tape or something to stick your play sheets to each side of the barrier
- Example Grid (See Step 3)
- Another person to play the game with you!
*This is a two-player game similar to Battleship. Instead of ships, you’ll be guessing secret pixelated letters.
Let's Get Set Up!
Step 1: Using a sheet of graph paper, each player will draw a 10 x 10 grid.
Outside the bottom edge of the grid, using the letters A - J, write one letter under each square. Down one side of the grid, write numbers this time next to each square (1 - 10). This will be your “play area,” where you will place your secret letter for the other player to guess.
Step 2: Repeat Step 1 on a second sheet, with the same numbers and letters. This is where you will keep track of your guesses.
Step 3: Each player chooses any letter of the alphabet as their secret letter. Using the examples below, colour in the squares on your grid to create the shape of your letter.
*Make sure you cannot see each other’s letters! You will try and guess the other player’s letter as you play the game.
When your secret letters are coloured in, use the tape to stick the piece of paper onto the side of the box or barrier separating you and the other player.
Let's Play!
Step 4: Players take turns naming a square on the grid, trying to guess where the other player’s letter is.
- For example, you might say “D2” or “C5” to guess a square.
- The other player will say “ON” (a hit) if your guess is part of their letter, or “OFF” (a miss) if it’s not.
- Keep track of your hits and misses on a second sheet of grid paper. Colour in the squares of the “hits” and put an X through the squares that are misses.
Step 5: Continue taking turns guessing squares until you think you know what the other player’s letter is.
💡 Tip: Think carefully about your guesses. Try to picture the shape of different letters and where the pixels might be.
When you think you know, you can use your next turn to say your guess out loud. Using a guess counts as your full turn.
If you’re correct, you win the game!
🚨 Be careful! Each player only gets 3 chances to guess what the other player’s letter is. If you use all 3 without guessing correctly, you lose the game. So use your guesses carefully, making sure you have a good idea of what the letter might be.
If you guess wrong, your turn ends without being able to guess another spot. The game then continues until someone correctly guesses the letter (or until one player runs out of guesses).
Pixel Perfect Game Complete! Congratulations!
How it works:
What are Pixels?
- Everything you see on a screen is made up of tiny little coloured light squares called pixels.
- Most screens, like those on your computer, tablet, or phone, have millions of these tiny squares.
- Each pixel can show different colours, and together these colours form the pictures and videos we see.
🗣️ Talk About It:
- What did you think about the game?
- Why do you think pixels are important for making images and videos?
🤔 Think:
- How many pixels does each computer screen have? How do they all need to work together to make images and videos appear on our screens?
- What do you think happens to the pixels when an image looks “glitchy” on our screens?
This activity is inspired by:
Logics Academy