Google Sheets: Pixel Art Trick

Students love using pixel art. It is basically paint by number. There are lots of ways for students to use pixel art for academic reasons. Check out this brownie division activity adapted from a Jo Boaler Mathematical Mindsets activity. To represent their understanding of division multiple ways students use the pixel art to cut up “brownie pans” in the spreadsheet.

Shift Key

In a cell type a number into the pixel art template (alicekeeler.com/pixelart). Single click back on that same cell and hold down on the Shift key. While holding down the Shift key, click on another cell. This will automatically select the range of cells in between the two cells.

Control Enter

With the range selected hold down the Control key and press Enter. This will copy the value or formula in the upper left-hand corner to the entire range. In the case of pixel art it will place the number typed into all of the cells in the range, thus quickly painting an entire section of the spreadsheet.