Illustrator Robots
Mar 05, 2025
If you are new to illustrator, or introducing illustrator to your students for the first time, this is a great way to get them going using just simple shapes!
PROMPT:
Using only simple shapes (squares, rectangles, rounded rectangles, circles, ovals, stars, pentagons, diamonds, and triangles), draw a one of a kind robot on a piece of paper. Your robot can have overlapping shapes such as two circles to overlap a triangle and create a heart shape, but no organic shapes. You may (and are encouraged to) add color!
COLLECT & REDISTRIBUTE:
Collect the Robot Drawings and, either on the same day for block periods or a different day, redistribute the drawings "at random."
I say "at random" because I want my students to be successful - if I've noticed that they haven't quite gotten a good grasp on the platform, I'm not going to hand them an extremely well drawn, complex robot drawing. But I'm also going to challenge them to do more than the absolute simplest of designs. Do what you think is best for your students, but try to set them up for success!
Then, instruct them to recreate the drawing in illustrator to match the original drawing as close as they can! This may take 1-2 class periods depending on your student skill levels and is GREAT for a sub day or for an observation!
STANDARDS BASED GRADING
This is a GREAT exercise to use as a formative check in on their skill levels. I usually give them a time period to complete the activity and then submit - regardless of whether they are finished (they can always go back and keep working on it later for their own portfolio), because I need to see where they are within a time frame.
For this activity, I don't usually score them, but use it as an opportunity to provide feedback. This may be feedback for the entire class (if I notice they aren't grouping or are struggling with specific tools or techniques), or if a few students are struggling, to pull them aside for more instruction together in small group learning later on. It may also allow me to find student leaders, those who are really "getting it" to help lead those small group sessions too!
If I were to score this lesson on a skill, I would likely focus on tool selection and problem solving using CTE 21st C Standard 2.B.1 for Problem Solving.
WOULD YOU TRY THIS LESSON?
If you're new to my page - Welcome! I'm Amanda, The Digital Media Teacher. Since day 1 of my teaching career, I've been left to "figure it out" on my own - from building CTE frameworks and curriculum, to classroom management and so much more. Every year has thrown a new curveball challenge - whether it's a new course, a new building / classroom, or a tech hack - you name it, I've survived it.
But just because I did, doesn't mean you have to! I started this website and my TPT store to help other teachers gain back their time, enjoy their classes, and get back to teaching what they love - without the headache of having to "figure out" what's next.
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