INSPIRED BY CRAYBOT – Colour, Contrast, Shape

Students will be able to:

• use a motorized robot to draw a variety of lines;
• use their imagination to find images in the line design;
• use blended and contrasting colours to create movement;
• create a narrative inspired by their drawing;
• demonstrate technical accomplishment; 
• support their ideas with evidence found in the works.

Have students:

• photograph their images and work together to make a digital class book that includes each image with a story that connects them all together;
• use the drawings as a backdrop for a stop motion animation they create.

1. Prior to this lesson have students create a Craybot using the lesson plan available on this website.
2. Prior to this lesson you may want to have students do the crayon techniques lesson available at Exploring Crayons on this website.
3. Download and display the Colour, Shape, Movement and Contrast posters available on this website at,
4. Review or introduce the elements of colour and shape, and the principles of contrast and movement.
5. Gather and make available a variety of narrative books, for example, Peace Dancer, by Roy Henry Vickers; Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest, by Gerald McDermott; Fairy Tales, by E. E. Cummings; Illustrated Stories From The Greek Myths, by Usborne; Illustrated Stories From Dickens, by Mary Sebag-montefiore; Illustrated Arabian Nights, by Anna Milbourne; and Illustrated Stories From Around The World, by Lesley Sims.
6. Introduce or review the qualities of a good narrative, for example,
   - well organized
   - an entertaining beginning
   - interesting characters
   - details that help bring the story to life in the mind's eye
   - a suspenseful middle 
   - a compelling main event
   - a satisfying ending 
7. Create a line drawing using the craybot for demonstration purposes.

1. Discuss the idea of imagining with students,
   - What does it mean to them?
   - How do they do it?
   - Where do the ideas or images come from?
   - What is the best thing about imagining?
2. Display the craybot line drawing so everyone can see it.
3. Ask students to view the drawing for a few minutes until they see objects emerge from the lines and shapes.
4. Turn the paper in all directions and have students outline shapes of the objects they see.
5. Introduce the challenge.

1. Place students into small groups. 
2. Ask them to: 
   - Share their work and discuss the things that are especially effective and why.
   - Talk about what they found satisfying about doing this project.
   - Talk about what they found challenging about doing this project and how they solved their problems.
   - Talk about how they might use what they learned in a different way.
3. Share ideas with the whole class. 
4. Ask students to tell how they felt about doing this project.

1. Observe students as they work  – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting
2. Observe students as they discuss the drawings – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
3. Use a checklist to track progress. (Downloads – InspiredByCraybot_tracking.pdf)
4. Have students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Downloads – InspiredByCraybot_self-assessment.pdf)