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It’s Taking Shape

In June 2017 I wanted to make a way for educators in my Classy Graphics workshop to practice using the tools in Google Drawings. I made some simple pictures for them to reproduce. The pictures became a little more challenging each week, while introducing different drawing tools and skills. I came up with the name Shapegrams. “Shape” because the pictures were made from shapes. “Gram” from the Greek root meaning something written or drawn. The teachers in the workshop enjoyed Shapegrams and learned a lot in the process of recreating them.

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When I returned to classroom teaching for the 2018-2019 school year,  I wanted my fifth graders to become proficient at digital drawing. Each student had a Chromebook, so I posted a new Shapegram every Wednesday as morning work in our Google Classroom. All my students were engaged, freeing me up to work with small groups.

After 35 weeks of Shapegrams, my fifth graders were beyond proficient. They were creating amazing things! They did more than expertly reproduce my pictures–they made their own from scratch. Students used their Shapegrams skills to construct diagrams, book covers, posters, slides, handouts, and animated GIFs. They went into sixth grade with a Google Drive full of original digital creations, and an impressive skill set.
Sample Shapegram Pictures

I want more students (and teachers) to have the Shapegrams experience. I’m redoing the Shapegrams I used in 2018-2019 to include more instruction. I want teachers feel confident that they can give their students (third grade and up) a Shapegram without having to do much of the teaching themselves (unless they want to). Shapegrams work great as bell work or for a station rotation.

Launching Shapegrams.com has been a big job. I’ve had to learn a lot about WordPress, Elementor, and MemberPress. If you come upon a glitch, a typo, or something else I should know, please email me at tony@shapegrams.com. I welcome feedback.

And can you do me a favor? Please tell your colleagues about how Shapegrams can transform their students into digital designers.

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