I don't want it to be a game. I need to basically make each square of a checkerboard. Using drawRect() or whatever it needs to be. I need to make a pattern like a checkerboard with alternating colors.

This is what I need to do "Create a new scenario. In it, create a world with a background that displays a pattern. Create an Actor subclass. Program the class so that it generates a new GreenfootImage of a fixed size, filled with a fixed color. Use this image as the actor’s image. Experiment with different color and alpha values." I figured I would make a checkerboard.

Why don’t you invest some time. Look around, you might be stunned by what you see at first glance. Mayb even a scenario that looks like a checkerboard with lots of colors. What do you see?

I was not sure how to explain it to you, you being new and all. What you originally said you needed to do would require some knowledge that an person with some experience would acquire. I now believe that you misunderstood what you needed to do for this assignment.. Create a new scenario. In it, (1) create a world with a background that displays a pattern. That would be your checkerboard, not as actors, just as the background of the world (2) create an Actor subclass; program the class so it generates a new GreenfootImage of a fixed size, filled with a fixed color. Use this image as the actor's image. Experiment with different color and alpha values. That would be your actor, a solid rectangle (or square). For (1) above, you could just set the image of the world with the checkerboard image (or any one of a number of images) supplied with Greenfoot. For (2), well, I believe that is the main challenge of this assignment. Just follow the instructions, step-by-step. You will find the methods needed in the Greenfoot class documentation and the Java library documentation (for Color). If you run into any specific problems, please do not hesitate to ask for help here. Be detailed and clear on what is happening, and what you want; and provide what code you may have (this could provide the helper a better understanding of what you are trying to do, and also may allow the helper to find and point out what may be amiss.