Picture This

Picture This

Supplies: Paper and Pencils (with working erasers is a plus), Paper cutter, Stapler.

Ages:  From old enough to read and write to ancient.

Number of Players: 6-16.  You can play with more or less, but the more players, the longer the game.  8-12 are ideal.  You can break into smaller groups if you've got a large crowd.

Prep: Cut typing paper into 4th s or something comparable.  Cut plenty.  Your are making booklets for each player.  If 10 are playing you need to cut 25 sheets of typing paper into 4th s, or 100 paper squares total.  Small note pads would work.

Everyone sits around a table.  Have each player count enough papers to equal the number of people playing.  For example: 10 players = 10 sheets of paper.  Each person stacks their papers neatly, staples their booklet in the top left corner and writes their name on the top right corner.

Playing the game: As fun as putting the booklets together was, the real fun is about to start.  Everyone thinks up a phrase, saying, quote, or jingle.  It needs to be one short sentence.  This can be the hard part. Just think of the lyrics to a song or something, nursery rhymes are always good.  

Everyone then writes the phrase on the front page.

Players pass their booklet to the player to the right. 

Players read the phrase that was passed to them, flip that page over to the back of the booklet so no one can see it, and draw a picture of that phrase.  It might help to set a time limit on the picture drawing, but when everyone is ready, pass booklets to the right.

Players look at the picture on the newly passed booklet, flip the page and write a phrase that you think would match that picture.  Pass the booklet to the right.

Repeat the process until the booklets have made it back to the starting spot. 

Players then share their booklet with the rest of the players.  Pick someone to start.  They read the phrase, then show the picture that was drawn to illustrate it.  When they have finished sharing their booklet another player will share, until all players have a turn.  You will find that the original phrase will take twists and turns and misinterpretations. It is a visual version of the "Telephone" game, but appeals to all ages and is bound to have laughs galore.