Today’s game is Pictaphone, the game that combines a couple of serious classics.
Growing up, you probably remember playing telephone, the game where one person whispers something into another person’s ear, who then repeats it to the next and so on. I usually started with something entirely reasonable and ended with something ridiculous.
The other half of Pictaphone is of course, Pictionary. The great game that involves drawing a picture and allowing team members to guess before the little glass of sand expires.
We’re going to show you how the two work together for a great game!
PREP TIME– 2-5 Minutes
ITEMS NEEDED– Paper, Pencil (Crayons or Markers will work as well), List of Phrases
GAME TIME– 10-30 Minutes
PARTICIPANTS– 5-10 Participants per Team
INSTRUCTIONS
This game can be played a couple of different ways. This is a great game for a small group or to play if you want to break a larger group up into small groups to play simultaneously.
Start by giving someone a phrase (sample phrases listed below) and have them whisper it to the next person. That person will then draw what they heard on a piece of paper without anyone seeing. When finished, they will allow the next person in the group to see it. After a few seconds, they must then whisper to the next person in line what they think it is (they can not show the next person in line the picture). The process goes on until it reaches the end, where the last person says what they heard or draws what they think they heard.
To illustrate, it will go as follows:
Participant #1: Read and whisper clue to Participant #2
Participant #2: Draw picture and show only to Participant #3
Participant #3: Guess phrase by looking at picture and whisper to Participant #4
Participant #4: Draw what they heard and show only Participant #5
Participant #5: Guess what is on the drawing and reveal to entire group (or repeat process if more players)
Once the team is done, they can rotate roles and go to the next phrase. Play for a few minutes or an hour!
This is a great game for a laugh, so record your funniest beginnings and endings to retell with the group!!
Sample Phrases:
1. Big Foot loves eating meatballs with in New York.
2. Rubber Duckies make bath time more fun.
3. The monster under my bed helps me with my homework.
4. I see magical zebras in my Lucky Charms cereal.
5. My school is being attacked by flying hippos.
6. Santa Clause steals my presents every Christmas.
7. I like holding hands with penguins and monkeys.
8. We go cow-tipping every Friday with Batman & Robin.
Let us know if you have some great phrases, we’d love to add them to the list!
Alternative Game Options
1. Play the game up front by selecting a group to play and sending them all out of the room. Bring the first person in and share with the entire room the phrase they are to whisper to the next participant. Bring them in, have them Participant 1 whisper to Participant 2, who will then draw on a large easel for everyone to see. Repeat the process by bringing in participants one at a time.
2. Assuming your group isn’t too large (50 or less), have everyone play and see what comes out at the very end. Chances are it will be something completely different than where you started!
BONUS TIPS
1. Set a time limit for those drawing and guessing. Thirty to sixty seconds is adequate.
2. This is a great game to play while on the road, just make sure the driver isn’t playing!
3. Save some of the pictures and post them on Facebook or Instagram with your results.
4. Create your own phrases that incorporate people in your group or places that are familiar to you.
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