youthspeakoutint.orgCan You Describe It?
How would you describe an object if someone else had to draw it? They’ve never seen the object before. They can only draw it based only on what you tell them. This activity is a great way to discover new ways of communicating. If your description is unclear, the other person may misunderstand and interpret it differently. They may not envision what you’re thinking or seeing. As your description becomes more detailed, their drawing comes closer to the real thing.
Begin by choosing the appropriate grade level for the child or children in your family:
What You Will Need
- Pen or Pencil
- Paper
- Two or more family members
- Various objects
Activity
- Parents or guardians, sit back-to-back with your child, and choose who will describe an object and who will draw it.
- If you are describing the object, you can select an object in your home, or you can think of one from memory. You can also think of a scene or group of objects that go together. Try to think of something that your child will not be able to guess quickly (without a clear drawing). For example, if you choose a ball in the playroom, your child may be able to guess that you’re describing the ball and draw the ball without any more information from you. Instead, trying choosing something more unusual, like a specific toy, your backyard, the cover of a book, or a specific type of flower or insect.
- Describe the object as clearly as you can. There is no time limit. Once your child feels they’ve completed the drawing, you can stop.
- Share your drawing with Unplug to Connect! Record a video showing your drawing, and tell us how you (or the other player) described the object. Post your video using the link below or post on social media with the hashtag #unpluggedgames.
Talk About It
Here are some things your family can talk about as you play this game:
- Did you guess the object before you were done drawing it?
- What did you end up drawing? Was it close to what your parent or guardian was describing?
- What was easy about the activity? What was the hardest?
What You Will Need
- Pen or Pencil
- Paper
- Two or more family members
- Various objects
Activity
- Sit back-to-back with another family member, and choose who will describe an object and who will draw it.
- If you are describing the object, you can select an object in your home, or you can think of one from memory. Try to think of something that your partner will not be able to guess (without a clear drawing). For example, if you choose a ball in your playroom, the other player may be able to guess that you’re describing the ball and draw the ball without any more information from you. Instead, trying choosing something more unusual, like a toy at your friend’s house, your school playground, the cover of a book, or a specific type of flower or insect.
- Describe the object as clearly as you can. There is no time limit. Once the person drawing feels they’ve completed the drawing, you can stop. Try to avoid using any words that explain what it is. For example, if you’re describing a swing set, don’t say, “There’s a swing hanging from the top bar.”
- Share your drawing with Unplug to Connect. Record a video showing your drawing, and tell us how you (or the other player) described the object. Post your video using the link below or post on social media with the hashtag #unpluggedgames.
Talk About It
Here are some things your family can talk about as you play this game:
- What can you learn about communication from this activity? Next time you’re describing an experience to a friend, how might this activity help you communicate more clearly?
- If you could ask questions while drawing (as someone else describes an object), what kinds of questions to you think would be most helpful?
What You Will Need
- Pen or Pencil
- Paper
- Two or more family members
- Various objects
Activity
- Sit back-to-back with another family member, and choose who will describe an object and who will draw it.
- If you are describing the object, you can select an object in your home, or you can think of one from memory. Try to think of something that your partner will not be able to guess (without a clear drawing). For example, if you choose a ball in your playroom, the other player may be able to guess that you’re describing the ball and draw the ball without any more information from you. Instead, trying choosing something more unusual, like a scene from a video game, the cover of a book, an animal, or a famous building (e.g., the Eiffel Tower).
- Describe the object as clearly as you can. There is no time limit. Once the person drawing feels they’ve completed the drawing, you can stop. Avoid using any words that explain what it is. For example, if you’re describing a swing set, don’t say, “There’s a swing hanging from the top bar.”
- Share your drawing with Unplug to Connect. Record a video showing your drawing, and tell us how you (or the other player) described the object. Post your video using the link below or post on social media with the hashtag #unpluggedgames.
Talk About It
Here are some things your family can talk about as you play this game:
- How has this activity influenced the way you think of communication?
- What do you think are the biggest obstacles to communicating when one person is sharing an experience (describing an event or situation) while the other person is listening?
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