A Splendid Scribble: Collaborative Drawing!
Find a drawing partner and transform each other’s simple scribbles into something else! This project promotes collaboration and creative thinking.
MATERIALS
- Paper (2 pieces)
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- At least 2 people (for instance, you and your child)
TRY IT!
- Hand a piece of paper to each person who will be drawing.
- Using a dark color, draw an abstract “scribble” on the paper for 30 seconds. For older children or adults, try drawing on the paper using one continuous line. You can even close your eyes to make it more interesting.
- Once finished, swap your drawing with your partner. Look at the drawing. What do the lines and the shape remind you of?
- Add to the drawing and transform it into something else. It could be a landscape, an animal, a person, a thing – whatever you imagine. Add color to your portion of the drawing.
- Continue the process, with each person adding to each drawing and taking turns until you both have decided each drawing is complete.
- When finished, look at your collaborative drawings. How have you transformed the initial scribbles together?
GUIDING QUESTIONS
- What do these lines make you think of?
- What colors did you choose to make your drawings with?
- What’s happening in this drawing? Tell a story about what happened!
- Where did your drawing begin? Where did it end?
LEARNING BEHIND THE PLAY
- Reinforces observation skills
- Supports creative and collaborative decision making
- Develops fine motor skills through drawing and coloring
TAKE IT FURTHER
Turn the activity into a game. Use timers to limit the amount of time each person has to add to the drawing. If you have a larger group – keep passing the drawings along until everyone has had a chance to contribute. How are the final products different from the initial scribbles?