What is Collaborative Drawing?
Collaborative Drawing is a fun and engaging icebreaker activity that's perfect for breaking the ice and getting to know your colleagues or classmates. The goal of the game is to create a drawing as a team without communicating verbally. Each player adds something to the drawing, and the final result is a collaborative masterpiece.
To play Collaborative Drawing, divide into teams of two or three. Give each group a piece of paper and some drawing materials, such as markers or pencils. Decide on a theme or prompt for the drawing, such as "nature" or "a day at the beach." At the same time, each team member should start drawing something related to the theme. After a minute or two, each person should pass their paper to the next person on their team. Repeat this process until the drawing is complete.
The goal of Collaborative Drawing is to encourage teamwork, communication, and creativity. It's a great way to get people working together and to break down barriers between team members. It's also an excellent way to get people engaged and interested in the activity.
Collaborative Drawing is best played in small groups of two or three people. It's not recommended for large groups, as it may be difficult for everyone to participate. Additionally, it may not be suitable for people who are not comfortable drawing or who have disabilities that may make it difficult for them to participate.
To make Collaborative Drawing more fun, try adding a competitive element. Set a time limit and see which team can create the best drawing in the allotted time. You can also switch things up by having each person draw with their non-dominant hand or by using weird drawing materials, such as crayons or pastels.
In summary, Collaborative Drawing is a fun and engaging icebreaker activity that's perfect for getting to know your colleagues or classmates. It encourages teamwork, communication, and creativity and is a great way to break down barriers between team members. With a little creativity and some friendly competition, Collaborative Drawing can be a fun addition to any group activity.
Materials needed for Collaborative Drawing
- 1 Large Paper or Canvas ()
- 1 Markers or Paint (Set)
How to play Collaborative Drawing
- Gather round: Gather everyone in a circle or around a table where you can easily reach each other's drawing surface.
- Get your supplies: Make sure everyone has a sheet of paper and a pen or marker. It's important to have enough space to draw comfortably.
- Start the timer: Decide on a time limit for each round, such as 30 seconds or one minute, and set a timer. This will keep the game moving and add excitement.
- Choose a random starter: To determine who goes first, choose someone to start the drawing. You can use any method, from drawing straws to Rock-Paper-Scissors. Be creative!
- Begin drawing: The first person starts by drawing a simple shape or squiggle on their paper, whatever comes to mind. Then, they pass the paper to the person on their left.
- Add to the drawing: When the paper reaches each person, they must look at the previous drawing and add something to it. It can be anything they want - a character, an object, or even just lines.
- Keep passing and adding: Continue passing the papers around the circle, with each person adding to the drawing they receive. Remember, you only have the predetermined time limit to add your contribution.
- Stop the timer: When the timer goes off, everyone must stop drawing and pass the papers one more time to their left.
- Admire the masterpieces: Once all the rounds are completed, gather in a circle and take turns showing off the collaborative drawings. Admire the creative and unexpected combinations that emerged!
Benefits of Collaborative Drawing
Team building activities are far more than just fun and games. They pack a punch when it comes to the range of benefits they can deliver.
Some of the benefits of Collaborative Drawing include:
- Creates connection: Collaborative drawing icebreaker activity is an excellent way to build connections with your team members. It helps you get to know each other in a creative and fun way.
- Fosters teamwork: This activity encourages teamwork, communication and collaboration. It's a great way to enhance your team's problem solving skills, creativity and cooperation.
- Boosts creativity: Drawing is a great way to exercise your creative abilities. You'll gain new perspectives and insights to approach different problems with your team as you work together to create something unique.
- Relieves stress: Drawing has been shown to be a relaxing and calming activity. Collaborative drawing can help reduce stress and anxiety by allowing your team to unwind and have some fun together.
- Encourages active listening: Collaborative drawing requires active listening skills to ensure team members accurately convey their ideas, and the drawing stays on track. This is a helpful skill for any team to have as it promotes better communication among team members.
- Encourages risk-taking: Collaborative drawing challenges team members to put their ideas out there and results in an exciting, collaborative final project different from what any individual member might have created on their own.
Why we like Collaborative Drawing
We love Collaborative Drawing because it encourages creativity, teamwork, and communication. Plus, it's a great way to bring out everyone's artistic side and have a good laugh.
Reflection questions for Collaborative Drawing
Reflection questions are a great way to help your team process their experience after playing Collaborative Drawing.
- What was your experience like participating in the Collaborative Drawing activity? This question invites participants to reflect on their personal experience and feelings during the activity.
- What did you learn about your communication and collaboration skills during the activity? This question encourages participants to think about how they worked with others and what they may need to improve upon in terms of communication and collaboration.
- What did you notice about the different drawing styles and ideas that emerged during the activity? This question prompts participants to reflect on the various drawing styles and ideas that were present during the activity and how they contributed to the final product.
- What could you do differently in the future to improve your collaborative drawing skills? This question asks participants to think about what they could do differently in future activities to enhance their collaborative drawing skills.
- What successful strategies did your group use during the activity? This question invites participants to reflect on what worked well during the activity and how their group succeeded in working together.
Which skills does Collaborative Drawing build?
- Teamwork - Teamwork skills are crucial for icebreakers and team building because they foster effective communication, encourage collaboration, and promote a sense of unity among team members, leading to better problem-solving and increased productivity.
- Creativity - Creativity skills can greatly enhance icebreakers and team building by allowing participants to think outside the box and come up with unique solutions and ideas. This promotes collaboration, boosts morale, and fosters a positive and innovative environment within a team.
- Communication - Communication skills are essential for icebreakers and team building because they facilitate effective and open dialogue, allowing team members to connect and understand each other better, which leads to improved collaboration and problem-solving.
- Interpretation - Interpretation skills are great for icebreakers and team building because they help to bridge communication gaps, encourage understanding, and foster a sense of unity among team members.