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Drawing

Paper Telephone

Also called Draw and Pass, Telephone Pictionary

A phrase becomes a drawing, the drawing becomes a phrase, and so on down the line — then everyone sees how far it drifted.

people
5–16
time
20 min
energy
Calm
materials
Household items
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Watch it played
What you need3
How to play4

Before you start

Seat everyone in a circle. Each person writes a short phrase on the top sheet of their own stack.

  1. 1Pass your stack to the left. Read the phrase, flip to a clean page and draw it — no letters.
  2. 2Pass again. Look at only the latest drawing, flip, and write what you think it shows.
  3. 3Keep alternating drawing and writing until each stack returns to its owner.
  4. 4Owners take turns revealing their stack page by page to the group.
What to say3
  1. 1“Write something short and fun — 'a cat on a jeepney' is perfect.”
  2. 2“Pass! Only look at the page right before yours!”
  3. 3“Okay, show-and-tell time — how did 'a cat on a jeepney' become 'the moon landing'?”
Host tips3
  • The reveal is the game. Budget as much time for show-and-tell as for the drawing, and have each owner read theirs aloud one page at a time.
  • Set a 60-second timer for each drawing. Slow drawers hold up the whole circle and everyone else waits.
  • With more than 12 people, split into two circles — one long line becomes too slow and the stacks too thick.
Variants2

  • Online

    Browser-based draw-and-pass games do the passing for you. Works for remote teams on a video call.

  • Christmas edition

    All starting phrases are carols or Christmas traditions. Simbang gabi drawings are a highlight.

Good for

Occasions

ChristmasTeam buildingBirthdayReunionRetreatSchool

Venues

Indoor, smallIndoor, largeOfficeChurch hallOnline