Verbal Instructions To Draw A Picture

Picture Perfect
Creating and following instructions

This is a really fun activity that provokes discussion about giving and following instructions. The basic concept is simple. One child is chose to act as the artist. Without them seeing the rest of the class is shown a picture (if the artist stands behind the picture it works well) that they have to give instructions to the child so that they can recreate the picture on the board. It brings into play a lot of positional language. Extensions to the activity involve the children producing their own written instructions to recreate pictures that they are given (or create themselves). An example set of instructions is shown below. This is a good one to start the class with. Don't show them the picture first in this instance just read the instructions and let them direct the artist. Once the picture is completed compare it to the one that is given. You could then talk about which instructions were clear and which were unclear and how the set of the instructions could be improved upon. This activity also provides a discussion point over the advantages/disadvantages of verbal instructions over written instructions.

Draw a large square in the middle of your paper/the board.
Split the square in half vertically down the centre.
Draw another line that splits the square in half horizontally. You will now have a square that is split up into quarters.
In the centre of the bottom left quarter of the square draw an equilateral triangle. The triangle, and the other shapes you will be asked to draw, should fill most of the quarter that you are asked to draw them in.
In the top right hand quarter draw a circle and add a black dot in the centre of the circle.
In the bottom right hand quarter draw a large tick.
In the top left hand quarter draw two dots and a curved line to make a smiley face.