Paper Telephone Paper and Pencil Game Free Printable

Paper Telephone is a funny group drawing and writing game where an idea changes every time the paper is passed. One person starts with a silly sentence, the next person draws it, and the next person writes a caption based only on that drawing. The game continues by alternating between writing and drawing. At the end, everyone unfolds the papers to see how much the original ideas changed along the way. There is no winner, the fun comes from seeing the surprising finished chains.

How to Play Paper Telephone

Give each player one Paper Telephone game sheet. Each person writes a silly sentence in Panel 1 and passes the paper to the next player. The next player draws a picture of that sentence in Panel 2. Before passing the paper again, Panel 1 is folded behind the page so the next person cannot see the original sentence.

Players continue alternating between drawing a picture and writing a caption. Only the most recent panel should be visible when the paper is passed. After all six panels are finished, unfold the entire sheet and read the chain from beginning to end. The printable includes clearly marked fold lines and instructions for each turn to make it easy to keep the game moving.

What You Need to Play

Paper Telephone requires very little setup. You will need:

• 3 to 6 players
• Pencils
• One copy of the game sheet for each player

The game works especially well with a small group because everyone gets a chance to contribute to several different drawing and writing chains.

A Funny Writing and Drawing Game

The best part of Paper Telephone is that players do not need to be talented artists. In fact, drawings that are difficult to interpret often make the final results even funnier. The sample in the printable begins with “A cat sails a tiny boat.” Later, the idea becomes “A cat goes fishing,” and then “A hungry cat catches dinner.”

This makes the activity a fun combination of drawing, writing, interpreting visual information, and communicating an idea. Kids also get to see how differently people can interpret the exact same picture.

When to Play Paper Telephone

This is an easy game to keep available whenever you need a screen-free group activity. It works well for classroom parties, indoor recess, family game night, camps, after-school programs, sleepovers, and holiday gatherings.

Since each player only needs a pencil and a printed sheet, there is very little preparation. It is also easy to play another round by starting with completely different silly sentences.

More Drawing Games for Kids

If your kids enjoy Paper Telephone, try the Pencil and Paper Drawing Game from Growing Play. Players follow six directions to create their own silly sketches, making it another simple activity that works with one child or a group.

Another fun option is the Switch It Up Drawing Game. Instead of drawing the usual way, kids experiment with challenges such as using their non-dominant hand, closing their eyes, or changing the position of the paper.

For a step-by-step drawing activity, try the How to Draw a Unicorn Free Printable. Kids can follow the directions to draw a unicorn and then color or decorate their finished picture.

You can also find more creative ideas in the Drawing Day activities, including collaborative drawing, classroom drawing challenges, and other ways to encourage kids to create with pencils, crayons, and markers.