Got Roots? Doing an Oral History Project

The Importance of Detail

Objective:

Teams of three students will draw pictures based on what their partners tell them. Correctness of directions and oral communication are stressed.

Procedure:

Divide the students into groups of three.
Student 1 is given a graphic picture made up by teacher. These pictures contain angles, shapes, polygons in a variety of colors (example). Student one explains one piece of the picture to student 2. (Student 2 may not see the picture.)
Student 2 walks across the room to student 3 and explains what student 1 told him/her. Student 3 then draws what student 2 has said.
This process is repeated three or four times.
Students then compare the original drawing with the drawing made by student 3.
The concept of clear communication is then discussed. The focus is on the importance of detail in recording information.

Material:

Markers or colored pencils (or crayons) for each group
Graphics already made up for student #1
Paper

Assessment:

The more that the artwork of student 3 looks like the original piece, the better the oral communication is. Teacher can evaluate on the closeness of the drawings.