• Player 1 makes (using plastic pieces) or draws (using paper and pencil) a picture using one or more shapes.
• Player 1 keeps the picture hidden from Player 2.
• Player 1 describes the picture to Player 2.
• Player 2 recreates (using plastic pieces) or draws (using paper and pencil) the picture using only Player 1's instructions.

• Player 1 draws a picture.
• Player 2 gives directions to Player 3.
• Player 3 tries to draw the picture.
• Player 1 shows the original picture to everyone.

• Player 1 creates or draws, then gives directions to Player 2.
• Player 2 tries to duplicate or draw the picture.
• Player 1 again states directions so Player 2 can check the newly duplicated or drawn picture.
• Player 2 changes the picture, if necessary.
• Player 1 shows Player 2 the original picture.

• Player 1 has a picture.
• Player 2 asks Player 1 about the picture in order to be able to duplicate or draw it.
• Player 2 duplicates the picture.
• Player 1 shows Player 2 the picture.

• Should the players look at each other?
• Should the player giving directions look at the picture as it is being drawn?
• Should the player giving directions use hand motions in the explanation?

      More important to any human than the ability to do mathematics or arithmetic is the ability to communicate with another person.

      This game and its variations can be played by children, except the very young, and adults of all ages. The object is simply this: To another person, describe an already created picture so well that he or she will be able to duplicate it or draw it exactly.

      Before doing this with a child, it might be helpful if you, the adult were familiar with some mathematical vocabulary. I'm not suggesting that you ever use most of this vocabulary with a child, but your child may ask and you may even find your child ready to use some of it.

      Names and pictures of many polygons may be found in FIND THE CIRCLE, (adjectives are in parentheses, nouns are printed as usual). Additional shape names are found on the following pages. The adjectives such as equilateral and regular describe the shape. Here are additional adjectives and their meanings.

	Similar - exactly the same size but not necessarily the same shape. Congruent - exactly the same size and the same shape. Equilateral - each side is exactly the same size. Equiangular - each angle is exactly the same size. Regular - equilateral and also equiangular.
		Inscribed	- an figure is contained in the interior of another figure except for the points at which the figures touch. (In the figure at the left, the square is inscribed in the circle.)
		Circumscribed	- a figure surrounds another figure except for the points at which the figures touch. (In the figure at the left, the circle circumscribes the square.)

      I've chosen the names Player 1 and Player 2 rather than the Child and the Adult, because this is such an important game for role reversing. Both the person describing and the person drawing can learn by playing. Give each player this opportunity.

      Michael was not a young child when we first played the games. He was probably four or five. We drew the shapes as outlined in the more advanced version of the game. The more elementary version was developed for day care class use. My students were three years old and were cautioned to treat the cut out plastic pieces carefully, learned to open and empty the envelopes, and learned to keep the shapes on a clean sheet of paper.

      The drawing ability of a very young child, or just young children, is not highly developed. The motor skills aren't developed though the thinking skills are developing. The plastic pieces provide a way to get around this problem.

      You have a large sheet of shapes for this purpose. Your sheet has two copies of each shape, one copy for Player 1, one copy for Player 2. When the ink rubs off the plastic, redraw the shape with permanent magic marker. Or, you might also to wish have another copy made of the page. You must cut out the shapes to make sets for both players. Bank envelopes cut in half and folded over make ideal storage containers. For YEARS I carried such a set of pieces in my purse for whenever we played I WANT YOU TO DRAW.

Drawn Picture	Directions	Possible Response
	The Adult: "Landy, will you draw a square, please."
	The Adult: "That's close. A square has all sides the same size. Would you draw a square for me, please. Good, let's try a harder picture.
	"There are two shapes in the picture I'm looking at. One shape is a square and the other one is a circle. They're both about the same size. The circle is on the right. The square is on the left. They're touching each other. Please draw a picture like that."

      Now it's YOUR turn to draw the picture. Get a piece of paper and get ready to draw the picture I describe.

      Please try to draw the picture.

      The picture I tried to communicate is here and at the end of the book. How well did I do? How well did you do? As you tried to draw the picture, did you go back and reread what I'd written before you started to draw? Did you start drawing while reading and then need to change your picture as you read further? What were the phrases I used which confused you? Which phrases helped you the most? Could you improve the directions I gave by re-ordering the description or by using different words?

      This example was meant for use with an adult or with a child who has done drawing of this nature. I think you'll be surprised and pleased by how well your child will do with this game. Children are often much better listeners than adults and can sometimes give pretty good directions.

      Let's look at some different ways the game could be played. Player 1 draws a picture, hides it, gives directions to Player 2. Player 2 tries to draw the described picture. Player 1 shows Player 2 the original picture.

      or

      Player 1 draws a picture. Player 2 gives directions to Player 3. Player 3 tries to draw the picture. Player 1 shows the original picture to everyone.

      or

      Player 1 draws a picture and gives directions to Player 2. Player 2 tries to draw the picture. Player 1 again states directions so Player 2 can check the newly drawn picture. Player 2 changes the picture if necessary. Player 1 shows Player 2 the original picture.

      or

      Player 1 has a drawn picture. Player 2 asks Player 1 about the picture in order to be able to draw it. Player 2 draws the picture. Player 1 shows Player 2 the picture.

• Should the players look at each other while playing?
• Should the player giving directions look at the picture as it is being drawn by another player?
• Should the player giving directions use hand motions in the explanation?

      My preference is to say "no" to most of the above most of the time, but ONCE YOU PLAY A GAME IT BECOMES YOURS and you make the rules. Create, experiment, and ENJOY.

      A copy of the image below must be copied or printed on acetate or plastic, then cut into 2 identical sets of pieces. To print just the image, click on the image.