Picture Pieces Game

Picture Pieces is an incredible game to reflect on the characteristics that teamwork requires and the importance of leadership.

Each team member draws or paints a piece of a larger, well-known image, without knowing what the “big picture” is. They then work together to assemble the complete image.

Start with an image of a place, logo, cartoon, or person that everyone will recognize. It is important that the image has only the edges, without coloring, this helps each participant paint the drawing with the colors they want.

Cut the picture into equal-sized pieces, one for each participant. The pieces should have about the same amount of detail in each section.

Give each participant a piece of the image. Explain that each participant must recreate the image received in an enlarged format and can improve it, for example by painting it.

Ask them to recreate it on a piece of paper or canvas 5, 10, or 20 times larger than the original image.
The larger the paper or canvas, the longer the exercise will take.

Supply participants with pencils, pens, markers, colored pencils, etc.
Once each team member is finished, they work together to assemble their individual pieces into a recreation of the original image.

The final product is the result of group work that was carried out purely individually.

Moment of Reflection

• While you were replicating the image on a larger canvas, what were you thinking about? Were you able to observe anything in others?
• What did it feel like to finish the task and put the pieces together? Was there teamwork or did each participant make individual decisions?
• What should have happened so that the group as a whole could produce a better product?
• What are the necessary elements in teamwork? What does it mean to collaborate, cooperate, communicate, co-create?
• What is the role of the leader or leaders when working as a team?
• Are there times when we do not work as a team and is it necessary? Example?
• What impact does not working as a team have?

The topics of this publication: collaboration, teamwork, cooperation, creativity, integration, interactions, self, reflection, critical thinking, non-verbal communication, adaptation, leadership, adaptability skills