Play exquisite corpse
Play an exquisite corpse drawing game with friends: fold paper, add hidden body parts or words, then reveal and discuss the surprising collaborative creations.
About this activity
Play an exquisite corpse drawing game with friends: fold paper, add hidden body parts or words, then reveal and discuss the surprising collaborative creations.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Invite two to six friends to play the exquisite corpse drawing game.
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Step 2
Give each player one sheet of paper and one pencil and colouring materials.
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Step 3
Fold your paper twice to make three equal panels and press the creases firmly.
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Step 4
Draw only the top panel (a head or the first word) on the top section of the folded paper.
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Step 5
Add tiny guideline lines that cross the fold so later parts will line up.
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Step 6
Fold the top panel over to hide your drawing from the next player.
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Step 7
Pass your folded paper to the next player without unfolding it.
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Step 8
Draw only the middle panel (a torso or second word) on the received folded paper.
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Step 9
Fold the paper to hide the middle drawing and pass it to the next player.
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Step 10
Draw only the bottom panel (legs or third word) on the received folded paper.
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Step 11
Unfold the paper slowly to reveal the full collaborative creation.
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Step 12
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do you play the exquisite corpse drawing game with friends?
Fold a sheet into 3–4 equal panels. The first player draws the head on the top panel, leaving tiny guide lines that extend into the next fold, then folds it to hide the drawing. Pass the paper to the next person to draw the torso, repeating until legs or last section are done. Unfold together to reveal the surprise creature. Add rules like timed turns, a theme (animals, robots), or silent drawing to increase laughs and creativity.
What materials do I need for an exquisite corpse drawing game?
You only need plain paper cut to size or folded into panels, pencils or pens, and markers or crayons for color. Optional items: ruler for even folds, eraser, clipboards if kids want to draw without a table, stickers or stamps for decoration. For a word version use sticky notes or slips of paper and pens. Keep non-toxic, age-appropriate art supplies and a flat surface for best results.
What ages is the exquisite corpse drawing game suitable for?
This game suits a wide range: preschoolers (4–5) enjoy a simplified version with big shapes and adult help; school-age kids (6–12) can follow panel rules and add clever details; teens and adults like more complex or themed variations. Adapt complexity, time limits, and materials to age and skill. Supervise younger children when using scissors or fine-point tools.
What are the benefits, safety tips, and fun variations of this activity?
Exquisite corpse boosts creativity, collaboration, fine motor skills, and storytelling while encouraging laughter and risk-taking in art. Safety tips: use non-toxic supplies, supervise scissors or sharp markers, and set clear sharing rules to respect others’ drawings. Variations: switch to words for silly stories, use collage pieces, create a digital version, pick themes (monsters, fashion), or make a timed relay for extra energy and challenge.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have plain paper, pencils, or colouring materials?
Use any scrap paper, index cards, or the back of old drawings and swap a ballpoint pen, felt-tip marker, or crayons for the pencil and colouring materials, while still folding the paper into three equal panels and adding the tiny guideline lines.
What if the panels don't line up or the creases are uneven when we unfold the drawing?
Refold and press the creases firmly, re-measure to make three equal panels (use a ruler if needed), and darken or add tiny guideline lines that cross the fold before passing the paper to the next player.
How can we adapt the game for younger or older kids?
For preschoolers, fold the paper into two panels and pre-draw faint guideline lines so they only add simple shapes and colour, while older kids can keep three panels, add timed 60-second drawing rounds, or replace body parts with words as suggested in the instructions.
How can we extend or personalize the exquisite corpse activity after we finish the drawings?
Assign a theme (animals, superheroes, silly words), let players add stickers or collage elements while keeping the folded-hidden passing steps, compile the unfolded results into a mini-book, and scan or photograph the finished creation to share on DIY.org.