The Quick Draw Challenge

This is a simple game that puts teen’s drawing skills to the test in front of an audience.

Supplies Needed: 2 markers, 2 clipboards, some paper/poster board, powerpoint or overhead and a stereo with western music (stereo optional).

Before the Game:
I do up a Powerpoint presentation depicting a cowboy (clipart or photo) with a speech bubble. Then I think up several different things the students can draw (for example: a school bus, a self-portrait, a monkey, a stick-figure…basically anything). In the speech bubble, I’ll usually put something like this “Howdy Pardners, I dare you to draw me a monkey!” or “Ok, Lil’ Doggies, draw me a flying fish.” I’ll have 3 slides with the cowboy presenting the different drawing challenges (one challenge per slide).

Also, to help with the theme, I have some old western gun-slinging music to play during the game (the theme to “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” works best).

At the Beginning of the Game:
I choose 4 volunteers from the crowd to come up front and I explain that the winner of the game will take home a prize. I then tell them that they’re going to compete in the “Quick Draw Challenge.” The object is to draw the best/most realistic picture (as judged by the audience) in 60 seconds. I split them into pairs and have the second pair sit off to the side. The first two “contestants” are each given a clipboard with some paper and a marker. I have them back to back and explain that it’s like an Old West shootout. I start the western music and have them take 3 paces away from each other. When I say “Draw” they have to spin around to face each other, take the caps off their markers and draw whatever the cowboy tells them to. At the end of 60 seconds, I hold up both drawings and get the audience to cheer for the best. The winner moves on to the final round. I then repeat the game with the next two contestants–with a different drawing challenge!

And then the two winners face off once again for a final Quick Draw challenge, the winner of which gets the prize. I encourage the “contestants” to really get into it–to walk like cowboys and draw as if their life was on the line! The audience always has a blast–especially when they see some rather poor works of art.

NOTE:
In addition to using paper/poster board to draw on, you can also use two overhead projectors pointing on the wall. This will help everyone see if you have a really large group.