Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Exquisite Creature Fold: Free Printable Game for Year 3
- ForYear 3
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Exquisite Creature Fold is a free printable drawing game for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Players draw a silly creature one part at a time, in secret. Each player adds a head, a body or legs, folds the paper over, and passes it on. At the end, everyone unfolds the paper and laughs at the surprise. It needs only paper and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the players and keep page 2 for the grown-up. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet gives children boxes for drawing or notes. Together they build one creature, a part at a time. Each player takes a turn at the head, the body or the legs. After each turn the paper is folded so the next player cannot see what came before. Nobody knows what the finished creature will look like until the paper is unfolded. Players can use the boxes as a guide, or fold a plain sheet.
- Head
- Body
- Legs
How a round goes
Start with the head
The first player draws a head in the top box. Ears, horns, eyes and a mouth all count. Add a few small lines just below the neck so the next player knows where to carry on.
Fold it over
Fold the paper so the head is hidden. Only the small neck lines should peek out. Pass the paper to the next player without any hints.
Add the body, then the legs
The next player draws a body from those lines. The paper is folded again, and the last player adds the legs. Fins, paws, wheels and wobbly stalks are all fine.
Unfold and share
Open the paper together. Look at the whole creature and give it a name. Then start another round with a fresh sheet and swap the order of the parts.
Where this paper game comes from
Folded paper drawing games have a long history. A group of artists in France, known as the Surrealists, played a version of the game in the twentieth century. It is often called by the French name cadavre exquis. Players add to a drawing, or to a sentence, without seeing what came before. The surprise at the end is the whole point of playing.
The game suits Year 3 because there is no right or wrong creature. Children draw from their imagination and learn to carry on from a shape that someone else started. They also practise waiting for a turn and accepting a result they did not plan. Many children find that easier and more fun when everyone is in the same boat.
Skills and curriculum link
- Drawing
- Imagination
- Turn taking
- Listening and waiting
- Joining in with others
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Art and Design | Techniques | Year 3 |
What children will be able to do
- I can draw part of a creature.
- I can fold the paper so others cannot see.
- I can enjoy the surprise when we unfold it.
Ideas to help players
- Start with shapesSuggest building each part from simple shapes. A circle, a triangle or a wavy line can become almost anything. This helps children who worry they cannot draw.
- Think about joinsWhere one part meets the next, lines can carry on or change direction. Talk about how a leg might join a body, or how a neck might meet a head.
- Add detailSpots, stripes, fur, scales and feathers make a creature look different. Encourage players to try patterns as well as outlines.
- Keep the secretThe game works best when each player only sees their own part. Agree this rule before you start, and decide together what happens if someone peeks.
Key words
- CreatureA living thing that can be real or made up. In this game, it is one you invent.
- ImaginationThe part of your mind that makes up new ideas and pictures.
- FoldTo bend paper over so that one part covers another.
- TurnYour go in a game. Each player has a turn, one after another.
- PatternShapes, lines or colours that repeat, such as stripes or spots.
- SurpriseSomething you did not expect to see or hear.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the players. Keep page 2 for the grown-up, with the notes and ideas.
- Read the rules out loud together, so everyone plays the same game. Decide who draws first.
- Play a first round together and talk about each choice. Remember to fold the paper after every turn.
- Unfold the creature and enjoy it. Ask each player which part they drew and what they were thinking.
- Come back to it another day. Swap the order of the parts so each player gets a new job.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Let younger players say what to draw while a grown-up draws it. Offer simple starting shapes, such as a round head or a long body. Tell them any creature is allowed, and that funny or odd drawings are exactly what this game is for.
To stretch confident children
Give your creature a name, a home and a favourite food. Then write or tell a short story about a day in its life. Ask other players to add one more fact about the creature, so the story grows.
Make it a game
Hold a creature show. Lay out all the finished creatures and let each player tell the story of one of them. Others can ask questions, such as where it sleeps or what it likes to do. Vote for the silliest.
Talk about it
- Which part of the creature was hardest to draw, and why?
- Did the finished creature look the way you expected? What surprised you?
- What would you change if you could draw one part again?
- How did the lines from the last player help you carry on?
- What would this creature eat, and where would it live?
- What sounds would your creature make when it moves?
Take it off the page
Creature story time
Choose one finished creature and make up a bedtime story about it. Take turns adding one sentence each. Write the story down or tell it aloud.
Clay or playdough creature
Copy the drawing in modelling clay or playdough. Make the head, the body and the legs separately, then join them together.
Silly sentence fold
Play the same folded game with words. One player writes who, the next writes what they did, and the next writes where. Unfold and read the sentence aloud.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first round and join in as a player. Let them lead and decide what to draw. Praise brave, silly ideas rather than neat ones. The goal is fun, drawing and talking together.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It links to the Art and Design techniques strand, and it works well in groups, so children share ideas and take turns.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider art plan. It pairs well with books about animals, nature walks and storytelling. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a co-op group, and swap the order of the parts to keep it fresh.
Where this fits in art
Before this game, children draw from observation and from simple prompts. They learn to hold a pencil with control and to make lines, shapes and marks. Playing with shape and pattern builds the confidence they need to draw something they have imagined.
After this game, children can move on to drawing from a theme, looking at the work of artists and talking about what they see. They can also experiment with different materials, such as colour pencils, pastels or paint, and add more detail to the creatures they invent.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What part of the creature did you draw?
- What was the funniest creature you made?
- How did working together change the drawing?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Exquisite Creature Fold for?
It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help from a grown-up. Older children can use the stretch idea to make the game more challenging.
- What will children practise?
Children practise drawing, imagination and turn taking. They also learn to carry on from someone else's idea, and to enjoy a surprise. It works well as a calm, creative activity for a small group.
- How many people can play?
The sheet is designed for 3 to 6 players. Each player draws one part of the creature. You need pencils and paper. You can use the boxes on the sheet as a guide, or fold a plain sheet.
- What if a child finds drawing hard?
Let them say what to draw while a grown-up draws it. Suggest simple shapes to start with. Remind everyone that silly creatures are the aim, so there is no such thing as a wrong drawing.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group, and play as many rounds as you like.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It links to the Art and Design techniques strand for Year 3.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour afterwards with pencils or crayons if they would like to.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.