Dali

6th Grade Lesson Plan

The Exquisite Corpse Game

The Surrealists developed this game as an art game that everyone could play.  (It was first a language game where players made surreal sentences not images; according to legend the games first words were “the”, “exquisite” & “corpse”.  In this game 4 players work together to make a surreal humanoid creature.  (It can be played with 4 players and one piece of paper but for the classroom, we’ll play with 4 players, each with a piece of paper so everyone is drawing.)

1. Divide group into groups of four; give each a legal size paper.

2.  Each student fold the paper length wise in half, then half again.

3.  Player #1 draws a creatures head on the 1st panel; extend 2 lines a little into panel 2; so the next player had a guide where to draw from.  When they are finished they must fold the paper over so Player #2 can’t see the drawing.  They also must draw guide lines.  All four players draw on each drawing doing different sections of the body.  Player #2 must do segments of the body; while Player #3 does the legs.  Player #4 must do the feet.

4. Each player plays and passes to the left. and receives from the right.

When the students are done, open the creatures and give them a name, write a description of their body.  Write about where this creature might live in the world.  Give their feeding habits and any comments about their lifestyle