KS2 What makes good instructions? Fun whole class groups activity

To be able to make good instructions that are easy to follow:
To be able to verbally describe the way something looks.
To be able to choose the words I use to describe with carefully.

Plan: Sort tables into mixed ability, volunteer 1 from each table to be the artist for their table using pencil and A3 to replicate what their class mates describe to them. They are the only people allowed to draw. Can use pencil crayons too.

Picture of a house (the one I used is on slide 4 as an example, feel free to create your own personalised one) is hidden behind somewhere secure like a store room or behind Teacher's desk. Invite volunteers (1 from each table) up to look at the picture for 30 seconds and commit as much of it as possible to memory because they are going to describe to someone on their table what they need to draw to copy the picture they have seen.

After 30 seconds is up, go back to tables and they have 2 minutes to tell the artist what to draw. After 2 minutes, send another person up from each table to have a 30 second look (not the artist) then go back and tell them what to draw, 2 mins.
Repeat once more with new volunteers.
Judge how many goes they need.

Share revealed picture on IWB. Give a point for each key feature drawn eg fireplace etc. Which table got the highest score?

Ask drawers – What were some of the good instructions given to you? What were some difficult instructions? Why was it difficult to follow?
What makes good instructions? (create list on IWB)

Activity – In pairs
Write a sheet of instructions for how to draw the house on the IWB.

Plenary – Volunteers to read out their instructions for me or another group to draw on IWB, assess how clear the instructions are.