Monday Comics

Name and Purpose

• Monday Comics celebrates the joyful mismatch of images and words to spark laughter and creative thinking.
• Players practise humour, spontaneity, and appreciating each other’s ideas without judgement.

a.k.a.

• Caption Roulette, Mix-Up Comics, Random Comics

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 8-30 players in groups of 4-5 | 15-25 minutes | Indoor space with tables or a flat writing surface

Materials

• Pencils or pens, one per player
• Several small slips of paper or index cards per player (scrap paper works perfectly)
• Optional: a timer for drawing rounds

Quick-Run Card

1. Each player draws 2 funny pictures on separate slips (no words allowed).
2. Each player writes 2 funny captions on separate slips (no connection to their drawings needed).
3. Collect pictures in one pile, captions in a separate pile.
4. Players take turns drawing one picture and one caption at random, showing them together.
5. The group tries to make sense of the comic combination. Enjoy the chaos.

Setup and Boundaries

• Arrange players in small groups of 4-5 at a table or in a circle on the floor.
• Signal: one raised hand from staff means pause; two claps means share attention.
• Remind players: all pictures and captions should be kind and group-appropriate.

How to Play

1. Each player draws 2 funny pictures on separate slips of paper. Pictures must have no words. Stick figures and simple drawings are celebrated.
2. Separately, each player writes 2 funny captions on separate slips. Captions do not need to relate to their pictures.
3. Staff collects all pictures into one pile and all captions into a separate pile, shuffled.
4. One at a time, a player draws one picture from the picture pile and shows it to the group. Then that same player draws one caption from the caption pile and reads it aloud.
5. The group tries to make sense of the combination as if it were a real comic strip.
6. Continue until all pictures and captions have been paired. Leftovers can be paired for a final bonus round.

I-OPt Options

Start:

• A (Active): Dive into drawing and writing with full creative energy.
• S (Support): Help a neighbour who is unsure what to draw by brainstorming ideas together.
• Q (Quiet): Take your time with one thoughtful drawing and one caption.
• O (Observer): Watch the first reveal before drawing your own, then join in.

Mid:

• A (Active): Be the one to draw and reveal the next combination.
• S (Support): Help read the caption aloud if the reader is shy.
• Q (Quiet): Smile and enjoy without needing to comment.
• O (Observer): Continue watching and join the reveal rounds when ready.

Late:

• A (Active): Volunteer to narrate an especially absurd combination as a tiny story.
• S (Support): Encourage quieter players to take a turn revealing.
• Q (Quiet): Appreciate the combinations without pressure to commentate.
• O (Observer): Share a favourite pairing in the debrief if you wish.

End:

• A (Active): Suggest saving the funniest combo for a cabin display.
• S (Support): Help collect and organise the slips for cleanup.
• Q (Quiet): Fold your slips and pass them to the collector.
• O (Observer): Share one word that describes your experience.

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who prefer not to draw can write a short description of a funny scene instead of drawing it. The caption-reader pairs it the same way.
• For players with fine motor challenges, pre-drawn clip-art cards or stamped images can replace hand-drawn pictures.

Stewardship Moment

• Use scrap paper that would otherwise be recycled or discarded. This activity gives waste paper a second life.
• After the game, any slips that were not paired can be collected and used in a future round or recycled properly.

Consent

• Pre-brief: This activity involves drawing and writing, then sharing with your small group. For those who prefer not to draw, writing a funny description is another option. All contributions will be mixed up randomly, so no one is identified with a specific picture or caption.
• Mid-game check: After the first few reveals, pause and check in. Thumbs up, sideways, or down. How is everyone going?
• Opt-out and re-entry: Any player may pass their turn revealing to the next person. Rejoining is open at any point.

Risks and Mitigation

• A player draws or writes something unkind: remind the group before starting that all content should be kind and group-friendly; staff review piles before reveals if the group needs extra guidance.
• A player feels self-conscious about drawing ability: reinforce that stick figures are celebrated and skill is not the point.
• Groups run out of combinations quickly: with groups of 4-5 you get 8 pictures and 8 captions, which produces 16 reveals. For larger groups, increase slips per player to 3.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• One-Minute Doodle: each player has 60 seconds to draw the most interesting thing they can think of.
• Caption That: staff shows a funny image and players shout out captions together.

Debrief Questions

• What? Which picture-and-caption combination made you laugh most?
• So What? What made the random combinations funnier than planned ones might have been?
• Now What? Where else in life do unexpected combinations produce something great?

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect all slips of paper and recycle them, or store in an envelope for a future round.
• Return pencils or pens to storage.