Learn Together

As children identify and discover mystery pictures and missing objects, they are making observations and predictions, while strengthening their working memory and having fun at the same time!

Materials

  • Blanket or towel
  • 10-20 household objects (e.g. Comb, fork, toy, remote, etc.)

Imagine Together

Play CMOM’s Mystery Picture Guessing Game!

  1. View the Mystery Picture Guessing Game, which has images of everyday objects zoomed in. 
    • Can you guess the object by looking at the zoomed-in picture? What is the material of the object? Do you recognize the shape or texture? If you don’t know one, take your best guess!
  2. After you write down your guesses for each picture, view the Mystery Picture Answers, which shows the images zoomed out!
    • Which pictures did you guess correctly? Which pictures were the hardest to guess? Why? 

What items in your home could you turn into mystery pictures? Use a camera or phone to take pictures of objects around you. 

  1. Start by taking an up-close picture of an object. Zoom in close enough that you cannot see the entire object, but not so close that the picture is blurry.
  2. Next, take a picture of the entire object, so those playing your game know if they guessed right.
  3. Practice makes perfect! What else can you find to take pictures of?

Did you know you can create a zoomed-in picture of an object without a camera? All you need is a piece of paper and something to draw with!

  1. Find an object to sketch. Try something simple at first, like a piece of silverware.
  2. Draw the entire object on one side of the paper. 
  3. Pick one small piece of the object to draw on the other side of the paper. Use as much detail as possible. Drawing a butterknife? Make sure to show the ridges on the blade!

For more mystery fun, play the Magic Blanket Game. 

  1. Lay 10-20 household objects on the table or floor in a way that they can all be covered by a blanket or towel. 
  2. Encourage the player to look at and try to memorize the objects in 10-30 seconds. 
  3. Cover the objects up with the blanket. When you pull the blanket off of the items, take one of the items with you and conceal it in the blanket. Which item is missing?