--- title: "Photos as Children" description: "Participants review a numbered gallery of unlabeled childhood photographs and record their identity guesses on a slip. The facilitator reveals each contributor, offering a brief optional window to share context, followed by a short reflection on background diversity." last_updated: "2026-09-07" canonical: "https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/photos-as-children/" --- # Photos as Children Participants review a numbered gallery of unlabeled childhood photographs and record their identity guesses on a slip. The facilitator reveals each contributor, offering a brief optional window to share context, followed by a short reflection on background diversity. **Time:** 25 minutes. UWT suggested duration of 25 minutes to allow adequate reveal time for up to 24 participants; source specifies no fixed duration. **People:** 4 to 24. Individual viewing and recording, followed by whole-group reveal and reflection. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Highlight the varied origins and personal histories of group members through visual guessing and optional storytelling. **Use it when:** Use during new team kickoffs, orientations, or community gatherings when participants want a gentle warm-up that highlights distinct backgrounds. **Skip it when:** Skip when short scheduling prevents collecting photos in advance, or when group members have expressed unease with sharing family artifacts and childhood memories. ## Materials and tools - Up to one baby or childhood photograph per participant (voluntary, collected in advance) - Display board or wall space with pushpins or painter's tape - One printed guessing slip per participant (adjusted to match the count of submitted photos) - One pen or pencil per participant - Master answer key prepared by the facilitator ## Before participants arrive 1. Substantial advance prep: invite participants at least 24 hours prior to submit an unlabeled baby or childhood photo, noting submission is completely voluntary. 2. Assign each submitted photo a number from 1 to N, where N is the total count of submitted photos. 3. Post the photos on a physical board or shared virtual space before the session starts. 4. Create a private master answer key pairing each assigned number to the person's name. 5. Print guessing slips sized to the exact count of submitted photos (or instruct participants to only fill lines 1 through N) and place them with pens near the entrance. ## Say this to open Welcome. On the board (or on our shared screen), you will see numbered childhood photos submitted by group members. Take a guessing slip and match as many numbers to names as you can. Participation is optional, and you do not need to guess every image. Afterward, we will reveal the identities together and hear brief optional notes from anyone who wants to share. ## How to run it ### 1. Introduce activity and distribute sheets (3 minutes) Say the opening script. Distribute guessing slips and pens. Direct everyone to work individually to match numbers to names. Remind the room that submitting a photo was voluntary, and anyone may participate strictly as a guesser. Point out the highest active photo number so people know where to stop on their slips. ### 2. Review photos and record guesses (6 minutes) Participants circulate the photo board or review the digital gallery at their own pace. Each person writes their guesses on the slip. Keep track of time and call a 1-minute warning before finishing. ### 3. Reveal identities and hear stories (12 minutes) Call the room back together. Announce each photo number in order. Invite the person pictured to identify themselves, or announce the name if they prefer not to speak. Offer each contributor up to 20 seconds to share where it was taken or a detail from that time. Passing is fully supported. ### 4. Reflect on background diversity (4 minutes) Pose the debrief questions to the full group. Invite 2 or 3 volunteers to comment on how viewing these early backgrounds informs their appreciation of the group's diverse communication styles and perspectives. ## Debrief questions - What surprised you most about the different eras, places, or backgrounds shown in these pictures? - How might the varied environments we grew up in influence our work styles or communication today? **Finished output:** A completed round of identity guesses and voluntary personal background sharing from contributors. ## Remote Collect image files in advance via email or a secure upload link. Paste images onto numbered slides or a virtual whiteboard with hidden name tags. Participants write their guesses locally or in a private document. The facilitator reveals tags one by one and invites contributors to unmute for a brief comment. ## Hybrid Post all submitted photos to an accessible shared digital board. In-person participants view the room wall or their personal devices, while remote participants view the shared board. Both groups write guesses on paper or a digital form. The facilitator alternates reveals between in-room and online members. ## Access and participation choices - Physical photos can be enlarged and mounted at wheelchair-accessible eye levels or viewed digitally on personal handheld screens. - Participants without baby photos or who prefer not to share personal images may submit a picture of a childhood toy, book, memorable pet, or opt to participate solely as guessers without giving a reason. ## If the session gets stuck **A participant did not submit a photo or prefers not to have their picture displayed.** Affirm that submitting photos is optional. Ensure their name is still on the roster so they can guess others, and invite them to help count scores if they want an active role. **Fewer photos were submitted than the total number of people in the room.** Announce the exact range of active photo numbers (for example, numbers 1 through 10) before starting so participants leave the remaining lines blank. **Someone makes an inappropriate or mocking comment about a childhood picture.** Pause the reveals immediately. Remind everyone that these photos represent real lives and families, and that commentary must remain respectful. ## Terms used here - Master Answer Key: A reference document kept by the facilitator linking each assigned photo number to the contributor's name. ## Participant material: Childhood Photo Guessing Slip Instructions: Write the name of the person you think matches each numbered photo. Only fill lines corresponding to displayed photos. Photo #1: ____________________ Photo #2: ____________________ Photo #3: ____________________ Photo #4: ____________________ Photo #5: ____________________ Photo #6: ____________________ Photo #7: ____________________ Photo #8: ____________________ Photo #9: ____________________ Photo #10: ___________________ Photo #11: ___________________ Photo #12: ___________________ Photo #13: ___________________ Photo #14: ___________________ Photo #15: ___________________ Photo #16: ___________________ Photo #17: ___________________ Photo #18: ___________________ Photo #19: ___________________ Photo #20: ___________________ Photo #21: ___________________ Photo #22: ___________________ Photo #23: ___________________ Photo #24: ___________________ ## Sources and adaptation Observed in Teampedia under the title 'Photos as Children' (last modified 2013). Original author or creator is uncredited. Retained the core mechanic from Teampedia of displaying unlabeled childhood photos, guessing identities, and discussing background diversity. UWT expanded the activity to 25 minutes to accommodate up to 24 participants during reveals, added a standardized guessing slip with explicit instructions for variable submission counts, aligned group format strictly to individual reviewing, specified voluntary submission handling, and provided remote and hybrid protocols. [Teampedia](https://www.teampedia.net/wiki/Photos_as_Children) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/photos-as-children/