Name of Activity: I Spy

Originating Idea: Children play the game I spy with my little eye but instead of giving a color hint,
they give the starting sound of the object.

Curriculum Area
Highlight 1:
Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social studies

KDIs
24. Phonological Awareness
Materials:


Appropriate Age group: 4 to 5 years old

Beginning of Activity:
During large group, I will have all the students sit on the carpet. “Today we are going to play the game I Spy
but instead of saying the color of the object you will say the starting sound of the object. For example, I’ll say I
spy with my little eye something that starts with ch- my object was chair. Everyone will have a turn to pick an
object within the classroom and say the starting sound of. Make sure it’s an object everyone can see within the
classroom. If you have trouble figuring out the starting sound, you can whisper the word into my ear.” The
children take turns standing at the front of the class saying a starting sound while the rest of the students
guess.
Middle of Activity
Children in different developmental levels may not know the starting sound of their chosen object
while some may pick an object that shares the starting sound with other objects in the classroom.

Early: They can whisper their word to the teacher and have the teacher give them the correct phonological
starting sound for their chosen object.
Middle: They will be able to say the starting sound of their object and have students guess their object.
Later: They will be challenged to say the ending sound for their chosen object and guess from ending sounds.

End of Activity:
“We played I Spy using phonological sounds for the objects around our classroom. We said the correct sounds
for our objects and were able to guess our classmates’ objects just using the beginning sound.
Follow-up Ideas (2)
The normal I Spy game can be used within the classroom with observation.
Children can take turns being at the front of the classroom to practice their speaking and reading skills.