“Flip” Animal Printable I Spy Game for Kids

Learning About Memory Skills:

FREE PRINTABLE I SPY GAMES

ASKING STUDENTS TO USE COGNITIVE (THINKING) SKILLS CAN HELP BUILD THEIR WORKING MEMORY. STUDENTS CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE:

• Where is that picture located?
• What characteristics of the object will help me find it?
• I remember seeing that picture before, how can I find it again?

It’s important for kids of all ages to practice using their memory and problem-solving skills in order to recognize visual details, enhance vocabulary, and follow multiple step directions.

This easy I Spy printable game can be used with an individual child, a pair of children, or a small group.

A few examples of the animal themed I spy images included in this printable are: snake, penguin, whale, llama, octopus, alligator, kangaroo, fox, dog, and frog.

Fit the visual tracking game into any part of your child’s day:

• While lunch is being prepared
• Fun indoor activity during a rainy day
• After a classroom activity or assignment was finished
• On road trips
• As a boredom buster when the whining begins
• Occupational therapy games

In addition to exercising a child’s working memory and visual discrimination skills, you might explore:

• What colors are in that object?
• What shapes make up the object?
• What letter does that object start with?
• What do you see at the side/top/bottom of the page?

What Social Skills Can Preschoolers Learn?

Practicing social skills with the game i spy

HAVING STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER TO PLAY THE I SPY FLIP MEMORY GAME CAN UTILIZE SOCIAL SKILLS LIKE:

• Turn-taking and patience
• Positive communication
• Resilience after a loss
• Cooperation

Why Is It Important For Kids To Practice Memory Skills?

Besides the fact that kids love playing I Spy games, there are so many other reasons you should work on problem-solving and visual scanning activities with your child.

Develop a Child’s Focus: In order for children to be successful in finding matches, they must practice focusing on where objects are and concentrating on how to find them again.

Develop Visual Recognition: Children are using visuals and characteristics to quickly find a specific object. They will have to recognize colors, shapes and other distinctive features to locate the picture. This can be accomplished with fun games for kids.

Improving Short Term Memory: Processing data quickly is a product of short term memory. Practicing using your short term memory can also help strengthen long term memory and the ability to recall information at a later time.

Cognitive Sorting: A child’s brain needs to be able to sort the information of the objects they are seeing in order to narrow down where the specific object is. If the child flips a card with a duck on it, they must quickly sort which pictures are the color yellow.

How To Use The Animal I Spy Game Printables

• Choose your option below to get the printable pack.
• Print, cut out, and laminate the activity for durability.

Using the “Flip” I Spy Game

Choose how many players will be participating in the game. Make sure to explain how the game is played and possibly model how to play it for them. This treasure hunt is great for younger kids and older kids.

Once the posters are laminated, there are many learning activities you can use them for, including using dry erase markers.

How Do I Play the Animal I Spy Flip Game?

How to Use the Activity

Playing this I Spy Board game is simple.

• Choose your I Spy game board.
• Divide the cards evenly among the players.
• Place the cards face down on the table.
• All players flip their top cards at the same time.
• Race to find the picture on your card first.
• Whoever finds their picture first wins a token.
• Play continues until the playing cards have all been used.
• The player that has the most tokens at the end of the game is the winner.

Extend the Activity:

Sorting Cards

Use the image cards to practice sorting visual information like colors, shapes, and wild vs. domestic animals.

Challenging Words

Create word cards and challenge students to identify the image with the corresponding word.

Creative Storytelling

Give your child the image cards from the I Spy game and have them create a story using the pictures. This could be a great game for speech therapy sessions.

I Spy Game

Use the I Spy pages to play the classic game I Spy. Start the game with “I Spy with my little eye…” and engage the children with verbal cues to find the matching picture.

Extend the I Spy Activity

Use the I Spy activity for kids with books about animals to locate the I Spy pictures.

Get I Spy Free Printables

In addition to our I Spy “Flip” Game series, we have 20+ I Spy Free Printables on Life Over C’.’s Get I Spy Worksheets, posters and games here.

• Summer I Spy “Flip” Game
• Food I Spy “Flip” Game
• Superhero I Spy “Flip” Game

Want More Animal Activities?

You Can Never Go Wrong Choosing More Animal Fun:

• Ocean Animal Ice Excavation Activity
• Animal Habitat Lesson Plans For Preschool
• Farm Animal Snacks
• Zoo Animal Pattern Blocks Activity
• Animal Paw Print Color Matching Game