Living with a house full of boys, ages ranging from 1 year to 13, I have been tricked a time or two with plastic (and sometimes real) bugs laying on the countertops. While my children get a chuckle out of my screams, I do realize how fascinated they are with these little creepy, crawlers. When my kiddos can’t get outside to scrounge up some true bugs and insects, they can lay our Bugs and Insects Flip I Spy game.
Our Bugs and Insects I Spy game printable is the perfect way to practice important motor and cognitive skills- all while having a blast with friends (or scaring your mother)! Our I Spy printable is not only a fun indoor activity for kids, but can also be used as a game for speech therapy. These adorable and colorful I spy pictures will have anyone pulling out their butterfly net and magnifying glass.
Recommended Grade Level/Uses
For I Spy “Flip” Board Game:
Learning About Memory Skills:
I SPY PRintable GAME
ASKING STUDENTS TO USE COGNITIVE (THINKING) SKILLS CAN HELP BUILD THEIR WORKING MEMORY. STUDENTS CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE:
Where is this object 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. That’s why this game is great for both younger kids and older kids.
This easy I Spy printable can be used with an individual child, a pair of children, or a small group. It can also be used as a visual scanning activity, an occupational therapy game, or a speech therapy game.
A few examples of the Bugs and Insects I spy images included in this printable are: spiders, grasshoppers, ladybugs, flies, snails, bumblebees, butterflies, caterpillars, and dragonflies.
I spy can fit into any part of your child’s day-
- While lunch is being prepared
- During a snow storm or rainy day
- After a classroom activity or assignment was finished
- On road trips
- As a boredom buster when the whining begins
In addition to exercising a child’s working memory, here are more concepts to explore using the I Spy board game:
- What colors are in that object?
- What shapes make up the object?
- What do the bugs and insects need to survive?
- What letter does that object start with?
- What other kind of objects might I find outside?
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 memory 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. This can be a great visual discrimination activity.
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.
Develop Visual Recognition
Children are using visuals and characteristics to quickly find a specific object (visual tracking). They will have to recognize colors, shapes and other distinctive features to locate the picture.
Cognitive Sorting
A child’s brain needs to be able to sort the visual 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 butterfly on it, they must quickly sort which pictures have wings and which don’t.
Tools you’ll need
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Don’t worry about making a special trip to the store. You can get all the supplies for this activity right here. Click the pictures above to get what you need.
“My multi-aged group loved this even more than I thought they would! “
My kiddos love this! I use it for early finishers or in the morning while they are staggering in during breakfast. They are very engaged and enjoy playing!
How To Use These I Spy Printables
How to Use the Activity
- 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.
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 I Spy “Flip” Board Game?
Playing this I Spy Board game is simple and a fun games for kids.
- 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.
Our Favorite I Spy Books for Kids:
We can’t live without these!
Once your child’s creativity is sparked with this fun activity, take it a step further with these engaging resources:
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I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles
Sorting Cards
Use the image cards to practice sorting colors, shapes, size, and other attributes. No bed bugs included!
Challenging Words
Create word cards to challenge students with identifying the image with the corresponding word.
Creative Storytelling
Give your child the image cards from the I Spy Bugs and Insects game and have them create a story using the pictures.
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 insects and bugs 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.
Focus Skills
For I Spy “Flip” Board Game:
Bugs and Insects I Spy “Flip” Board Game Set
10 Game Boards
40 Playing Cards
Non-stop FUN!
or Purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers
