I Spy

I Spy
Language - Language Foundation
Level	Primary
Age	2.5
Prerequisites	none
Materials	a collection of objects on a mat or objects around the room

The purpose of this activity is to make children aware of the separate sounds (phonemes) that make up words.

Presentations

Beginning Sounds

Introduction

This can be done with one or a few children. It can be a formal lesson that takes place at a table or a mat, or in can be done casually during the course of the daily activities (but of course, do not interrupt a child who is at work with another activity).

1. For the child's introduction to the game, make the first clues as obvious as possible: "I spy some thing that starts with 'b' that you are holding in your hand."

   

2. Other ones to begin with are: "I spy something you are sitting on that starts with 'ch'," or "I spy someone who just came in the room whose name starts with 'j'."

With 2 or 3 Objects

1. Step one
2. Next step

With Several Objects

1. Step one
2. Next step

With Objects Around the Room

1. Step one
2. Next step

Ending Sounds

1. Step one
2. Next step

Middle Sounds

1. Begin this step by going through the beginning and ending sounds as in the last step.

   

2. Next step

Control of Error

This activity does not have any built-it control of error, it must be done with a adult or older child.

Variations and Extensions

• Once the child can do beginning and ending sounds, you could play the game using just ending sounds. One way to do this would be to use a collection of objects that all have the same beginning sound.
• A version of the game could be played with objects that are not present: "I'm thinking of an animal that starts with 'b'."

Material

The small objects used in this activity are also used in other several other language activities. It can be nice to have a large collection of these and then swap them out from time to time.
Doll-house furniture works great for these. Toys and other objects from around the house can also be used.
There is a very helpful article on assembling a collection of miniatures at What DID we do all day?

Make Your Own

One way to make the objects is to sculpt them out of clay and then paint them:

Source: Glue Sky (Check out this blog post for a more detailed description of how this was done.)