Homemade I Spy Game gameschooling prereading preschoolers

Preschool Corner: Quick game

Hi! Future Ticia 2024 here, I’m updating this post so my explanation makes a bit more sense, and so you can know exactly what I used to make this homemade I Spy Game. This is great to use for gameschooling for many ages, but I was using it for Homeschooling Preschool, and it is a great way to build some prereading skills.

Homemade I Spy Game

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I now return you to past Ticia 2010

Making a homemade I Spy Game

Remember last week when I said I was going to go back and buy a second set of the flash cards?  Well, I did, and here’s what I did.

Homemade I Spy Game Supplies needed

two sets of the same flash card game (mine were bought at the Dollar Store, so don’t buy the really cool flash cards on Amazon because that would be a waste of money); scissors or a large punch (mine is 1 3/8”), plastic bag or pencil pouch to put completed game in

Making the I Spy Game

Future Ticia 2024 is going to admit this is super easy, and the purpose of this post is mostly to get you going, “Oh yeah! I could do that!”

cutting out pieces for the I Spy game

Punch out squares from your second set of cards.  Since my kids are slightly older I tried to make the placement a little harder.  This meant I was able to get about 5-6 squares per card.

Side note: I also made an easy version where I punched out one piece from each card and then left the card in there to find the missing piece.

the remains of the card after making my I Spy game

This is what the cards looked like after I was done cutting out all of those pieces. Y’all when I was done cutting out those pieces my wrist was so done.

Homemade I Spy Game gameschooling prereading preschoolers

Completed game in a bag, it barely fits in a sandwich bag if you’re stubborn.

Homemade I Spy game for preschoolers

Homemade I Spy Game rules

Rules for play (as we did it):  Pass out six cards to each person (I picked this as a handy number that means you’re likely to get matches often).  Obviously, this is the second uncut set of cards.

Pass the bag of squares around.  When it comes to you take a square out and see if it matches any of your cards.  If it does you keep it, if not it goes into the middle discard pile.

Each person also got a card with a hole punched in it; they are trying to find the missing piece for that card.

It was a lot of fun to play, and the kids had a blast being able to make an actual game out of their beloved flashcards (at first they weren’t convinced about my cutting up the second set, but now they’re okay with it).

For more great preschool ideas head over to Jolanthe at Homeschool Creations.


Comments

16 responses to “Preschool Corner: Quick game”

  1. The Activity Mom Avatar
    The Activity Mom

    Great idea! Love it!

  2. Phyllis Avatar
    Phyllis

    Clever version of I-spy!

  3. yes, very clever. I think I might just use that one 🙂

  4. An Almost Unschooling Mom Avatar
    An Almost Unschooling Mom

    I like it a lot! Now if only I had a Target nearby – but I think we're making a road trip this weekend – maybe I can put that on our list of stops.

  5. Oh, I do believe I am now in search of multiple flashcards…

  6. Oh, now I wish I had a double set – what a clever matching game, especially when played with a few kids.

  7. I love it! Very clever.

  8. I am with the other's Great idea!

  9. Great game – you can mail my set with the Texas postcard… Thanks!

  10. Pathfinder Mom Avatar
    Pathfinder Mom

    Very clever. Don't you love the dollar spot?

    If that punch is like my scrapbook punches, I totally feel for your arm!!

  11. What a fun way to hone observation skills. This would be fun for artist study too… wheels turning….

    I love that nifty square puncher you've got. I guess that's a scrapbooking thing. Cool!

  12. Christy Avatar
    Christy

    Fantastic! Now I have to go buy a second set.

  13. MaryAnne Avatar
    MaryAnne

    Great idea! My kids would enjoy this, maybe I can make it to Target before they sell out of flashcards…

  14. Infant Bibliophile Avatar
    Infant Bibliophile

    I love this idea! This is my first week linking up to Preschool Corner and I'm really excited to see all of the great ideas.

  15. Nicole {tired, need sleep} Avatar
    Nicole {tired, need sleep}

    Hi Ticia. I just wanted to let you know I've had this post of yours in the back of my mind for some time now. When Target had all those neat flash card sets out I picked up two of each set and Matthew used them for matching and memory games – he was only 2 or barely 3 at the time. Anyway, I've had the set of outer space ones for a long, long time, and was waiting for the right time to use them. Matthew is officially fascinated by outer space right now, and we are going on a long car trip soon, so I found this old post of yours and am going to make this game for him (he's way past matching games now!) to play in the car. I don't have a big hole punch, so I think I'll just cut them into squares and we'll just try to match the squares to our cards. You are brilliant – thank you!! 🙂

  16. […] Memory- there are 10 million variations of this on Amazon, I had shared with me: homemade memory game (my version), earth game, and sea animals, milk bottle cap game.  I have several more pinned.  For ages 2-3, I would only have out 4 matches and put them face up, as your kid becomes more familiar with the game start with them facedown, and let them leave it turned up as they turn them over looking for matches.  You can gradually increase the skill involved.  If you do a google search you can find literally hundreds of versions to print off, or you could make your own using index cards and stickers, or buy two sets of flash cards to make your set. […]

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