I Spy: Beginning Sounds

Presentation

1
Place the tray in front of the child and name each object together.
2
Say, "I spy with my little eye something on this tray that begins with /m/." Use the sound, not the letter name.
3
If the child does not choose, say the word stretching the first sound: "mmmmug. Mug begins with /m/."
4
Hand the child the mug and say, "Mug begins with /m/."
5
Play again with the other objects.
6
Swap in new objects and repeat until the child answers quickly.
7
Invite the child to be the one who spies: "Now you give me a sound."

Extensions, easiest to hardest

Tray of objects that share the same first sound, then play "What sound does everything begin with?"
Tray with more objects (five to six) including two with the same first sound
I Spy with objects in the room instead of a tray
I Spy with no objects: "Tell me a word that begins with /s/."
Adult says a word, child says its first sound: "What is the first sound in sun?"

Control of error

The adult, who repeats the word with the first sound stretched so the child can hear it.

Ready to move on when the child…

Names the first sound of a spoken word without objects present
Gives a word that begins with a sound the adult says
Plays I Spy with a peer independently

Guide note

Always use pure sounds (/m/, not "muh"). Choose continuous sounds first (/m/, /s/, /f/) because they can be stretched. Dual-language learners may play with object names in either language.