Zoo counting I Spy board game fun for numbers 1-10! In the I Spy Board Game Zoo Counting, children flip a card, scan a lively zoo board and race to spy numerals, ten-frames, monkeys, peacocks, tigers and pandas before their partner does.

This hands-on zoo math game gives preschool, pre-k and kindergarten children playful practice with number recognition, counting and subitizing (seeing how many are in a small group without counting each one). Bright animals and quick turns keep kids engaged. Once they learn the routine, the game works for partners, small groups and independent review.

With this zoo counting I Spy game, you get

• 10 zoo I Spy game boards with numbers 1-10
• 40 I Spy image cards with numerals, ten-frames and zoo counting pictures
• 20 token cards
• A quick race-to-find format, plus a cooperative way to play

Print, deal the cards and let the zoo spying begin!

What's Included

• 10 zoo I Spy game boards with numbers 1-10 and zoo-themed counting images
• 40 I Spy image cards featuring numerals, ten-frames (a 2-by-5 grid that shows a number) and zoo counting pictures, such as a monkey ten-frame, a flamingo, a peacock and the number 10
• 20 token cards for tracking each round
• Teacher directions for setting up and playing
• Zoo counting visuals including monkeys, flamingos, peacocks, tigers and pandas
• Multiple board layouts, so kids keep playing without learning one board by heart

Why Teachers Love It

• Math practice that feels like play: Kids search, match and count their way through numbers 1-10 and ask to play again.
• Animals kids love: Monkeys, tigers and pandas make number practice a natural fit for zoo and animal units.
• Numerals and quantities together: Cards connect written numbers to ten-frames and pictures in every round.
• A routine kids learn fast: The simple flip-and-find rules make it easy to introduce and easy to reuse.
• Partners or small groups: Use it in math centers, sub plans, homeschool lessons or intervention groups.
• Easy to adjust: Choose specific cards, use fewer images or play together as a team.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Number recognition 1-10: Children identify numerals on the cards and game boards.
• Counting 1-10: Children count zoo pictures, ten-frames and visual groups.
• Subitizing: Children recognize small quantities quickly without counting every object.
• One-to-one correspondence: Children touch and count each object once as they match quantities.
• Visual scanning and visual discrimination: Children search a full board and notice the details that set similar zoo images apart.
• Math and zoo vocabulary: Naming numbers and zoo animals builds language during play.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Taking turns
• Waiting during group play
• Maintaining attention
• Using mathematical language
• Listening to classmates
• Building confidence during group participation

How to Use It

Step 1: Print the game boards, image cards and token cards. Laminate if you like, then cut apart the pieces. Choose one zoo I Spy game board and place it in the center where every player can see it clearly.

Step 2: Give each player a stack of zoo image cards face down. Players flip over their top card at the same time and look closely at the numeral, ten-frame or picture.

Step 3: Players race to find the matching image on the board. The first player to point to the correct match wins a token. Keep playing until all the cards have been flipped, then count the tokens to see who won.

For a less competitive version, let children take turns flipping one card at a time and find the matches together as a team. Cooperative play works well for preschool, special education, occupational therapy and kids who are still building confidence.

Easy Differentiation

Children come to this game with different number sense, visual skills and comfort levels with group play. These options make it easy to adjust so everyone can join in.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Start with one board and a small set of image cards
• Use only the cards for numbers 1-5 at first, then add 6-10
• Name each numeral together before the game begins
• Touch and count the pictures on a card out loud together

For On-Level Practice

• Play the race version as written with a partner
• Say the number on each card when you find its match
• Rotate through different game boards
• Count the tokens at the end to see who won

For an Extra Challenge

• Use all 40 image cards in one game
• Say how many are in a ten-frame without counting each one
• Tell whether a card shows more or less than 5
• Compare token piles and tell who has more

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice number words and zoo vocabulary such as monkey, peacock and panda
• Use a short language frame such as "I spy ___."
• Build visual scanning and pointing skills during OT sessions
• Use the pictures to make new words easier to understand for ELL and ESL learners
• Give extra processing time and remove the race when needed

Perfect For

• Zoo and animal theme units
• Preschool and kindergarten math centers
• Small group math instruction
• Partner games
• Morning tubs and early finishers
• Intervention groups
• Occupational therapy and speech therapy sessions
• Indoor recess and sub plans
• Homeschool math lessons

Standards

This zoo counting I Spy game supports the 2022 Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and Virginia's Early Learning and Development Standards (2021), plus kindergarten number and speaking and listening standards in Common Core, the TEKS (Math, adopted 2012; ELAR, adopted 2017) and the Virginia SOL (Math 2023, English 2024):

Common Core State Standards

• CCSS K.CC.A.3: Connect a number of objects to its written numeral within 1-10.
• CCSS K.CC.B.5: Count to answer "how many?" questions about groups of zoo pictures.
• CCSS SL.K.1.a: Follow agreed-upon rules, such as listening to others and taking turns, during group play.

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines

• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.V.A.5: Recognize numerals 0-10. Children find the numeral on their card among the pictures on the board.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.V.A.3: Count up to 10 items and know the last number tells how many.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.V.E.1: Sort objects that are the same and different. Children compare similar zoo pictures to find the one that matches their card.
• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.I.C.4: Interact with peers during cooperative play that shares a common plan and goal.

Texas TEKS

• TEKS Math K.2.B: Read and represent whole numbers with and without pictures, including 1-10 in this game.
• TEKS Math K.2.D: Recognize instantly the quantity of a small group of objects, such as a filled ten-frame.
• TEKS ELAR K.1.D: Work with others by following agreed-upon rules, including taking turns.

Virginia Early Learning and Development Standards

• Virginia ELDS CD3.1: Count and recognize quantities with numerals, ten-frames and zoo pictures.
• Virginia ELDS CD3.4: Sort and classify by noticing how pictures are alike and matching the ones that are the same.

Virginia SOL

• VA SOL Math K.NS.2.a: Read and identify numerals, including 1-10 on the cards and boards.
• VA SOL English K.C.1.A.i: Listen actively and follow agreed-upon rules for participating, such as waiting for a turn.

Add the I Spy Board Game Zoo Counting to your cart and have a fast, fun number game ready for zoo units, small groups, homeschool lessons and therapy sessions. Your kids will be spying monkeys, counting peacocks and naming numbers 1-10 in every round!

The Zoo Counting I Spy game is also included in 30 I Spy Board Games: Bundle #4 with color, emotion, counting and 2D shape games. Grab the bundle and save!

Download Details

Please note: This is a digital download that will be available to you directly after purchase. Nothing will be mailed to you.

You will receive a link to the download in three places

1. On the 'thank you' page after checkout
2. In your email
3. Login on the site here: https://lifeovercsstore.com/account