Christmas I Spy board game fun is on the way! Flip it, find it, cheer it on! The Christmas Theme I Spy "Flip" Board Game mixes festive fun with skill-building play, with bright holiday pictures like wreaths, ornaments, stockings, gingerbread cookies and milk and cookies.

This I Spy game was created to support preschool and early elementary students in building matching, scanning and visual discrimination skills. With a fast-paced flip format and game boards bursting with Christmas cheer, it is the kind of activity kids beg to play again and again. It is quick to prep and flexible enough for the classroom, homeschool or therapy settings all season long.

With this Christmas I Spy game, you get

• 10 colorful Christmas I Spy game boards
• 40 Christmas picture cards to find on the boards
• 40 token cards for keeping score
• A quick race-to-find format for 2-4 players that adapts easily for centers or solo play
• Matching, visual scanning and holiday vocabulary practice in every round

Print, laminate and let the spying begin!

What's Included

• 10 colorful Christmas-themed I Spy game boards, each filled with holiday images arranged differently
• 40 individual I Spy picture cards, with pictures such as a tree, gingerbread house, reindeer, milk and cookies, gingerbread person and wreath
• 40 token cards
• Instructions for how to play the "Flip" version of I Spy

Why Teachers Love It

• Kids ask to play again: Quick rounds and friendly competition keep every player watching the board.
• Real skill practice: Every round builds matching, visual scanning and visual discrimination.
• Quick to prep: Print, laminate and cut apart the cards and you are ready to play in minutes.
• Flexible play: Use it with 2-4 players, as an independent center or as side-by-side parallel play.
• Doubles as a vocabulary game: Naming and describing seasonal objects is great for ELLs and speech therapy.
• A calm moment in December: The structured search-and-find format gives children something focused to do on a busy holiday day.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Visual scanning and visual discrimination: Children locate pictures in varying positions and orientations on the game boards.
• Matching: Each round asks children to match the picture on their card to one of many holiday pictures on the board.
• Object identification and vocabulary: Children name objects they spy, like wreaths, cocoa mugs, ornaments and gingerbread cookies.
• Focus and attention: Quick rounds help children build sustained attention in a playful way.
• Processing speed and eye-hand coordination: Flipping cards and finding the right picture quickly builds speed and coordination.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Taking turns
• Waiting during group play
• Maintaining attention
• Following directions
• Winning and losing gracefully
• Working independently

How to Use It

Step 1: Print on card stock and laminate for durability. Cut out the picture cards and tokens.

Step 2: Each player receives a small stack of face-down cards. The group shares one I Spy game board. Players flip their top card and race to find the matching picture on the board.

Step 3: The first player to point to their picture accurately earns a token. Play until all cards are flipped, then count the tokens and declare a cheerful winner!

Materials You'll Need

• Card stock
• Laminating pouches and a laminator (for durability)
• Mini erasers or dry erase markers (for independent play)

Easy Differentiation

Every group of players brings different visual skills and attention spans. This game is easy to adjust so everyone can play.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Play with one game board and a small stack of picture cards
• Name each picture together before the game begins
• Point to the part of the board where the picture can be found
• Play cooperatively without the race so children can search at their own pace

For On-Level Practice

• Play the game as written with 2-4 players
• Name each picture out loud when you find it
• Count tokens at the end to see who won
• Rotate through different game boards

For an Extra Challenge

• Use more game boards and the full set of picture cards
• Describe where the picture is on the board, such as "next to the wreath"
• Work through the whole card stack independently, marking each picture with a mini eraser or dry erase marker
• Challenge players to find the picture before a short timer runs out

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Use the picture cards as prompts for labeling, describing and sequencing
• Use a short language frame such as "I spy a ___."
• Give each child their own board and card stack for parallel play without pressure to compete or share materials
• Have children point to or cover the picture to practice fine motor precision
• Give extra processing time and take turns one at a time when needed

Perfect For

• Small groups and learning centers
• RTI and intervention time
• Speech and occupational therapy
• Indoor recess and early finishers
• Sensory rooms and calming spaces
• Winter and Christmas theme units
• ELL support
• Homeschooling with siblings (some parents even give it as a holiday gift!)

Standards

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

Common Core State Standards

• CCSS SL.K.1.a: Follow agreed-upon rules, such as listening to others and taking turns, during group play.
• CCSS L.K.6: Use words learned through conversation, such as wreath, ornament and gingerbread, while naming pictures.

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines

• Texas Pre-K Guidelines PK4.V.E.1: Sort objects that are the same and different. Children compare similar holiday 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 ELAR K.1.D: Work with others by following agreed-upon rules, including taking turns.

Virginia Early Learning and Development Standards

• 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 English K.C.1.A.i: Listen actively and follow agreed-upon rules for participating, such as waiting for a turn.

Check out what other educators are saying:

★★★★★ Cristina C. wrote: “I used it as a game during my small group, the kids love it and it is a good resource to get them to pay attention.”

★★★★★ Jessica G. wrote: “My students LOVE finding the pictures and ask to do it anytime we have some free time.”

Add the Christmas Theme I Spy "Flip" Board Game to your cart and have a festive, fun game ready for centers, small groups and partner play. Print, laminate and watch your learners build matching, visual scanning and vocabulary skills all through December!

The Christmas Theme I Spy "Flip" Board Game is also included in the 30 Theme I Spy Flip Bundle, available year-round with tons of seasonal favorites. Grab the bundle and save!

Download Details

This is a digital download. No physical items will be shipped.

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