Practicing the letter sound V just got a whole lot more fun!
Instead of sitting with worksheets or flashcards, kids can grab a game board, flip a card, and race to be the first one to spy volcano, violin, vest, or van hiding in the picture scene.
This I Spy Board Game makes phonics practice fast-paced and exciting while giving students meaningful exposure to the tricky /v/ sound in beginning, medial, and ending positions.
Whether you’re working with preschoolers just starting to recognize the sound of V, kindergarteners ready for more advanced word connections, or students in speech therapy working on articulation goals, this activity delivers exactly what you need: hands-on learning, playful engagement, and easy prep.
What’s Included in the Letter V I Spy Game Set
10 colorful I Spy game boards filled with bright and busy scenes featuring words with the letter sound V
40 image cards with engaging illustrations of V words such as volcano, violin, vest, vegetables, van, viking, Valentine, and more
20 star tokens to use for competitive or cooperative gameplay
Step-by-step instructions that make it easy to get started right away
Simple prep – just print, laminate, cut, and your game is ready for years of fun
Academic Skills Reinforced with Letter Sound V
Letter sound recognition – Students practice hearing, saying, and identifying the /v/ sound in beginning, medial, and final positions.
Phonemic awareness – Kids work on isolating the /v/ sound and blending it into whole words for stronger decoding skills.
Articulation goals – Every time students say van, violet, vest, or vegetables, they get meaningful practice producing the /v/ sound clearly, supporting speech therapy targets.
Vocabulary growth – From violin to volcano, learners build word knowledge and make stronger picture-to-word connections.
Visual discrimination and scanning – Searching a busy board for the correct match strengthens attention to detail and early reading fluency.
Secondary Skills (SEL + Life Skills)
Turn-taking and sportsmanship – Students practice waiting patiently, celebrating others’ wins, and handling competition with kindness.
Expressive language and communication – Naming the V words, describing what they see, and talking with peers naturally expands oral language skills.
Focus and quick thinking – Because the game is a race, kids stay alert, engaged, and motivated to participate.
Flexible play for different learners – Cooperative, competitive, or independent play options allow every child to feel successful at their own level.
How to Play the I Spy 'Flip' Board Game
Pick a game board and place it in the middle where everyone can see.
Pass out the image cards face-down so each player has a neat little stack.
Everyone flips a card at the same time… then the race begins!
The first player to spy the picture on the board and point it out earns a star token.
Keep flipping, spotting, and collecting tokens until all the cards are gone. The player with the most tokens at the end is the winner! 🎉
Want to change things up? Try independent play with mini erasers, parallel play where each student has their own board, or a cooperative round where kids cheer each other on. It’s easy to adapt for every learner and still keep the fun going strong.
Perfect For:
Literacy centers and phonics warm-ups – Add this game to your small group routine to give kids playful, hands-on practice with the letter sound V. It’s an easy way to reinforce beginning, middle, and ending V sounds while building vocabulary and keeping students engaged.
Speech therapy and occupational therapy sessions – Use the visual cards and fast-paced game boards to work on articulation goals for the /v/ sound, expressive language growth, and even fine motor control as kids flip cards, point, and place tokens.
ELL and vocabulary support – The colorful V word pictures give English Language Learners the scaffolding they need to connect images with words, practice saying new vocabulary out loud, and build confidence in using the letter T in real-world contexts.
Sub plans, early finishers, or indoor recess – Keep a copy prepped and ready so substitutes can pull out a game that is both low-prep and high-engagement. It’s also the perfect activity to keep early finishers focused or to calm the chaos on a rainy day inside.
Homeschool learning and family literacy time – Parents love that this game adds screen-free phonics practice into the daily routine. Kids get valuable repetition with letter sound V in a fun way that feels more like a game than a lesson.
Standards Alignment
✔ Texas Pre-K Guidelines – Supports phonological awareness, vocabulary, and oral language through interactive play.
✔ Virginia ELDS – Reinforces language growth, sustained attention, and cooperative learning during meaningful activities.
✔ Common Core ELA Standards
RF.K.1d – Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters
RF.K.2d – Isolate and pronounce initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes)
RF.K.3a – Demonstrate basic knowledge of letter-sound correspondences
SL.K.1a – Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners
Check out what other educators are saying:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christine H. wrote: “I used this as a vocabulary game with my RTI group. It was great to have new types of words… and a good tool to see which students could grasp words and images quickly.”
✨ Bright visuals, quick prep, and endless replay value make this I Spy Board Game Letter Sound V a must-have for teachers, parents, and therapists.
Kids will love the thrill of the game, and you’ll love knowing they’re practicing phonics, articulation, vocabulary, and visual discrimination skills all at once!
📥 Download Info:
This is a digital download: no physical items will be shipped.
I love the "Flip" activities. They're always colorful and engaging. These activities reinforce childrens use of language, labeling, identifying of vocabulary associated with specific themes. My students in the past have loved the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall flip, so when I wanted to update my beginning of the school year activities I happened to find the September themed one and knew I had to purchase it. I laminate my mats and have the kids cover the images with colored small or large game chips, vase jewels or playdough. If the images on the mats are too busyi make sure to uave extra copies for the kids to engage in matching the images. The kids love it!
I am greatly appreciative of this content. I have developmentally delayed preschool baby 3-5 year olds and this really is helping them a lot. I wish I had pictures, but I don't yet.