I Spy "Flip" Board Game: Emotions

I Spy “Flip” Board Game: Emotions

Recommended Grade Level:

Preschool kindergarten early elementary

Type of Resource: PDF

Number of Pages: 21

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Coordinating Activities

Emotions I Spy “Flip” Board Game

40 I Spy picture cards, 8 to a page (happy faces, sad faces, angry faces, scared faces, surprised faces and more)
10 full-color I Spy game boards
1 page of 20 emoji face tokens
Table of contents and preparation directions
I Spy “Flip” game instructions

The picture cards have no words, so kids match by looking closely. Some cards look a lot alike, like kids showing the same feeling in different ways, so kids have to check the details to find the exact match.

Required Materials:

White cardstock, printer and ink
Laminator
Paper cutter or scissors
Optional: mini erasers or counters to use as tokens

Standards for Feelings Vocabulary, Speaking and Listening

This emotions I Spy game supports early learning standards connected to recognizing and naming feelings, describing what kids see and taking turns in conversation.

Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.4: Describe familiar people, places, things and events with details. Kids describe how each face looks and what it might be feeling.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.6: Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings and ideas clearly. Kids name the feeling on each card they find.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.5.C: Identify real-life connections between words and their use. Kids connect feeling words to times they felt the same way.

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and TEKS for English Language Arts and Reading

PK4.II.D.1: Child understands and uses a wide variety of words to label and describe people, places, things and actions. Kids label each feeling they see.
TEKS K.1(C): Share information and ideas by speaking audibly and clearly using the conventions of language. Kids say the feeling word out loud with each match.

Virginia English Standards of Learning

K.RV.1.F: Use newly learned words and phrases in discussions and speaking activities. Kids use feeling words while they play.
K.C.2.A: Describe personal experiences using complete sentences. Kids tell about a time they felt the same way as the face on the card.

The Emotions I Spy “Flip” Board Game gives preschool and kindergarten kids hands-on practice with visual discrimination and feelings vocabulary using 40 picture cards and 10 colorful game boards.

Flip a card and find the happy face! Kids race to spot kids showing all kinds of feelings on a busy I Spy board.

The picture cards show happy faces, sad faces, angry faces, scared faces and surprised faces. Some cards look a lot alike, like kids showing the same feeling in different ways, so kids have to check the details to find the exact match.

The cards have pictures only, so kids who aren’t reading yet can play right along. Name each picture as you go to build feelings vocabulary while kids search.

With 10 different game boards, the same pictures land in new spots each round. That keeps the search fresh while kids build visual scanning, focus and attention to detail.

How to Play the Emotions I Spy Game

Choose one I Spy game board and place it where every player can see it. Deal the picture cards face down so each player has a small stack.
All players flip their top card at the same time and race to find the matching picture on the board.
The first player to point to the right picture names the feeling, then wins an emoji face token or keeps the card as a point. Play until every card is flipped. The player with the most points wins!

Cooperative Play: Put the picture cards in one shared pile. Kids take turns flipping a card and work together to find it on the board. Cover each match with a token to see how many pictures the group can find.

Independent Play: Set one board and a stack of cards in a learning center. Kids flip one card at a time, find the picture and name the feeling. Covering each picture with a token or mini eraser adds a little fine motor practice.

Easy Ways to Differentiate This Emotions I Spy Game

Every group has a mix of feelings vocabulary, attention and visual scanning skills. These simple changes keep the I Spy routine familiar while meeting each child where they are.

For Children Who Need More Support:

Start with 8 to 10 cards and one board.
Name each feeling together and make the face before you start the game.
Model the first flip, search and match.
Accept pointing or touching as an answer.

For On-Level Practice:

Play with all 40 cards and one board.
Have kids name the feeling after every match.
Switch boards so the same pictures land in new spots.
Sort the cards by feeling, like happy, sad, angry and scared.

For an Extra Challenge:

Have kids name the feeling before they start searching.
Make a face and let kids find the matching card.
Ask kids to tell about a time they felt that way.
Have kids tell how two look-alike faces are different.

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support:

Say the name of each picture and give plenty of wait time to find it.
Accept pointing, gestures, AAC or any communication method the child already uses.
Use the cards to build both receptive and expressive vocabulary.
Play cooperatively when the goal is vocabulary, not speed.
Have kids place a token on each match for added fine motor practice.