Free Teaching Resource
I Spy - Oral Language Activity
A fun activity to encourage the development of oral language.
Use this resource when developing vocabulary and oral language in the primary grades.
Project the I Spy Objects Jar on the screen in your classroom. Encourage students to take turns orally describing different objects from the jar. For a challenge, ask the students to draw the objects and write words or phrases to describe each object.
A full set of instructions is included in the download.
This activity can be used in small groups or as a whole class.
Use the drop-down menu to choose between the PDF or Google Slide version.
Please note: The Google Slide version only includes the instructions and I Spy Jar. It does not include the activity worksheet.
Common Core Curriculum alignment
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.4
Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.6
Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.4
Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.5.A
Sort words into categories (e.g., colors, clothing) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.5.B
Define words by category and by one or more key attributes (e.g., a duck is a bird that swims; a tiger is a large cat with stripes).

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English Language Arts and ReadingReadingFoundational Language SkillsVocabularyOral LanguageWorksheetsGuided Reading ActivitiesESLBlended Learning
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Resource Updates
We have added a Google slide version to use virtually.
Addition by Natalie Jan 11th, 2021
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