Rachel, from the UK, takes us on a game of I spy…

What did you do?

We used this activity as part of our focus on colours following on from ‘Gone fishing’. 

We’ve been on lots of walks around our area recently and we’ve been talking about all of the things that we see and playing a simplified I spy. We’ve spotted colours, shapes, numbers, letters and words.  As a bit of fun and to focus what we were searching for I introduced a magnifying glass. 

You will need: 

  • an actual magnifying glass (optional but they are a super purchase for budding explorers)
  • cardboard/coloured card/paper
  • pen/pencil
  • scissors
  • bluetac

What did you do?

First I drew and cut out a cover for my magnifying glass (I made several on different coloured papers).  I made sure I used my magnifying glass as a guide for how big it needed to be and cut out a circle in the middle. 

I stuck it onto the magnifying glass using bluetac so that I could change it easily. If you don’t own a magnifying glass you can cut the whole thing out of some card (a cereal box is just about sturdy enough).

We went on a search around the house and a search around the local area looking through the magnifying glass at the things that we found and talking about the colours that we could see.

This can be used for so many things:

  • We have made shape finders too (see picture). 
  • You could decorate your surround with numbers and search for the biggest number you can find. What comes next?
  • Add letters and search for those – which ones do you know? Can you read the word?
  • Stick on a few leaves and petals (or draw them) and there’s your very own nature spotter.
  • Cover one in cotton wool and another in sand or add a brick design –  search for materials that are hard and soft. There is so much learning and language opportunities when talking about the textures you find and having a closer look at them. 

What activity do you have planned next?

Shape hunting – I’ve made some cardboard shape finders so we will use these to play with next. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself…

Find out more about Rachel and family by reading this article.