I Spy a Calm Color

Sitting in a circle, we play the classic guessing game "I Spy" with colors: children search with their eyes without getting up, then tiptoe over to touch the object. They practice scanning their surroundings and slowing down at the end of the session.

How to play

1. Sitting in a circle, we take three deep breaths with our hands on our tummies (1 min).
2. The teacher sings: "I spy with my little eye something that is… blue" (1 min).
3. Children search with their eyes without getting up and point to what they think it is (1 min).
4. The teacher chooses two children who tiptoe very slowly to touch the object and come back to the circle like kittens (1 min).
5. Last round with a "sleepy" color, white or gray, and everyone yawns and stretches when they find it (1 min).

Rules

• Search with your eyes, bottoms on the floor.
• Point with your finger, no shouting.
• Tiptoe there and tiptoe back.

Variations

Adaptations

• Child with limited mobility: they lead the rhyme and point; a buddy brings them the object if possible.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing child: the teacher also shows a card in that color.
• Child with low vision: choose big, nearby objects, and they can touch instead of look.

Learning goals

• Search for colors in the environment by sight.
• Learn a traditional game.
• Move slowly to calm down.

Teacher tip

Pick objects that are safe to touch and at children's height. Outside, it works with clothes, trees or doors too.

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