Spring I Spy Speech Therapy Games

Engaging Articulation and Language Practice

Spring I Spy is a simple, motivating speech therapy game that works for both articulation and language goals. Because it’s familiar and predictable, students can focus on speech sounds and language skills instead of learning new rules.

Spring themes naturally increase engagement and give students vocabulary they are more likely to hear and use during the season—making practice feel meaningful and relevant.

How to Play Spring I Spy

Most students already know how to play I Spy, which makes this an easy activity to drop into sessions with very little explanation.

Basic Game Play

1. One player silently chooses a picture from the slide.
2. The player gives a clue using a carrier phrase such as:
   • “I spy with my little eye something…”
   • “I am thinking of something that…”
3. Other players guess the object based on the clue.
4. Players take turns giving clues and guessing.

Example

If the chosen picture is flower, the clue might be:
“I see something that grows outside.”

This structure naturally supports description, vocabulary, and speech sound practice.

Using Spring I Spy for Articulation Therapy

Spring I Spy works especially well for articulation because you can control how often target sounds are produced without interrupting the flow of the game.

Ways to Target Articulation

• Use picture sets that include the target sound
• Modify the carrier phrase to elicit specific sounds
• Require multiple productions before allowing a guess

Articulation-Friendly Carrier Phrases

• /s/ blends (spy): “I spy with my little eye something…”
• /l/ (little): “I spy with my little eye…”
• /th/ (thinking, that, something): “I am thinking of something that…”
• /g/ (guess): “Guess what I am thinking of…”
• /k/ (can): “Can you guess what I am thinking?”
• /r/ (ready): “Ready, set, guess…”

These phrases allow for repeated productions while keeping the activity natural and fun.

Using Spring I Spy for Language Therapy

Spring I Spy is also an effective way to target expressive language skills by adding simple rules to the clues.

Before others can guess, require the clue-giver to include one of the following:

• Function: What does it do?
• Category: What group does it belong to?
• Description: Size, shape, color, or pattern
• Location: Where would you find it?

This supports:

• Vocabulary depth
• Categorization
• Descriptive language
• Sentence formulation

How to Use the Spring I Spy Materials

Spring I Spy materials are digital and no-print, making them easy to use for both teletherapy and in-person sessions.

Tips for Use

• Display the slide and play verbally using the pictures
• Use an annotation tool instead of clicking through slides while guessing
• Keep the pace quick to encourage multiple turns and productions

The goal is fast, conversational practice—not perfection.

Want More I Spy Games with Language Prompts?

In addition to Spring I Spy, there are expanded I Spy materials with built-in prompts and challenges that target:

• Vocabulary
• Categorization
• Description
• Sentence-level language

These materials are available inside the Speech Therapy Talk Membership and are designed for quick setup and flexible use.

Become a member today!

Try a Free /s/ Articulation Packet

If you’re using Spring I Spy to target articulation, pair it with my free /s/ packet.

This packet works well with I Spy games because it supports:

• Word- and sentence-level /s/ practice
• Quick drill embedded into game play
• Structured articulation without disrupting conversation

Reference:

McLeod, S., Baker, E., & McCormack, J. (2017).
The impact of intervention on children with speech sound disorders: A systematic review.
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 26(2), 586–609.