DIY I Spy Boxes for Preschool Using Recycled Items

Are you for a simple, hands-on activity that builds observation, memory, and language skills? Try this DIY I Spy game for preschoolers—made with upcycled takeout containers and small classroom odds and ends. It’s a fun, low-prep project that encourages creativity and critical thinking in young learners.

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Materials to Make Your Own I Spy Box

To create our boxes, we used:

• Clean foam or plastic takeout containers
• Small leftover classroom items
• White glue

Throughout the year, our class collects small items when children bring in sets of 10 objects to count. We saved the counting pieces in a jar and reused them for this activity. You can also use items commonly found in a junk drawer. Some examples include:

• Mini erasers
• Jingle bells
• Keys from old keyboards
• Beads and buttons
• Shells, rocks, or other nature items
• Broken toy parts like wheels
• Puzzle pieces or board game items
• Broken crayons
• Marker Lids
• Pom Poms
• Keys

How to Make an I Spy Box With Preschoolers

1. Prepare the box: Open the container and lay it flat.
2. Add glue: Have children spread a thick layer of white glue across the bottom.
3. Choose and place objects: Children select 15-20 small items and press them into the glue. We encouraged them to space things out so each item could be easily seen.
4. Let it dry: Leave the boxes open to dry overnight. By morning, the items should be firmly attached and ready for play! If the children used a very thick layer of glue, the boxes may take up to two days to fully dry.

How to Play the I Spy Game with Preschool Students

This classic game is a great way to build vocabulary and observation skills.

Instructions:

• One child chooses an item and gives a clue using descriptive words.
• The other children take turns guessing what the item might be.
• The child who guesses correctly gets to be the next one to give clues using their own I Spy box.

Example Clues:

• “I spy something round.”
• “There is something shiny in my box. What is it?”
• “Can you find something orange?”
• “I spy something that you use to write.”

Encourage the use of color, shape, texture, and category words to help develop descriptive language.

How to Play a Memory Game with an I Spy Box

This game builds focus and memory skills while encouraging conversation. It works best with a foam containers. For containers with clear lids, tape a piece of paper inside the lid to block the items from view.

Instructions:

1. One child shows the open box to a partner for 10–15 seconds.
2. Then, they close the box and ask questions like:
   • “What is yellow in my box?”
   • “Did you see a letter in my box?”
   • “What foods are in my box?”

This simple game sharpens attention and is a favorite with my preschoolers.

More Learning Activities to Use with Your I Spy Boxes

Counting and Sorting Game for Preschool

Turn your I Spy box into a math activity by asking questions like:

• “How many items are red?”
• “Can you find three round things?”
• “How many items are soft or fuzzy?”

This builds sorting, categorizing, and early counting skills in a natural way.

Oral Storytelling With I Spy Boxes

Encourage children to choose 2–3 objects from their box and make up a story that includes them:

• “Once upon a time an ant and a frog wanted to play soccer. They found an old soccer ball, but it was flat. So…”
• “The smooth rock and the bumpy rock were best friends. They wanted to have an adventure. They built a boat out of green blocks, and…”

This activity boosts imagination, sequencing, and verbal storytelling skills—plus it’s just fun!

Beginning Sounds Game for Phonemic Awareness

Ask children to look for items that begin with a specific sound:

• “Can you find something that starts with /b/?”
• “What starts the same as ‘bead’?”

Preschoolers Love Their I Spy Boxes

Kids are excited to use the I Spy boxes that they made. They love playing the games again and again. Whether you add them to a learning center, use them during quiet time, or pair children for games, I Spy boxes offer endless opportunities for hands on learning and conversation.

If your children enjoyed the I Spy boxes, they’ll love these other playful ways to build attention to detail:

Keep Exploring Observation Skills With Your Preschoolers

Try the What’s Missing Game
A simple memory and observation activity that’s easy to set up and great for circle time.

Download Free Seasonal Scavenger Hunts
Take the learning outside with printable scavenger hunts designed for preschoolers—one for each season!

Easy Science Experiments: Roly Poly Scientific Method Activity with Pill Bugs
Encourage hands-on observation and scientific thinking with this engaging activity that guides children through simple experiments using pill bugs, perfect for developing early science skills.