Free Printable Back to School I Spy Activity for Kids

Looking for a fun and easy back-to-school activity for kids? This free printable back to school I Spy worksheet is a simple, no-prep way to keep kids entertained while helping them practice counting, focus, and observation skills.

free printable back to school I Spy game worksheets with school supplies and colorful classroom items on a paper background.

This back to school printable is perfect for the first day of school or a fun activity at home before the new school year begins. Kids will search for school supplies, count how many of each item they find, and write their answers on the lines at the bottom. It also doubles as a back to school coloring page, too! Kids can color in the whole page, including the background, so it will keep your little ones entertained for a while. It’s a great way to get them excited about heading back to school.

Best Ages for This Printable

This printable is best for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and early elementary students. Younger children may need a little help counting the objects or writing the numbers, while older kids can usually complete it independently.

It is especially fun for kids who love seek-and-find activities. Since the pictures are all school-themed, it is a great way to ease kids into the back-to-school season in a fun way.

Educational Benefits of I Spy Worksheets

I Spy worksheets are not just fun, they also help kids practice several important early learning skills, such as:

Visual discrimination
Counting practice
Number writing
Focus and concentration
Attention to detail
Fine motor skills
Hand-eye coordination
Early math skills

Kids may feel like they are just playing a game, but they are also practicing careful observation and counting.

free printable back to school I Spy worksheet with school supplies for kids to count and color

How to Use This Back to School I Spy Activity

This printable is super easy to use, which is always a win during the busy back-to-school season.

Start by printing the PDF on regular printer paper. Then, give your child crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Have them look carefully at the large picture in the middle of the page and count each school-themed item.

Once they find the items, they can write the total number on the matching line at the bottom of the page.

Kids can also circle each item, cross it off, or color it as they go. Coloring the objects while counting can help younger children keep track of what they have already found.

Ways to Use This Printable

This back-to-school activity is great for keeping kids busy. It is a nice option for the days leading up to school, after-school downtime, or a quiet activity when everyone is settling back into a routine.

It is also a cute activity to set out with crayons while you are packing lunches, labeling folders, or getting backpacks ready for the first day.

Teachers can use this Back to School printable in so many easy ways. Since it is low-prep and printer-friendly, it makes a great addition to your first-week-of-school plans.

It is also a great way to give students something fun and familiar to work on while everyone is settling into the classroom routine.

Make This Printable Reusable

If you want to use this activity more than once, you can easily make it reusable.

Place the printable in a sheet protector or dry erase pocket and let kids use dry erase markers to complete it. You can also laminate the page for classrooms or repeated use at home. This is a great option for teachers who want to use the activity with multiple students.

Fun Ways to Make It a Game

Want to add a little extra excitement? Try turning this Back to School worksheet into a game. Here are a few fun ideas:

Set a timer and see how quickly kids can find everything.
Have kids color each type of object a different color.
Let children work in pairs and compare answers.
Turn it into a classroom challenge.

These little variations are perfect if you want to stretch the activity a bit longer or use it with different age groups.

Supplies Needed

You only need a few simple supplies for this Back to School I Spy activity:

PDF file
Printer
White printer paper or cardstock
Pencil
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Optional: laminator or sheet protector and dry erase marker(s) if you want to reuse it

Regular printer paper works perfectly for a one-time activity. If you want the printable to be a little sturdier, cardstock is a great option.

How to Download, Save, and Print

Click the download link.
Open the PDF by clicking the download link below.
Save the PDF to your device.
If you are using a computer, click the download icon and save the file to a folder where you keep your printables. If you are using a phone or tablet, save the PDF to your files.
Open the file.
Once the PDF is saved, open it on your computer, phone, or tablet.
Print the activity page.
Print the worksheet on standard 8.5 x 11-inch white printer paper. You can also use cardstock if you want the page to be sturdier.
Check your printer settings.
Choose "fit to page" or "scale to fit" so the whole design prints correctly. Since this printable is black and white, you do not need color ink.
Set out supplies for kids.
Give kids a pencil to write their answers and crayons, markers, or colored pencils to color the page when they are done.
Make it reusable, if desired.
For repeated use, place the printed page in a sheet protector or laminate it. Then kids can complete the activity with a dry erase marker and wipe it clean when finished.