Free Back to School I Spy Printable

That first week back can feel a bit like herding cats, everyone’s a little off schedule, and nothing quite runs smoothly. I always try to have a few no-fuss activities ready to go, and this Back to School I Spy has been one of our go-tos.

It’s simple to print, fun for kids, and just structured enough to sneak in some early math and observation skills without feeling like schoolwork.

Whether you’re easing into routines at home or settling into the classroom, this is one of those easy wins that actually holds their attention.

Black-and-white Back to School I Spy printable worksheet partially colored in with crayons, featuring school supplies like pencils, glue, books, and more.

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Table of Contents

What Is Included in the School I Spy

This Back to School I Spy printable comes with three different pages that work together to keep things fun but focused. It’s low-prep, easy to store, and works just as well in a homeschool setup as it does in a classroom.

Here’s what’s included:

Page 1: Black & White I Spy Puzzle
A hand-drawn-style collage of school supplies, all in black and white. Kids can color as they go, which is great for building both fine motor skills and focus, especially helpful on those wiggly first days.
Page 2: Full-Color I Spy Puzzle
This one’s ready to go straight from the printer. No crayons needed. It’s perfect for center work, morning bins, or when you just want something hands-on without the extra mess.
Page 3: Answer Key (Black & White)
Includes all the item counts and doubles as an extra coloring page. Handy for early finishers or independent check-ins.

The puzzles feature a mix of familiar school items:

Pencils
Backpacks
Rulers
Apples
Calculator
Glue bottles
Crayons
Notebooks
Scissors
Erasers

It’s just the right mix of repetition and variety to keep kids engaged while supporting early math, vocabulary, and attention to detail. This printable is for personal or classroom use only. You’ll find the PDF file at the bottom of the page.

Black-and-white printable I Spy School worksheet with classroom-themed icons like glue, books, and backpacks, ready to be colored. Crayons shown on the right side, ideal for fine motor skills.

Ways to Use This Printable

There are so many easy ways to use this Back to School I Spy, especially during those first few days when everyone’s still adjusting. I usually pull it out when I need something quiet and purposeful, but not overwhelming.

Here are a few ways we’ve used it:

As morning work during the first week, kids can ease in while you handle the chaos
As an independent activity while you prep dinner or go over classroom plans
In centers for sorting, counting, and focus
As a coloring page (the black-and-white version is great for calming busy hands)
As a light icebreaker, kids love pointing out what they found and comparing answers

Quick tip: Print on bright white paper for the best results. If you’re planning to reuse it, laminate the pages and grab some dry erase markers. I keep a few dry-erase pockets on hand for exactly this kind of thing.

A little prep makes this one stretch way beyond the first week.

Partially colored Back to School I Spy worksheet featuring hand-drawn school supplies and number boxes, with a box of Crayola crayons on the side. Great printable for early math and classroom prep.

How to Expand on This Printable

If you’re looking to stretch this into a full-on mini unit, there are a few simple ways to build on the skills this I Spy covers.

Set up a real classroom scavenger hunt using the same items from the printable
Add vocabulary cards that match the school supplies, they can trace, color, or use them in a sentence
Use mini erasers or counting bears to practice grouping and sorting
Pair it with a read-aloud that focuses on first day jitters or getting ready for school

Books we’ve paired with it:

None of it takes much time to set up, and together, it turns into a fun, low-pressure way to settle into the new year.

Full-color free I Spy School printable worksheet on a white background with red safety scissors, featuring bright illustrations of school supplies. Perfect for first week of school center activities.

What Skills Are Being Covered

This might look like a simple school game, but it covers a surprising number of early learning skills. That’s one of the reasons we keep coming back to it:

Fine Motor: Coloring and marking boxes supports pencil grip and control

Math: Counting, matching quantities, and basic number recognition

Language: Recognizing and naming common school items builds early vocabulary

Visual Discrimination: Helps kids spot details and tell similar-looking objects apart

More First Week of School Activities

Looking for more school printables that pair well with the school-theme I Spy? These are some of our favorites for that first week back:

Free Printable School Supply Bingo – A fun way to review classroom items while sneaking in some listening and vocabulary practice.
I Spy Zoo Animals – A good follow-up if your kids love the format and want something new to spot and count.
First Day of School Signs – Perfect for those back-to-school photos if you want a quick, cute way to mark the start of a new grade.
Back to School Alphabet Worksheets – Great for building letter recognition alongside the visual skills practiced in the I Spy.

They all keep prep light while still feeling intentional, exactly what I need that first week.

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Last Updated on 7 August 2025 by Clare Brown