Show and Spy Slides 🔍
📐
Level 1-2 Scaffolded Kindergarten EL Speaking
Detective Academy
Case File: Shape Spy
Show and Spy!
Put on your detective hats! Today we are learning how to look closely and describe the shapes all around us using our secret agent voice.
Look Speak Share
Slide 1 of 5
Clue #1: Size and Color
Secret Detective Clues
Size
BIG
Big
S
Small
Color
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Sentence Frame:
"It is [size] and [color] ."
Example: "It is big and red."
Slide 2 of 5
Clue #2: Shapes!
Secret Detective Clues
Circle
Round, no corners
Square
4 equal sides
Triangle
3 sides, 3 corners
Rectangle
2 long, 2 short sides
Sentence Frame:
"It is a [shape] ."
Practice together: "It is a circle."
Slide 3 of 5
Clue #3: Where is it?
Secret Detective Clues
On
Under
Next to
Inside
Sentence Frame:
"It is [position] the table."
Practice together: "It is under the table."
Slide 4 of 5
Your Partner Mission!
Time to Work Together!
1
Detective A: The Spy 🔍
Pick a secret object card. Use your sentence frame cards to describe your object to your partner.
2
Detective B: The Artist 🎨
Listen to the clues. Find or draw the object that your partner describes!
Code Word Frames:
Step 1: Size & Color
"It is _____ and _____."
Step 2: Shape
"It is a _____."
Step 3: Position
"It is _____ the box."
Good luck, Detectives! Keep speaking in full sentences!
Slide 5 of 5
Show and Spy Teacher Guide Kindergarten EL Guide
Show and Spy
Academic Describing Vocabulary Lesson Plan
45 Mins
Content Objective
Students will identify and describe classroom objects by their shape, size, color, and location.
Language Objective
Students will use structured, simplified sentence frames (e.g., "It is [size] and [color]..." ) to describe objects to a partner.
Required Materials
Show & Spy Slides
Talking Game Cards
Detective Props (Opt.)
Instructional Flow
1
Warm-Up & Vocabulary Chants (10 mins)
Introduce the "Shape Detective Academy" theme. Use Show and Spy Slides to introduce/review size and color words. Conduct total physical response (TPR) practice: have students show "BIG" with wide arms, and "small" with pinched fingers. Lead a repetitive choral chant: "We are detectives, searching for shapes! Let's spot a clue!"
2
Direct Instruction & Modeling (15 mins)
I DO: Display a large blue circle on the board. Model the simplified sentences: "It is big and blue. It is a circle. It is next to the box." Exaggerate gestures for size and spatial relationship (pointing, touching the visual).
WE DO: Guide the whole group through a practice visual. Ask: "Is this triangle big or small? What color is it?" Cue choral responses. Point directly to the simplified sentence frames on Slides 2-4 to scaffold responses.
Cooperative Speaking Practice Tip
EL kindergarteners thrive with tactile props. Give each student a simple paper magnifying glass. When it is their turn to describe, they must look through their "spy glass" at the card!
Show and Spy Lesson Plan Page 2 of 2
Collaborative Activity
3
Partner Game: Shape Detective Spy Mission (15 mins)
Group students in intentional language dyads (stronger English models paired with developing ELs). Distribute Show and Spy Talking Cards (Page 1) and the Partner Board (Page 2).
Partner A (The Spy) draws a card from the deck and keeps it secret. They use sentence frames to describe the color, shape, size, and position of the item shown on their card.Partner B (The Artist/Finder) listens closely and uses their index finger to "scan" their Partner Board, pointing to the match.Once matched, partners trade roles. Facilitate by walking around, scanning for accurate usage of position words.
EL Scaffolding Matrix (WIDA Levels)
EL Level Support Strategy Sentence Scaffold Level 1 (Entering) Use single words + gestures. Point to the printed shapes on Slide 3/4. Match color dots. "Red." "Circle." "On." (With pointing) Level 2 (Emerging) Fill in blank frames with visual word bank cards. Use picture frames with icons. "It is [color]. It is a [shape]." Level 3 (Developing) Utilize the complete simplified sentence frames on slides. Partner-supported check-ins. "It is big and blue. It is a circle. It is next to the box." Level 4 (Expanding) Extend by explaining *how* they found it or adding a coordinate descriptor. "I see a big green triangle on top of the desk next to the book."
Formative Assessment & Wrap-up
Assessment Task
Use the Show and Spy Exit Ticket . Display one shape and position visual. Call students up individually or in tiny groups. Have them speak their description using the target frames. Record score on your rubric sheet.
Reflection & Wrap-Up
Gather students in a circle. Hold up a toy animal and place it on a box. Ask: "Where is our mascot?" Have students turn and tell their neighbor using their loud, confident "Detective Voice".
Formative checklist and exit cards are ready to print. © 2026 Shape Spy Academy
Show and Spy Speaking Cards Mission 1: Spy Cards
Detective Secret Cards
✂️ Cut along lines
🤫 Keep cards secret!
My Detective Name:
Partner Detective Name:
Card 1
Big Red Circle ON the table
Card 2
Small Blue Square UNDER the table
Card 3
Big Green Triangle NEXT TO box
Card 4
Small Yellow Circle INSIDE box
Detective Voice Reminder:
"It is [size] and [color] . It is a [shape] . It is [position] ."
Mission 2: Spy Board
Detective Spy Board
🎯 Listen and Point!
💬 Answer in full sentences!
1 Partner A says the secret code.
2 Partner B listens and points to the match.
3 Put a block or counter on the match!
A
Circle is ON the table
B
Square is UNDER the table
C
Triangle is NEXT TO the box
D
Circle is INSIDE the box
How to Guess (Partner B):
"It is letter [letter] !"
Show and Spy Exit Ticket Final Mission
Detective Exit Ticket
Show your teacher how you use your Detective Voice!
🔍
My Name:
Date:
Look Close at the Picture!
Draw Your Favorite Shape:
Use any color you like!
Write the Shape Name:
Copy from the board or trace
My favorite shape is a...
Teacher Formative Checklist & Rubric
1. Size & Color Correctly names size/color.
🔴 NY 🟢 Y
2. Shape Vocabulary Correctly names shapes.
🔴 NY 🟢 Y
3. Position Word Correctly describes location.
🔴 NY 🟢 Y
4. Complete Frame Uses complete sentence.
🔴 NY 🟢 Y
