QUICK! Look at the photo below. How many everyday objects can you identify?

When the kids ask what I like to do outside of school, my typical response is to look them dead in the eye and tell them my only hobbies are grading and writing curriculum. Freaks them out, which is fun. However, I actually DO have hobbies. For the past two years or so, I’ve been making dollhouses. Yep. It’s a real thing. It makes me feel like a weirdo, but I love it. My teacher-friend, Stephanie, was the one who sucked me into it, so this is all totally her fault. She’s a psychology teacher, so I’m sure she’s got an entire theory worked up about why I’m so invested in this. Check out my Insta for the dollhouses, TickyTackyMinis. See? I’m not lying! I’m kinda hardcore into this. It relaxes me. There’s nothing like molding a tiny cupcake out of polymer clay as you drink a blue coconut slushie laced with rum while a murder podcast tunes out your entire household to help a teacher unwind after being pawed by angsty teens all day.

I have digressed. Anyway…

When I started talking about the dollhouse hobby with my seniors this year, they became obsessed with it. Part of the obsession is, no doubt, the thrill of putting off ELA learning while we look at photos for ten minutes. But part of it is something else. My theory about high school seniors is this: they are feeling scared about the quickly-approaching end of their childhoods, so anything that little children like, they like, too. I’ve tested this theory out enough to feel pretty confident I’m right. We had a teddy bear picnic a few weeks ago. Big hit. Freshmen would be offended. Not seniors; they eat this stuff up.

We’re about to embark on our final unit/project of the year next week. It’s a unit in which they research infamous unsolved crimes, create crime scene boxes, then evaluate the most plausible theory. They’re pretty jazzed about it, but I wanted to kick things off my reinforcing close-observation skills. I just made a mouse dollhouse, and it is PACKED with details. It gave me an idea. I could create an I-Spy game using the dollhouse to remind the kids that paying close attention to small details is important. It would be fun AND educational! So, I made the game. It is FREAKING ADORABLE, too. Check it out on TpT. Seriously. It’s the cutest educational game ever, and my kids are beyond excited to play it tomorrow in class.

Keywords:

Educational Game, I-Spy Activity, Attention to Detail, Research Skills, High School Curriculum, ELA, Art, Science, Interactive Learning, Hands-on Learning, Critical Thinking, Classroom Activity, Lesson Plan, Creative Writing Prompts, Discussion Questions, Engagement Strategies, Student Engagement, Curriculum Integration, Flexible Teaching Resources, Learning Extension Activities, Educational Resource, Classroom Game