55 Interesting Show and Tell Letter I Ideas

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I created all of my Show and Tell A-Z lists when I realized I was struggling to think of things for my preschooler to share each week. Here are all of my show and tell ideas for letter I – so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute too!

Tips for Finding Show and Tell Items

When I try to think of items for show and tell, I try to go through various categories of things we have in our house:

• animals
• books
• food/drinks (real or pretend)
• TV/movie characters
• family member names (to send a picture)

If all else fails, I send a foam letter from our bathtub toys or a letter from a wooden alphabet puzzle.

Make sure whatever your child chooses, it isn’t something breakable or valuable! And check to be sure it fits inside of their backpack.

Don’t miss my tips to prepare for show and tell day at the bottom of this post!

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Ideas for Show and Tell Letter I

Here are all of my ideas for things that begin with I (that you may find in your home):

Animals that begin with letter I

You may have stuffed animals, plastic animals, or books with these creatures:

• iguana
• inchworm
• insect (any toy insect or photo of one – butterfly, ant, ladybug, etc.)
• impala
• Indian elephant (great for a geography tie-in!)

Books that feature the letter I

• Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• Inside Outside Upside Down

Food and drinks that begin with the letter I

Check with your child’s teacher before sending real food or drinks to school. However, some of these make fun treats to share with the whole class!

• ice cream
• icing
• ice
• ice cream cone
• Italian ice
• instant pudding
• icing (like frosting)
• See our full list of foods that start with I here!

TV/Movie characters that begins with letter I

• The Incredibles
• Incrediboy (aka Syndrome from The Incredibles movie)
• Iron Man
• Ice Age (not a character, but a popular movie!)
• Incredible Hulk (also a good option for letter H)
• Iron Giant
• Iago – the naughty bird from Aladdin
• Inside Out characters
• Inspector Gadget

Common Names that begin with I (for photos of family members)

• Isabelle
• Ivy
• Isaac
• Ivan
• Inez
• Ian
• Indi
• Isaiah
• Iris
• Isla

Other possible words for show and tell that begin with I

Check your toybox or closets for these items:

• ice cream scoop
• ice cube tray
• ice pack
• ice skate
• igloo
• ink pen
• ink pad
• piece of ivy or ivy leaf
• instrument
• iris
• Ivory soap
• index card
• invitation
• iPad or iPhone
• toy iron
• island (a photo or even a plastic one from a train set maybe?)
• India (puzzle piece or photo)
• Indiana (puzzle piece or photo)
• Ireland flag
• initial – such as a keychain or necklace
• icicle (a photo of this one, so it doesn’t melt!)
• See our full list of toys that start with I here!

Get a head start on next week! See our full list of Show and Tell Ideas from A to Z here!

How to Help Your Child Prepare to Share Their Show and Tell Item

Show and tell is more than just bringing something from home. A little preparation can help your child feel confident and excited when it’s their turn to share.

Start by letting your child choose their item themselves (or at least give them a choice between 2-3 appropriate items). Giving them ownership helps build enthusiasm and reduces any nervousness they may feel.

Once their item is chosen, talk about it together using simple prompts such as:

• What is it?
• Where did it come from?
• Why do you like it?

You can help your child practice a short explanation at home, even if it’s just one or two sentences. For example, “This is my insect book. I like it because it has pictures of butterflies.” Practicing aloud builds confidence and helps them feel more prepared when standing in front of the class.

It also helps to prevent confusion, such as saying their item is a “teapot” when they meant to call it a “kettle” for letter K day.

If the item is too big or fragile, you can always print a photo or have your child draw a picture instead. Teachers are usually happy with visual alternatives, and this still gives your child something meaningful to talk about.

Finally, remind your child that there is no “wrong” way to do show and tell! The goal isn’t perfection. It’s sharing something they enjoy and practicing speaking in front of others.

Why Is Show and Tell Important for Early Literacy Learning?

Show and tell plays an important role in early literacy development, especially for preschool and early elementary children. It helps connect spoken language, listening skills, and early reading readiness in a natural and engaging way.

When children talk about their show and tell items, they practice vocabulary development by learning and using new words. For letter-based show and tell, this also reinforces letter recognition and beginning sounds, helping children make connections between letters and the words that start with them.

Show and tell also supports oral language skills. Children learn how to speak in complete sentences, describe objects, and organize their thoughts in a simple sequence. Listening to classmates share encourages attention, comprehension, and turn-taking, which are all foundational literacy skills.

In addition, standing up and speaking in front of a group builds confidence and communication skills. These early experiences with public speaking help children feel more comfortable expressing ideas, asking questions, and participating in classroom discussions as they grow.

Most importantly, show and tell makes learning fun. When children are excited to share something meaningful to them, literacy learning becomes personal, memorable, and enjoyable.