A citywide I-Spy adventure celebrating Santa Ana’s culture and community
I-Spy at Madison Park
As part of the Playful Learning initiative in Santa Ana, the I-Spy Mural at Madison Park transforms a public wall into a vibrant, culturally rooted exploration of the city. The illustrated scene features recognizable landmarks, local architecture, music, street life, and community traditions woven into a dynamic cityscape filled with layered activity.
A visual key along the side of the mural lists specific objects and symbols for children to find, guiding them to search carefully throughout the scene. As children scan rooftops, storefronts, sidewalks, and park spaces, they practice close observation and attention to detail. The richly populated environment encourages caregiver-child conversation about what they notice, what is happening in different parts of the mural, and how the elements reflect the culture and identity of Santa Ana.
The Learning Goals
The I-Spy Mural at Madison Park strengthens communication by encouraging children and caregivers to describe what they see, ask questions, and share stories about the hidden objects and community scenes represented throughout the artwork.
It also supports critical thinking by prompting close observation, pattern recognition, and visual discrimination as children use the key to locate specific items within the layered cityscape.
Through its culturally grounded imagery, the mural builds STEM-related content knowledge by reinforcing skills such as classification, comparison, spatial awareness, and attention to detail, all embedded within a playful search-and-find experience.
The Team
The I-Spy Mural at Madison Park was created through a collaboration between City of Santa Ana, University of California, Irvine, Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative, Temple University, and Playful Learning Landscapes.
Supporters
The I-Spy Mural at Madison Park was generously supported by the National Science Foundation through the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program.
