Free Printable School Scavenger Hunts for Kids
We all know that sometimes our kiddos will complain that, “school is boring!” Most children prefer moving around, playing games, and interacting with their friends. Some children may also feel apprehensive about going to school and familiarizing themselves with the ins and outs of the classroom. These back to school scavenger hunts can be the perfect fix for extinguishing the boring and supporting the apprehensive. What a great way to also show your kiddos around the classroom and help them locate supplies they will need throughout the day.
Recommended Grade Level:
Materials for the Back to School Printable Scavenger Hunt
- Paper
- Writing Utensils
How to Improve Observational Skills with a Scavenger Hunt for Kids
SCHOOL SUPPLY SCAVENGER HUNT
PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPLETE A SCAVENGER HUNT CAN BOOST OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS AND HELP THEM RECOGNIZE HOW TO USE THEIR SENSES.
When your child is looking for specific items on the list they will have to classify objects by colors, sizes, shapes and even textures. They will also have to determine which location of the room the item could potentially be found.
As your child finds each item, have them cross off the picture and then draw the object on the second page. Encourage them to use descriptive words including positions and locations.
This activity can be completed in the classroom, a room primarily used for home schooling, or even in an art or music room. This back to school scavenger hunt for students can potentially be used anywhere throughout a school building, daycare center, or room in your home.
The school scavenger hunt items that are included in this printable are: notebook, headphones, bears, paper, pointer, glue, ruler, book, globe, eraser, pencil, shapes, dice, markers, and a sharpener.
In addition to learning about observational skills for preschool or kindergarten, here are more ideas for what you can teach using the printable scavenger hunt for kids:
- What object was the easiest to find?
- What object was the hardest to find?
- What other objects did you find that are not on the sheet?
- How could we use the shapes or bears?
How to Use a Scavenger Hunt for Kids to Learn
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL SCAVENGER HUNT
STUDENTS CAN USE THE PICTURES AND CORRECTLY MATCH THEM TO THE SCHOOL SUPPLY RELATED WORDS.
- Which items would you need for writing?
- Which words have a ‘e’ in them?
- What items could you find at your house?
- Can you think of other words that start with ‘S’ like in school?
Why Is It Important For Kids To Participate In Scavenger Hunts?
What kid is not curious about the world around them? Themed scavenger hunts give kids a chance to explore a new topic, the environment around them, build observational skills, participate in cooperative learning, and so much more! All while having fun!
Build Problem Solving Skills
Our children will use prior knowledge to investigate and problem solve where they think one of the school supplies may be hiding. For example, the shapes and bears could be found with the other math manipulatives.
Active Learning
I have never met a kid that doesn’t love moving around and getting out of their chair. Your child will engage in gross motor skills by exploring and moving those little legs.
Teach Teamwork
Have your children work in small groups or pairs to practice brainstorming and team work. Collaborating with a friend can provide us with clues and ideas we may not have thought of.
Develop Fine Motor Skills
When your child crosses out the objects they have found and draws a picture of the objects, they are using their fine motor skills. This is important for writing, tying shoes, and self-feeding.
How To Use This Free School Scavenger Hunt Printable:
easy scavenger hunt for kids
This activity is so simple to make and to ‘stage’ if necessary. If some of the objects are not found in your hunting space, feel free to add these items for your kiddos to find.
Print out a copy of the printable for each child.
A clipboard or something hard to set the paper on could help with tears or tiny holes in their papers.
Provide each child with a crayon, pen or pencil (and please remind them not to run with a sharp writing tool!).
Let them run free ( well… walk free ) and explore their surroundings, with proper supervision of course.
Extend the Activity:
Create a Clue
If you feel like your child may have a difficult time finding the objects, create fun clues for them to help them feel successful.
Take a Picture
Instead of, or along with, your child drawing a picture of the object, take their picture beside or close to what they have found.
Sorting Supplies
Have children cut out the pictures and sort them based on color, use, shape, or other attributes.
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