Băjenaru Mihaela

Școala Gimnazială “Vintilă Brătianu”, Ștefănești,jud Argeș

Cerc pedagogic limba engleză

10 mai 2018

Get out of the Classroom!

Outdoor activities for the English Classroom

Getting out of the classroom offers a vide variety of benefits for both for the teacher and
the students. There are a lot of activities that can be done outdoors and most of them are usual
games kids play. They can be adapted to the English class. One of the easiest and the most
coomon outdoor activity is Scavenger Hunt.

Why a Scavenger Hunt?

Scavenger hunts are fun! They add something extra to ordinary events and make them
memorable.

They’re easy to create and can be tailored to any theme, any age, any place. Scavenger hunts are
usually thought of for parties or other large groups, but they’re just as fun for small families or
even individual children.

A scavenger hunt adds an element of competition, urgency and excitement to any everyday event
and makes it something special. They’re great for parties, but equally fun for rainy days, car
trips, visits to new places, meeting new people or any time kids get bored. You can make almost
anything—even chores—into a game by turning it into a scavenger hunt.

Scavenger hunts start with a list of things to find (or do) and a time limit. There is no set
path as players scavenge around and search for all of the items on the list. The player or team
who finds everything on the list first or finds the most items before the time is up wins.

One of the great things about scavenger hunts is that you don’t have to spend time making and
hiding clues. The players search for things that already exist.

All you have to do is make a list and provide a prize for the winner.

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Băjenaru Mihaela
Școala Gimnazială “Vintilă Brătianu”, Ștefănești,jud Argeș

You Will Need

 Scavenger hunt list (print one of the PDFs below or create your own)
 Pen or pencil
 Clipboard (optional)
 Bag or box to collect items in
 Prize

Preparation Time

 5 minutes to print lists and gather materials

 Or 15-20 minutes to brainstorm and create your own list, print it and gather materials
 Add 10-15 minutes if you need to “plant” some items for the players to find

Activity Time

Varies—they’re usually over in 15 minutes

Location

Varies

Steps you Need toTake

Choose Teams

Divide the group into two teams. If you’re planning a scavenger hunt for a birthday party or
other large group, assign teams as evenly as possible. Avoid placing all of the big kids or more
dominant kids on one team and all the little or more timid kids on another.

With a mixed-ages team, make sure the little kids don’t get left behind in the excitement.
Assign buddies to help them keep up.

Or place all of the little kids on a team together and give them a separate (easier or shorter) list.

Explain the Rules

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Băjenaru Mihaela
Școala Gimnazială “Vintilă Brătianu”, Ștefănești,jud Argeș

Look at your scavenger hunt list before gathering the kids to play. Think about rules you want
them to follow during the hunt and be sure to explain the rules before you hand out the lists to
your teams.

Once you hand out the lists, you’ll lose their attention, so set the ground rules first.

Set boundaries. Establish clear parameters and make sure all players understand them
before you start. Where are the start and finish lines? What are the physical boundaries for the
hunt? By what time must players return to the finish line?

Make sure everyone understands what’s on the list. Show samples or give clear descriptions
of each item.

Define how to “collect” items on the list. Are players supposed to gather the items and bring
them to the finish line, take a picture or video of each item, obtain someone’s signature or initials
or just check items off the list once they’ve been found?

Establish rules for hunting. Can items be gathered in any order or do players need to stick to
the order on the list? Is it OK to collect multiple items from a single place, or is each location
limited to one? Can the team split up, or do they need to stay together and collect everything as a
group?

Explain how the lists will be verified at the end of the hunt. Who will check the lists and
determine a winner? Is there anything that would disqualify an item?

Note: Avoid using weighted point systems for the items on the list. These may work for adults
or teenagers, but they’re confusing for younger kids and may lead to arguments.

Give Them the Tools

Give each team a copy of the scavenger hunt list and at least two pens or pencils. A
clipboard is helpful, too.

Provide something to carry the scavenger hunt items in. This can be anything from a
sandwich bag to a wagon. It depends on the size of items on the list.

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Băjenaru Mihaela
Școala Gimnazială “Vintilă Brătianu”, Ștefănești,jud Argeș

Assign a reliable timekeeper to each team so they’ll know when to return to the finish line.

If you’re hiding some of your own items for scavenger hunters to search for, mark them clearly
as part of the game so players know that they’re part of the hunt (and so they don’t take
something that belongs to a neighbor or a public place by mistake).

Be courteous to neighbors, businesses, etc. Warn them in advance that you’ll be having a
scavenger hunt. Instruct kids to stay off of landscaping and to keep voices down.

Provide a prize for the winners, even if it’s just bragging rights. A scavenger hunt is a good
opportunity to teach kids about sportsmanship and winning or losing graciously. You can
award a participation prize to everyone, but make sure the winners get something extra.

1: Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

A neighborhood (or backyard) scavenger hunt is a great way to get the kids outside, doing
something fun.

A classic door-to-door scavenger hunt often comes to mind when you hear the words
“scavenger hunt.” The list prompts players to knock on neighbors’ doors and ask if they have
things like a safety pin, a penny, a ballpoint pen… Make sure to tell the players that their own
house is off limits

An outdoor scavenger hunt is another way to search around the neighborhood without
knocking on any doors. It’s easy—just put together a list of things to find outside in your
backyard, your neighborhood or a local park and send them looking. Bethany Winston offers
suggestions for a park scavenger hunt in tip #10 of her Park Adventures article.

The fitness scavenger hunt includes an extra element of exercise to the search (beyond the
running that kids already do in their excitement to find everything). Create a list that prompts
kids to find things outdoors to help them do different exercises, like find a basketball hoop
and shoot two baskets; find some monkey bars or a tree branch and do three pull-ups; look for a
grassy area and do 10 sit-ups; etc.

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Băjenaru Mihaela
Școala Gimnazială “Vintilă Brătianu”, Ștefănești,jud Argeș

2: Indoor Scavenger Hunts

An indoor scavenger hunt is a great way to add some excitement to rainy days, waiting in line or
any time spent inside.

At-home scavenger hunt. Bring some sunshine to a rainy day or a sick day with a scavenger
hunt for items around the house. Get creative with things to find in different rooms or in
different categories

While-you-wait scavenger hunt. Are you stuck in a waiting room at the doctor’s office or auto
repair shop? Need to swing by your office with the kids? Waiting in a long line? Grab a piece of
paper or open up a list or memo app on your phone and make a list of things that might be
found while you wait: a stapler, a magazine with a picture of a car, a paper cup from the water
cooler… If you’re really desperate, make a list of things to find in Mom’s purse!

Signature or people-watching scavenger hunt. If your kids are bored at an event full of
grownups, list some personal characteristics for kids to look for: find someone with glasses,
someone with a mustache, someone wearing purple…

Or encourage kids to interact with people and help develop their social skills when they talk
to and collect signatures from people who meet requirements on the list: find someone from
another country, someone who works at the same company as Dad, etc.

3: Road Trip Scavenger Hunts

Whether you’re driving across town or across the country, a road trip scavenger hunt is a great
way to pass the time and keep your family engaged with each other during the ride.

The constantly changing scenery lends itself to a search for things along the way:

Alphabet: find each letter of the alphabet (in order) in different road signs

Tally: count all of the water towers or pizza places or blue cars you see along the way

Category: How many different kinds of animals do you see during the trip?

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Băjenaru Mihaela
Școala Gimnazială “Vintilă Brătianu”, Ștefănești,jud Argeș

4: Nature Scavenger Hunts

A nature scavenger hunt is a wonderful way to help kids open their eyes to the world around
them and look at things a little more closely.

Plant scavenger hunt: Make a list of plants to search for in your area. Holly Smith shared a
simple fall leaf scavenger hunt with My Kids’ Adventures. You could send kids on a search for
different flowers, trees, crops or different colors or shapes they find in nature.

Animal scavenger hunts: A classic animal scavenger hunt enjoyed worldwide is birdwatching,
which Stephanie Montalvo described in an article for My Kids’ Adventures.

Going to the park? Have kids count all of the butterflies or bugs they find. The zoo? Make a
list of zoo creatures to find before you go. A walk? Find different kinds of pets. A road trip?
See how many kinds of farm animals you find along the way.

5: Shopping Scavenger Hunts

Turn your next trip to the store into a shopping scavenger hunt kids will love.

Grocery store grab: This one’s easy. Split your grocery list up, give each child a list and see
who comes back with all the correct items first. Shopping… DONE! Be sure to include a
special treat for each child to add to the cart once his or her list is complete.

Try a swap meet scavenger hunt. Our Cub Scout pack had one that was lots of fun. Make a list
of common swap meet stuff and have kids take pictures of the treasures (and the trash) they
find.

Caution: Parents should participate in this together with the kids.

Include some fun things on the list, like the most unusual thing you see, the most expensive
item for sale, something you want to get for yourself, etc.

6: Make-It Scavenger Hunts

Want some help making dinner or preparing for a craft project? Turn the gathering of
materials or ingredients into a make-it scavenger hunt.You can do a scavenger hunt meal.

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Băjenaru Mihaela
Școala Gimnazială “Vintilă Brătianu”, Ștefănești,jud Argeș

Each carload of friends can be given a list of things to gather around town and arrived at a park
for a picnic dinner.

Kids can’t drive around town, but you can send them searching through the pantry and
refrigerator for ingredients (along with other random items from around the house). Surprise
them at the end of the hunt when you make a meal or treat from the things they found.
They’ll be tickled.

7: Chore Scavenger Hunts

A chore scavenger hunt helps make cleaning more fun by turning it into a game. (Make sure you
have a prize or snack at the end of this one. Your kids will earn it!)

Room cleaning race: Make a list of things cluttering their rooms and watch the kids race to
gather it all up first. It’s a great way to break a big, daunting job into small, easy steps and
chip away at a monster mess.

8: Themed Scavenger Hunts

Themed scavenger hunts are the perfect activity for birthday parties, scout meetings or other
group activities that follow a theme.

Choose iconic items that support the theme and make a list. Since themed items may not be
commonly found around the house, neighborhood or meeting site for your group, you may need
to hide some things yourself.

Add costumes and props to your themed scavenger hunt for an extra element of fun. Include
those items to the list and have players put them on as they’re found.

Things found on a scavenger hunt (like these hats) can be used for other games or party favors.

We started my son’s Harry Potter–themed birthday party with a scavenger hunt through Diagon
Alley, the wizards’ shopping mall. Guests had to visit the bank to get some money, then find the
shops (tables) to buy wands, robes, spellbooks and other items they’d be using in the other games
during the party. The scavenger hunt was a fun way to set the scene. You can create a hunt to
fit any type of event.

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Băjenaru Mihaela
Școala Gimnazială “Vintilă Brătianu”, Ștefănești,jud Argeș

9: Educational Scavenger Hunts

Make learning fun by turning it into a scavenger hunt!

Next time you take the kids to a library, museum or historic landmark, you can make a list of
things for them to find or do during your visit, like this library scavenger hunt by Christina
Kettman. Watch their curiosity soar when you add an extra element of excitement to your visit.

10.Technology Scavenger Hunts

Use technology to give your scavenger hunt a modern twist.

A photo scavenger hunt like the nature photo scavenger hunt from Len Bishop is a good option
if you want players to search for things that can’t be physically collected. Instead, have them
take a picture of each thing they find. To verify the list, simply scroll through the digital
pictures.

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