Homeschooling with Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are a fun way to pass the time when you’re waiting—long car trips, slow lines, waiting rooms—not to mention a great learning opportunity.

You can do them around your house or neighborhood, while running errands, or even inside magazines or books. Scavengers can collect the items, or just cross them off a list.

Lists for each child can be identical, or can vary based on age. Find premade lists online, write your own, or just make them up on the spot (“Who can find the most “B” words?")

Here’s how to integrate educational scavenger hunts into your homeschooling day.

Scavenging with Little Kids

You can make a “list” with pictures for younger children, or ask them to find things “I Spy” style. Let them look for numbers, letters, or colors. Take turns giving children items to find, or race to find them first.

Nature Walk

Write up lists based on each child’s age, knowledge, or what they’re learning, and head outside. For example, a younger child’s list might include “bug” and “leaf,” while an older child can look for an “invertebrate” or “deciduous plant.”

Scavenger Hunts by Subject

Geography

On a large map or globe, search for countries, cities, or states. Set a timer, and see who can find the most items on their list in a few minutes.

On the road, play the license plate game: see how many different states they can find. For a greater challenge, print a list of just the state capitals, then find the states that match them.

History

Another fun one for the road: Find names off a list of historical figures or US presidents. One kid may spot “Lincoln” driving down the road, while another sees “George” or “Adams” on a billboard. You can also play any scavenger hunt by browsing a stack of magazines or old newspapers.

Math

Write a list of simple math problems: “Find 4x3” (find the number 12). Or “Find a license plate with numbers that add up to 21” (HSL-867).

Science

Populate your list with science-based terms and concepts: Find a pulley, a prism, a vacuum. Or find a gas, a liquid, a solid.

Foreign Language

Write a list of words in the language they’re learning, then find those items. Or start with a blank page, and write down items they see.

Grocery Shopping

Turn grocery shopping into a scavenger hunt. Split into teams, give each one part of the grocery list (as detailed as necessary) and set them loose. Race to the register.

Housecleaning

Make housecleaning fun! Have kids find and put away everything blue. Or find 5 pieces of clothing that are out of place. Or wash 3 dishes.

Learn Your Library

Use a scavenger hunt to teach your children to how to use library resources. Your librarian can help you compile a list that will have them hunting among non-fiction, audiobooks, and inside the computer system, or learning how to request a book from another library.

Print out several scavenger hunt lists and keep them in the car or your purse, so you’ll be ready when opportunity strikes!

Looking for fun homeschool outings? You might also be interested in Finding a Field Trip Anywhere.