The One with the Scavenger Hunt

Sometime last year I stumbled across a scavenger hunt on TPT.

It sounded fun so I decided to give it a try.

I loved it!

My students loved it!

It's a great way to help students review a concept.  They can check their work as they go.  If they can't find their answer then they know they made a mistake.

It gets students up and moving.

I am a fan of up and moving.  I heard in a workshop once that when we sit too long all of our blood puddles in our booty.  I LOVE that!  And my students always get a kick out of hearing it.

I always let my students work with a partner when we do a scavenger hunt.  I do this for two reasons.  One, it helps keep crowding at one card down to a minimum.  Two, it gives them that little bit of social interaction.

The day after or before a break is my favorite time to do scavenger hunts.  The kids are a little antsy and just aren't capable of sitting still in their desk.

You better believe we did one the first day back after Christmas break.  My students were so excited when they saw the cards hanging up around the room.  It was the perfect way to review those last few concepts we studied before the break.

There are lots of great scavenger hunts on TPT and I have bought a few since finding that first one.  I have even found a few that do a wonderful job of differentiating.  There are different colored cards for different levels.

I have also made a few for myself that cater more toward what I need.  

My students began studying integers before the Christmas break.  We use the Engage NY curriculum (anyone else?) and I wasn't able to find anything that was close to what I was looking for.

So I created my own Scavenger Hunt.

I chose to keep this one short and simple since it was our first day back after the break.  I wanted students to have plenty of time to finish the activity even if they had to spend several minutes with their IMN refreshing their memory.

I assign students a problem to start with it so that not everyone is at the same card.  If a group was going to start with card # one (pictured above) they would answer the question on that card, in this case "What is the opposite of 7?" .  Once they had their answer they would walk around the room looking for the card that has the answer (-7) on the bottom.  That would be the next problem they solve.

This year my students are bad about coming to me and asking  if their answer is correct.  My answer is always go look around the room again.  If you cannot find that answer then check your work.

Sometimes when my students are searching for the wrong answer which isn't in the room they will see the right answer and immediately know what mistake they made.  I LOVE that!  I believe they are more likely to remember if they discover and correct their mistakes without my pointing them out.

This scavenger hunt is now listed in my TPT store along with a few others I've made.

I'm looking to add more to my store.

What concepts would you like to see in a Scavenger Hunt?  Leave me a comment letting me know.  If I use your idea to make a Scavenger Hunt I will send you a free copy.

The One in January 2016

I'm back....

and hopefully in a more consistent manner.

It's a new semester and I'm looking to grow as a teacher.

One of the ways I do that is this blogging world.  I love sharing ideas with you.

I'm four days late to currently but I thought it would be a fun way to jump back into the swing of things.

So here we go...

Listening... to the Rose Parade.  (I clearly started this post three days ago.  I tried to be on time.)  I don't think I have ever watched the Rose Parade before.  I'm loved it.  I'm a band geek at heart so the marching bands were my favorite.

Loving... Christmas Break.  You know sleeping in, eating junk food, staying in my PJs all day, tons of time to read.  It is a sweet time.

Thinking...My husband and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary yesterday.  I cannot believe it has been 12 years already.  Time flies when you are having fun.

Wanting...More blogging.  I am determined to blog more this year on this blog.  I also want to read more of your blogs.  What blogs should I read?  I'm just in need of revitalization in my teaching.  I want new ideas.  I want to dive into this amazing community of teachers.

Needing...To create the Scavenger Hunt my students will do on our first day back.  They love Scavenger Hunts and I figured it was a great way to review those concepts we were studying right before break.  Plus it gets us up and moving around.

(Got that done last night...just in time)

One Little Word...  TRUST.  I have never chosen a word for the year before, but this year I could deny that God was giving me a word.  He gave me the word trust.  Here is the short story...my husband and I have struggled with unexplained infertility for almost five years now.  We experienced a failed adoption this past August.  This year I simply (though it really isn't simple) want to trust God's plan for our future.  I want to give him my own plans and dreams and trust that He knows what is best for me.