Get kids excited about school with a fun classroom scavenger hunt. These free printable scavenger hunt ideas can be used all year long in different ways both indoors and outdoors.
Teachers can introduce students to a new classroom at an open house or on the first day of school to help kids get acquainted with the classroom. On a rainy day get the kids wiggles out with a whole school scavenger hunt. At the end of the school year get the kids outside with outdoor scavenger hunts on the playground. You can even use the eye spy scavenger hunts as classroom party games for holiday parties.
There are eight free classroom scavenger hunts that have a mix of picture version worksheets and word text checklists so they can be used for all ages. Kids will have a great time searching the classroom to see who can find everything on the list first.
Check out this easy and fun school activity you can download and start using today.
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Free Printable Classroom Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids
A good classroom scavenger hunt has a list of items kids must try and find throughout their school. This fun classroom activity has different clues or pictures that kids must search for on their own or in small groups. They’ll follow the list of clues and check off each item they find. The first group to complete the school scavenger hunt wins.
It’s a really fun way to work on kids’ observational skills while also getting them up and moving. Plus it’s so simple to play just print out the free scavenger hunt list and you’re ready to play.
When To Use a Classroom Scavenger Hunt
What I love is you can use these free classroom scavenger hunts for so many different things throughout the year. Here are some suggestions for the best way to use the hunts.
1. Start at the beginning of the school year by using the scavenger hunt to help kids learn where everything is in the classroom. Such as school supplies or where their backpacks go.
It’s a great back-to-school activity on the first day of school or an open house before the school year starts.
Try these fun Back to School Coloring Pages & All About Me Worksheets on your first day of school too!
Tip: If they are in small groups they might even meet some new friends on the first day of school.
2. It works as a great last-minute rainy-day activity when you’re stuck inside for recess. Just quickly print out the list and send the kids on a hunt around the school or in the classroom.
Get more Brain Break Ideas.
3. Entertain kids at school parties with a scavenger hunt. They’re super easy printable games for Teachers and room parents. After the scavenger hunt get the kids to calm back down by reading some funny Lunch Box Jokes while they have a party snack.
Get more school party game ideas kids love.
4. Last Day of School – Send the kids out on a hunt around the school building. By this time it will be easier for them to know where everything is on the list.
Types of Classroom Scavenger Hunts
Included in the free printable classroom scavenger hunt packet are three types of fun scavenger hunts to use at school.
Picture Scavenger Hunts
This is a great scavenger hunt for younger students. On the printable hunt there will be pictures of each item the kids need to find. They can either follow the pictures or the easy text under the pictures for those learning to read.
Text Clue Scavenger Hunts
For these hunts, older kids will have a checklist of specific items to find in the classroom, around the school, or outside the school. They can check off the box next to the text every time they find an item.
Classroom Eye Spy Hunt
This Eye Spy Game is for classroom use and has clues of items they need to find around the room. For instance – I Spy something round, or I Spy something with the letter M. When they spy something that matches the clue they can check that item off the list.
There is a picture version and a text version of all these hunts in the printable download.
Free Printable School Scavenger Hunt
Print out your eight pages of the free classroom scavenger hunt packet. Which includes 3 picture scavenger hunts, 3-word scavenger hunts, and 2 Eye Spy Scavenger Hunts.
Download the PDF file now and start playing today!
Sample Items in a Scavenger Hunt
Classroom Scavenger Hunt – Find a map, sight words, teacher’s desk, craft supplies, ruler, paper clips
Whole School Scavenger Hunt – Find the music room, basketball hoop, water fountains
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt on Playground – Swings, Tree, Bugs, School Sign, Bench, flowers
Eye Spy Scavenger Hunt – Something blue, a game you can play, something with four legs, has a button
More Scavenger Hunts for Kids
Keep the fun going at home or at school with more free scavenger hunt ideas. Find even more ideas on our kid’s activites page.
Virtual Zoom Scavenger Hunt
A great Zoom scavenger hunt activity for students on a Snow Day when you still need to do school work.
Treasure Hunts at Home
Entertain kids at home with free printable treasure hunt clues & riddles to hide around your house.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Keep kids engaged on a walk through a nature preserve near the school with a free Nature Scavenger hunt checklist.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Get the kids out on a walk in your neighborhood with an exciting Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt.
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Entertain Teens & Tweens with a free Selfie Photo Scavenger Hunt through the neighborhood.
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Get festive with two Christmas Scavenger Hunts. One hunt will have your kids searching all over the house for holiday items.
The second is a Christmas Lights Scavenger hunt that will have you searching your neighborhood or fun holiday light displays in your area.
Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Show your kids some love with a fun Valentine’s Day Scavenger hunt that can end in a basket of Valentine’s Day Candy.
Easter Scavenger hunt
Send the kids on an Easter Scavenger Hunt to find their easter basket this year.
Are you ready now to enjoy this free school scavenger hunt with your kids? It really is a fun classroom activity to do any time of year.
Just grab your free classroom scavenger hunt packet and you’ll be ready to start playing with your students today.
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