Explain to the students that you have a scavenger hunt in the room. Read them the first clue such as “I’m green and growing in a warm place” to locate the plant in the window. Beside the plant lies a new clue that they bring to you and you read for the next search. Remind the class they must carefully listen to what you say to find the next clue. When they find the answer to the last clue, include bead necklaces, acrylic gems, play money or other representations of treasure. Alternatively, the children enjoy food treasures such as crackers, raisins or candy.
Invite the kindergarteners to be spies for this activity. They need to find the secret pouch to save the world. Take close-up pictures of areas in the classroom or on the playground where you plant clues. For example, your picture could show the corner of the mp3 player or the ground and roots of a playground tree. The kindergarteners observe the picture and try to figure out what it is and then look for the next clue near the area. A picture clue lies under or behind the mp3 player or lodged in the crack between two tree roots. The students follow the clues to locate a pouch that contains points they can use to earn free time or trinkets.
Ask the students to use their sleuthing skills to locate information about the resident. Present pictures that contain clues about who lives there. For example, one picture includes a tree where they see a bird’s nest or a pile of acorns near the tree roots which indicate birds and squirrels may share the tree. Pictures include familiar objects that increase student vocabulary and observation skills.
Draw a map of the playground or classroom. Mark the starting point and five to six other points on the map. At each of the points, the kindergarteners must find a clue that tells them where to find a necessary item for an activity. For example, if the project is acting out “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” the clues tell the students where to find the porridge bowls, a spoon for tasting, a container of oatmeal, fuzzy robes for bears’ costumes and Goldilocks’ travel cloak.