Hobbies And Interests
Library Fact Finding
Teachers create question lists with clues about the places where each fact can be found. Divide students into teams and send them to the library for their quest. The first team to uncover all the hidden answers, complete with a reference sheet describing the exact location of the information, (to discourage cheating and encourage proper referencing of resources) wins the prize.
Environmental Hunt
Have students search for a specific list of common native plants and animals over the course of a week or two. To make the hunt more challenging, ask for a short paragraph about each species to accompany the list and location data for each find. Give extra points to students who can demonstrate associations between plants and animals, or name an interesting animal or plant fact. For example, a photograph of a Monarch butterfly on milkweed or a short essay explaining mimicry such as is seen with the Monarch look-a-like, the Viceroy butterfly, would earn extra point.
Internet Learning
Build Internet search skills by having children find online items. Make an eclectic list to prevent boredom and give kids a wider range of experience. Have them search for historical facts, a website to download a particular song, a movie review, a website to buy a particular item or a website where they can use a map of another country. Each website should meet exact criteria the teacher established to avoid searching that is too general. Have students write down URLs and save a PDF or copyright-free file or other pertinent data to demonstrate their understanding of Internet information and how to use it.
Physics and Physical Actions
Create a search that provides a way to fight childhood obesity while acquainting kids with the laws of physics. Award points to the first team to discover centrifugal force on the playground (the merry-go-round or a game of ̶0;crack the whip̶1;); simple machines like levers (teeter-totter); and the effects of gravity (going down a slide). Expand the exercise to other subjects, such as anatomy, by giving extra points for finding appropriate analogs of the body as machines. For instance, elbow joints act as fulcrums for levers.
Old-Fashioned Hunt
Keep handy lists of things that can be found in the classroom (crayons, blackboard eraser, clock, bulletin board) for an impromptu scavenger hunt on rainy days when recess must be conducted indoors. Divide kids into teams and award simple prizes for the first team to assemble (or list locations for) everything on their list. Make all the lists approximately equal, but different, so kids do not simply watch one another for answers. Throw in a few riddles to make it more interesting--like ̶0;What has a face and two hands but is not alive?̶1; (a clock).