Word Scavenger Hunt

What Is It?

A Word Scavenger Hunt is an exciting, interactive learning strategy. Every explorer loves the thrill of finding things. This suits education because students now have the opportunity to scavenge for information about the content area terms also with a bit of excitement to go along with it. This can be used before, during and after the reading activity for the whole class or by small groups. This can be used for all content areas. This is also a great homework assignment.

Procedure:

There are many ways to conduct a word scavenger hunt. The teacher can require the students to find actual objects, pictures and models of the words.

1. Introduce key terms and concepts. If there are actual models show all models to class or group.
2. Divide the class into teams, explain how the scavenger hunt works.

Some rules and conditions can be

a) Students must bring in a dictionary or glossary definition of the word on a given index card.

b) They must also bring in objects, pictures, that represent by the due date.

c) Each team should not reveal to any other team which items were collected and where the items were found until the hunt is over.

3. At the end of the hunt allow teams to meet and go over their findings. Teams should share with the rest of the class the words and their definitions as well as the items found to represent the words.

4. Students can vote on which team was the most successful in the hunt. Teacher can reward special reward.

5. Regardless the winner students can create a showcase to remain in the class the throughout the unit. Note: Ideas for showcase can be: collages, Power Points, tables or charts with definitions.

Teachers can also conduct students to have a word scavenger hunt within a text.

1. Introduce the book or topic to be read and provide students with written material (i.e., newspapers, magazines, dictionaries, books, and/or news articles on the Internet).
2. Model word hunting by using a portion of text copied onto chart paper, overhead transparencies, or a familiar book
3. Ask the students to read and reread a text to find words that fit a particular pattern.

See It!

Examples for different content areas, for word scavenger hunts within a text.

Language Arts

Have students use the book The Cat in the Hat or other Dr. Seuss book to find all the words that end with a particular vowel pattern word.

Math

Have students hunt for number words within assigned word problems and write them down on a dry erase board.

Science

Word hunts can be used as students study a topic such as animal habitats. Write out different habitats across the top of the board. Students can search the text to find the names of animals that correspond to each habitat. Ask students to work together to write them on the board.

Social Studies

Ask students to use the word hunt strategy to find target vocabulary words from their social studies reading and use them to write short sentences in a journal.

More ideas on themes and specific content are

a hunts. Explore Here >>>

My thoughts!

This strategy is a great way to get student actively involved in the lesson. This strategy also appeals to all types of learners. It is a hands on method that involves listening, seeing and speaking. Lets not forget that it is also fun. The word scavenger hunt provides visual images along with knowledge taught for the specific word.