At-Home Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt Activity Details
Objective
Students will go on a mission to collect a total of 15 vocabulary words in their everyday surroundings. As students discover words, they will record them on a Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt chart. When they spot a vocabulary word, students will either collect evidence or an adult's signature to verify they found the word.
How to Get Started
The first step is to download the Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt Activity worksheets. My free download includes an instruction sheet for students, examples, and a Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt chart.
Share the Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt instruction sheet and chart PDF files with students. The chart outlines what information needs to be recorded when a word is found. The instruction sheets are available in various grade ranges and include directions, suggested sources, examples, and a space for assigning due dates.
Once students have their worksheets, assign students a deadline to collect their 15 words. As indicated on the instruction sheet, students will collect their words in intervals. Teachers will assign students a date to collect the first 5 words, a due date for collecting the next 5 vocabulary words, and a date to collect the remaining 5 words. By having deadlines in 5 word increments, students are less likely to procrastinate and then not be able to find all the words they needed.
Establish Guidelines
Remind students that searching words on the internet is acceptable for some harder to find vocabulary, but at least five of the words must be found organically in their lives.
Review what evidence should be collected when a vocabulary word is discovered. This will vary by grade level and can be as detailed as teachers want to make it. In addition to filling out the Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt chart, teachers can require students to take a picture, screenshot, get an adult signature, or share socially.
For example, I require my high school students to take a picture or screenshot of their findings and then either insert it into a PowerPoint (that they will submit at the very end) or share it on Twitter/Instagram with a classroom hashtag. If you don't have a class hashtag feel free to use mine, #VocabGalWordHunt.
Finally, make it clear that all evidence collected needs to be school appropriate!
Provide Incentives
Providing incentives including stickers, certificates and buttons gets students to pay attention and share their newfound recognition of words. This in turn allows your classroom to become a positive space for learning vocabulary.
Although a point system is not outlined in detail on my free worksheets, words found organically should be "awarded" more than those searched for on the internet. I suggest making words searched for on the internet worth 1 point and words found from everyday sources/connections worth 2 points.
Furthermore, give students added points for going to virtual museums and finding vocabulary on the descriptive placards-I always walk away with at least 2–3 examples every time I'm at a museum.
Get Started
Encourage students to take the time during this time of distance learning to discover words by looking and listening for them at home! The Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt Activity will give students the opportunity to observe the world around them for interesting vocabulary words and reflect on why a robust vocabulary is an important.
Download the Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt Activity now!
Source: Blachowicz et al., (2006); Bravo & Cervetti, (2008); Bromley, (2007); Curtis & Longo, (2001); Graves, (2008); Nagy, (1988)
