While working at a small rural K-12 school, I noticed that
my students needed extra practice with their math skills. The school’s size meant that I had all 7th
graders in one class, all 8th graders in one class, all 9th
graders in one class, etc. The range of
levels was diverse, and I needed an activity that would allow me to meet the
needs of all students. I developed the
idea of a scavenger hunt. My students were immediately taken with the
scavenger hunt. I had never seen them so
engaged with their mathematics. The
format is self-checking and allows students to work at their own pace. While all students were engaged with the
scavenger hunt, I was able to work one-on-one with students who needed
remediation. When my stronger students
finished with the scavenger hunt, I was able to provide them with enrichment
that furthered their understanding of the topic. I have been blown away by the success and
impact of these scavenger hunts in my classroom.
