School librarians love games and activity ideas they can use in their library classes. One such game is the scavenger hunt that can be adapted for playing in the school library. The scavenger hunt game can add learning and excitement to your school library class. So, let’s learn more.
To play this game, you can use several methods. Firstly, its a game based on clues that students use to find things or answers. Usually, things are hidden in various places and participants have to find the things based on clues in a map or question sheet. However, in the school library if things are hidden then kids might disturb the book shelving while finding them or hurt themselves against chairs and tables.
So, you can set learning objectives and create clues that help students reinforce and co-relate their learning. You can use some strategies so that there is less disruption, students have fun, think critically, communicate and collaborate with their peers. Since scavenger hunt games are fun, these games have long been popular.
Also read: Basics of Scavenger Hunt Games
Can Scavenger Hunt Game Fit in a School Library?
Yes, for sure. Let’s explore how we can blend learning and fun through scavenger hunts.
In school libraries, scavenger hunt games provide a flexible method of instruction that encourage student’s active learning, critical thinking, teamwork, and involvement by including instructional material into the game format.
Scavenger hunts are effective instruments for improving the educational process and developing a love of learning in pupils when well planned and practical aspects are taken into account.
Incorporating games can help to create a vibrant and stimulating learning environment in the school library.
If you are concerned about your book arrangement getting disturbed then you may also use alternative methods to look for answers. Read further to learn more.
Do you need many players for scavenger hunt games?
Scavenger hunts are fun as a group, two or even single player game. If you don’t want too much disturbance in your library arrangements then you could ask one or two students at a time to find answers. For instance, display a bunch of selected titles on a table and give a clue to a student to find the book title in the display, based on the clue.
There are no restrictions even though many classic scavenger hunts require teams or several people to cooperate to gather clues and finish tasks. You could restrict group games to outdoors.
For instance, if you conduct a reading program in your library, you could organise teams to play a scavenger hunt in your school garden as part of the concluding activity of the reading program.
The Appeal of Playing Games in the School Library
School librarians can make traditional learning enjoyable by incorporating teaching information into games. Most scavenger hunt games let kids think and find answers, explore and interact with their surroundings, material or concepts.
You can tailor the clues for elementary, middle and secondary section students.
Special Advantages of Playing Scavenger Hunt in School Library
Playing scavenger hunts encourages hands-on learning by encouraging students to search for knowledge. For instance, can you find a book with a glossary?
Critical Thinking: Participants investigate clues and solve tasks that require critical thinking and problem-solving. For instance, name a book on a princess and identify the genre of the book.
Collaboration: Scavenger hunts encourage students to work together to achieve goals. For instance, identify an adventure fiction book and explain its plot in five lines. If students have not read the book before then they can read the title, sub-title, blurb and guess the content.
Growing Engagement: Competitive and thrilling scavenger hunts keep kids engaged and motivated to read. For instance, name a storybook you read that has a recipe in it or find a nonfiction book and discuss two text features.
Strategies for School Library Scavenger Hunt
You could look for topics that fit the curriculum or goals. So, choose relevant themes.
Create age-appropriate clues that align with the learning objectives and inspire students to think of solutions.
Inform participants of the scavenger hunt rules and objectives. Distribute maps or clue sheets, and hunt instructions.
Define guidelines to maintain some order and prevent disruptions in the library. For instance, make students sit according to their identity card/roll numbers. Provide each an answering sheet to write their answers or make small teams and give them turns to find answers.
Alternatively, if they have to speak up the answers or find hidden objects in the racks then be prepared for some chaos and noise. Be aware that if kids run in a hurry to get things it could be unsafe. So, be prepared and have help at hand. You may think of calling the headmistress as a guest of honour for witness the game.
Utilise technology or tools to simplify the scavenger hunt and information exchange as an option.
You can create printable templates on Canva based on your theme, print them and distribute to the students to write their answers.
Old withdrawn popular books could be used for playing scavenger hunt in your school’s spacious activity room wherein students can move around safely and answer questions within a time frame.
Themes for Playing Scavenger Hunt Games in School Library
- Literary Genres
- Author and their Literary Works
- Book Characters
- Library Resources
- Historical Figures
- STEM Subjects
- Geography and Travel
- Environmental Awareness
- Biographies and Autobiographies
- Poetry and Prose
- Life Skills
Literary scavenger hunt for students includes genre, author, and plot as clues to identify books, improve reading comprehension and nurture love for literature. Moreover, you can write clues to identify the genre of a title, locate books by a particular author, describe the story sequence, plot, characters, theme and so on.
The research skills scavenger hunt improves information literacy and research skills by helping participants identify databases, reference materials, and online resources. This means you can ask students about text features of non-fiction books, facts and opinions, etc.
The library orientation scavenger hunt introduces new students to library services and processes while exploring the library’s layout and resources. So, you could ask students about the location of particular books and genre according to your library arrangement.
Conclusion
Scavenger hunts are a gamification of learning at the school library. Including educational material in games promotes active learning, critical thinking, teamwork, and involvement. Well-planned scavenger hunts can improve teaching and foster a love of learning in students.
Games in school libraries may create a vibrant, exciting learning atmosphere that fosters creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning. School library scavenger hunts allow students to learn and have fun while discovering books.
FAQs
1. Can kids of any age do scavenger hunts?
School library scavenger hunts may accommodate all ages and skill levels with clues and assignments.
2. Are scavenger hunts resource and preparation intensive?
Organizing a scavenger hunt takes time and effort, but it can be tailored to your school library.
3. A regular school library scavenger hunt lasts how long?
Depending on the number of clues, age of students, task difficulty, and size of your class, a scavenger hunt can typically take 30–60 minutes.
4. Can school libraries host educational scavenger hunts?
School library scavenger hunts could be based on reading skills, researching, critical thinking, and cooperation among participating students.
5. How safe are these games?
With proper supervision, school library scavenger hunts can be safe for kids. Regulations are needed to ensure everyone’s safety. So, if you are a lone school librarian, you could ask for additional staff to help you conduct this activity.