Scavenger Hunts: A Low-Prep Activity Your Students Will Absolutely Love

If your students have ants in their pants and you want an activity where they can get up, but have a purpose and reinforce Spanish - this is the activity for you!

There is also a digital version if your classroom is currently virtual or if your students are 1:1 with devices 😄

Oh, and it can be used with just about any grammar or vocabulary topic.

So it's an easy activity that you can use over and over again for each unit. Yaaaasssssss.

What is a scavenger hunt?

Basically, students get up and walk around the room answering questions. They find the answer to their first question, which leads them to the next question, then they find the answer to that, etc.

All the answers are hanging up around the room in a large enough font to read from anywhere, and the next question is on that same paper in a small font.

The questions loop, meaning the last one leads back to the first. Students can start anywhere in the loop.

You can create this activity to practice verb conjugations, vocabulary, or really anything with short one or two word answers.

How to create and set up this activity

1. Create 20 questions and answers (fill in the blank with verbs, write the vocabulary word for the given picture, match the countries and capitals, culture questions with short answers, etc).

2. Get 10 pieces of paper and cut them in half so they're 8.5" x 5.5".

3. Write Answer #1 in a large enough size on the first paper that students can read it from across the room.

4. Write Question #2 underneath Answer #1 on the first paper. Write it small so that students have to walk up to the paper to read it.

5. Write Answer #2 on the second paper, with Question #3 at the bottom.

6. Repeat this until the last answer is written, with Question #1 on the bottom of the paper.

7. Post these half-sheets in a RANDOM order all around your room at eye level.

8. Give your students a sheet of paper with 20 lines on it for them to write their answers.

You'll know if they did it right by seeing that they filled in all lines, didn't repeat any answers, and the answers go in the same order as your questions - everyone will just start at a different point in the loop.

It legit takes 2 seconds to grade.

How you can differentiate with this activity

You have smart kids and you want to make them think harder? That can be done!

Include common mistakes as possible answers and post them up on the wall next to the correct answer.

Write "Try Again" in place of the next question so students know they are wrong and they see the correct answer next to their wrong answer.

For example, post "haco" as an answer option next to "hago" for the yo form of hacer so that kids will see "hago" and realize their mistake.

Is there a digital version?

Yup!

Students have 3 answer options for a conjugated verb. A correct answer tells them they're right and goes to the next question. An incorrect answer tells them to try again and goes back to the question.

This version is included with all paper versions in my store and is on Google Slides.

Can I get this pre-made for me?

Girl, of course you can! Don't re-invent a wheel that already exists.

You can try this activity for free here with present tense -AR verbs. You can also check out the variety of versions I have in my TpT store with verb tenses and vocabulary. Each activity includes both digital and paper versions.

I can't come to your room to tape the half-sheets to the wall, but everything else is done for you!