A Family Math Night Scavenger Hunt

A Family Math Night Scavenger Hunt

Here’s a super fun addition to a Family Math Night event: A scavenger hunt! As participants enter the room they are handed one of two “game boards”…the K-2 version or the 3-5 version.

Family Math Night Scavenger Hunt

Math Scavenger Hunt

The K-2 version is a little easier and includes pictures. In addition, it’s played like bingo but with a scavenger hunt twist. Kids and their parents explore math in the environment by finding and crossing off items on their bingo board. Five-in-a-row wins. For a challenge (and an extra prize — see below) they can find all the items on the board. Click the left image above to print a copy of the K-2 version.

The 3-5 version is the traditional scavenger hunt. Because these students are older, they should be familiar with the items on the list. Their job, with the help of their parent, is to find and write down ALL the items. Click the right image above to print a copy of the 3-5 version.

As an added incentive for completing their scavenger hunt, kids can win little prizes such as a pencil, ruler or other small treat. Or they could get an extra guess in the estimation jar. Or maybe they could earn a free homework pass… But any time a prize is offered, you’re going to get a lot of takers. So be prepared. πŸ™‚

Classroom version: These two scavenger hunts are also great classroom activities and make a wonderful first week of school game. Kids can partner up and work together to complete their boards. In addition, older kids can create their own game boards using the K-2 version. It’s a great way to reinforce the math they have learned. Click the image below to print a copy.

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12 thoughts on “A Family Math Night Scavenger Hunt

  1. This is great Stuff!
    We are having a group of 4th graders tour our college campus. We would like to incorporate something like this in our activities.

    Thank you

  2. Ms. Hodgens,
    Your ideas are amazing!!! I am planning a math night with our ESL families in April 2017 and your ideas are phenomenal! Thank you for sharing them!! πŸ™‚

  3. Hi,
    My name is Emily Francis and I am an ESL teacher at Irvin Elementary in Concord, NC. I am hosting a Math Carnival for ESL parents and students. I really love your Math Scavenger Hunt Bingo. I was wondering if you have the K-2 available in Spanish?!? If you don’t, would you allow me to translate it so we can use both language versions?!? Please let me know. This will be for school use but I will also post about it in a blog and twitter.
    Thank you.

    Emiy

  4. This is a great idea for Family Game Night at our school. You will want to edit the last category on the Math Scavenger Hunt and Bingo card to read “A number whose tens place is even” instead of who’s.

  5. Can I use these for my intervention families during distance learning? Can I post them on our district website resource for fmailies section?

    1. Hi Jeannne,
      Yes, please do share and post! It’s an easy, fun, and educational activity that gets families involved in math. They’re going to love it!

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