About This Lesson
Subjects
- Math
Time
- 15-30 minutes
Skills
- Teamwork
- Basic Math Operations
- Data Collection
- Measurement
Learning Objective/Goal:
- Students will make observations about nature and make connections with math topics
- Students can do basic calculations such as multiplication and addition
- Students will be able to measure objects they find in nature
Materials Needed:
- Scavenger Hunt Worksheet (linked below)
- Outdoor space in nature (Trees, plants, bushes must be present)
- Pen or Pencil
- A ruler or a way to measure items
- Optional: a prize for the person/group that finishes first
Background:
- This scavenger hunt is designed to take place on school grounds where students can have a break from the classroom, while still practicing their math skills. It can be easily modified based on location, duration (adding or taking away tasks), and students' current level.
Activity
Introduction (5 minutes):
- Read over the scavenger hunt tasks and modify them to fit the needs/requirements at your school or location.
- Consider making an answer key beforehand.
- Introduce the scavenger hunt, potential prize, and any rules or bounds students must follow.
- Split into each group and decide a start and stopping point and time.
During the Scavenger hunt (15 minutes):
- Have the students (not volunteers if using) record the answers on the 3rd page of the worksheet in the correct box.
- Remind students of the time and to complete every box periodically.
Reflection/Debrief (5 minutes):
- When everyone returns to the ending point ask the students how it went.
- Compare student answers (between each other or with an answer key).
- Go over any hard challenges or skills they struggled with
- Give out incentives/awards.
- Interview volunteer supervisors on how the activity went.
Extra
Tips for Students:
- Make sure the data collected is accurate.
- If working in groups have one person do the task and the other record the answer on the worksheet.
- It may help to find a folder or hard object to bear down on when writing answers.
Tips for Teachers:
- Make sure there is a way to keep an eye on or monitor all students - this may include having a volunteer supervise each group or stay in a closed area
- Encourage students to bring water bottles if it is hot outside.
- Decide how accurate answers must be for students to earn rewards.
Extensions:
- Add more items/tasks for the students to complete.
- Change the environment to be both indoors and outdoors.
- Turn the questions into riddles the students must solve.
