It's been half a month since the school year began. The children in school-age 2 are getting used to the new routine and eager to make new friends. Enjoying the last bit of summer, the children have been spending a lot of time outside exploring the soccer field or playing games with each other.
Educator Wendy noticed that some of the children were eager to search for cute little items in the play area. Based on the children’s interests, she planned a Scavenger Hunt for Friday. She handed out two sheets to the children. One sheet had 14 different items of 14 different colors to find, while the other was more challenging, focusing on natural items like a cricket or a puddle.
The children were enthusiastic about the activity and worked diligently to find every item. Some of them ventured to the puddle on the far side of the soccer field, discovering insects there. Others stayed on the soccer field, searching for different colours of items. The children were running around, excitedly discussing the things they found with each other. The field came alive with giggles and chatter as the kids compared their finds. Adain and his buddy were quick off the mark, spotting green grass and brown dirt. "Look, grass is green, and dirt is brown," he exclaimed. "You're absolutely right! The sky is blue, and the clouds are white!" his friend chimed in. Their conversation caught the ears of nearby children who eagerly checked off those colors on their sheets.
Meanwhile, Jahmanuel, Gabriel, and Chloe embarked on an adventure to find the puddle. "There's a cricket!" Gabriel shouted with glee. Chloe added, "It hopped away when we got closer." Jahmanuel had a brilliant idea, "Let's go on an ant hunt!" And so, these three little explorers began another bug-tactic quest!
The scavenger hunt was a rich learning experience that touched upon various cognitive, social, and physical skills, while also encouraging a sense of wonder and adventure in the children. The children practiced keen observation to spot different items, colors, and creatures in their surroundings. They engaged in conversations with their peers, sharing what they found, and discussing their discoveries. This nurtured their ability to express themselves and listen to others. By working together on this hunt, the children learned to collaborate, cooperate, and build relationships with their friends. Also, the children's curiosity drove them to explore and discover new things, nurturing their creativity and imagination. In the future, a scavenger hunt during a neighbourhood walk might be considered as an activity.
