One Week Freebie: Library Orientation Scavenger Hunt

I am excited to try a new feature on my blog: the One-Week Freebie. Whenever I post a new paid item on TPT, I will post it free for the first week only. My primary goal is to thank my most loyal followers--many of you have been with me for years, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. I love, love, love hearing from librarians and teachers from all over the world! My second goal is to get some early feedback on my new products. This helps me evaluate what I offer so I can create useful new lessons and ideas. So...between now and September 4, 2016, you can download this printable activity from my TPT store FREE.

If you download the activity and like it, I would love to hear from you either in the comments on this page or in my TPT store feedback for the item. (Remember, don't wait too long to download! After 9/4, it will cost $2.)

 

Objective: Students will explore the library and learn where important sections and items are located in the library.

Grade level: 5-8

Duration: I allowed 30 minutes, which was just right. Some finished a little early, but everyone finished.

Teams or individual? I always allow my students to choose to work alone, with a partner, or with team of three.

What you'll need: printable scavenger hunt card  printable QR codes (Access the QR codes for this activity here.) QR reader on ipad or student cell phone

Set up:

1. Decide what your 25 items/locations will be. I included my card as an example, but you will probably want to change at least some of them. Edit the card to reflect these locations.
   
   
2. Print the QR codes (I have created them for you—see the link below).
   
   
3. Write the location on each QR code. For example, if the students need to find the printer, write "printer" underneath the QR code. I did not do this with my first group, and some students asked, "Is this the printer code?" or if two codes were close together, "Which of these is the mystery section code?" One code fell on the floor, and it took me a minute to figure out where it went. After the first group, I wrote the locations on the codes. When I did the scavenger hunt with the next class, no one was confused about which code went with which square.
   
   
4. Place the QR codes around the library or other space you are using. I put mine in plain sight on top of each location, but you could hide them if you want to make it a bit more challenging.
   
   
5. Walk through the scavenger hunt to make sure it works. Be sure to scan the QRs to make sure they work.

Directions for the students:

You can start anywhere on the grid. Find the item or section in the library and look for the QR code, which is located in plain sight. When you scan the QR, a secret word will appear on your screen. Write the secret word on the square for that location. (I picked a square and did the first one with the students.)

After you have found all the words, see if you can solve the secret message. The blanks at the bottom reflect the exact number of letters in each word.

During the activity: 

Walk around and help any student having trouble. My students did very well with this activity and did not need much help from me.



Variation for ESL and special needs: 

For my ESL class, I just had the students find the things on the list and check them off. They did not do the QR codes or the secret message at all. They did great!


The QR code below will take you directly to the printable QR codes for this activity. There are 25 QR codes. When scanned, each code links to one secret word. The word is a small part of a longer phrase, a quotation from Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.




Related links:

Access the QR codes for this activity here. 
Download full activity from my TPT store 

 

 

Thank you in advance for leaving feedback on TPT 

or in the comments area of this post!