Who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? These free activities will keep kids busy at home, on the road, or even in the classroom. Teachers: try assigning them as a fun homework alternative for families during spring break or for an unexpected snow day. They’re also awesome for sub folders and time fillers at the end of the day.

1. Start with ABC

Alphabet scavenger hunt printable on a clipboard with a pencil

Scavenger hunts like this one work for kids of any age and can be used in a bunch of different ways. Try having kids find items only in their room, around the backyard, or in their favorite book.

Learn more: The Many Little Joys

2. Scan magazines for place value

Place value scavenger hunt printable

Pull out a stack of old magazines or newspapers and arm kids with scissors and paste. Then send them on a search to find numbers that fit the place value clues. (See more fun place value activities here.)

Learn more: Primary Theme Park

3. Find things to be thankful about

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt for Kids printable

We love this sweet twist on traditional scavenger hunts. Kids search for things to be grateful for, like something that’s their favorite color or something that makes them laugh. These are things really worth finding.

Learn more: Natural Beach Living

4. Use the five senses

Free printable scavenger hunts including the Five Senses hunt

Our own selection of free printable scavenger hunts includes the Five Senses hunt. This open-ended activity challenges students to find items they can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. Get all of our free scavenger hunt activities here.

5. Go on a geography scavenger hunt

Scavenger Hunts

Travel the world from your classroom or living room! Pull out the atlas or use Google Earth to complete these free geography scavenger hunts. Explore the whole United States or just the state where you live, and learn while you have fun.

Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands

6. Take a road trip

Printable road trip scavenger hunt with a pen attached by yarn

Finally ready to hit the road? Take this scavenger hunt along for the ride! It’s got enough items on it to keep you busy for miles and miles and miles.

Learn more: Honest and Truly

7. Search the bookshelves

Bookshelf scavenger hunt printable

Visit the library to search for a wide variety of book types. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite read! (This one works with online library catalogs too.)

Learn more: Scholastic

8. Hunt through the pages of a book

Book scavenger hunt with items like two proper nouns and two vivid verbs

You can use this free printable for scavenger hunts over and over again with any books your kids are reading. It’s a fun way to encourage deeper reading.

Learn more: I Love 2 Teach

9. Turn a muffin tin into a scavenger hunt bin

Student holding a muffin tin with pictures of items in each well

How cute is this? Get the free printable sheet for your child to cut out and color. Then, take the tin outside and find as many items as you can!

Learn more: Mama Papa Bubba

10. Chase after colors

Color scavenger hunt on a clipboard with a pencil

There are so many scavenger hunts you can do with this free printable! Hunt around the house or classroom, head outside to the playground or park, or try to find items of the right color in your favorite movie or video game.

Learn more: Rock Your Homeschool

11. Count and hunt

Counting scavenger hunt with items like 6 small rocks and 2 sticks

This simple scavenger hunt gets kids counting while they look. If you like the concept, it’s easy to make more hunts like this.

Learn more: Fun at Home With Kids

12. Two is twice the fun

Indoor scavenger hunts with pictures of items to find

With the two scavenger hunts at the link below, kids can compete to see who finishes first! Bigger groups can work in teams.

Learn more: The Pragmatic Parent

13. Snap a selfie

Indoor Selfie Scavenger Hunt with selfie photos across the top

Teens will definitely want to get in on this one! Little ones can borrow your phone as they have fun taking selfies in this incredibly cool scavenger hunt.

Learn more: The Christmas Games Shop

14. Have a look around the house

Indoor scavenger hunt printable with items like stuffed bear and sunglasses

Here’s a great scavenger hunt for a snow day or rainy afternoon. Have kids check each one off the list, or actually collect the items and bring it to a central location. (Be sure they put everything away when they’re done!)

Learn more: About a Mom

15. Take a walk outside

Two nature scavenger hunts, one with photos and the other a printed checklist

Take this scavenger hunt to the playground or the backyard! This one has differentiated options, with picture clues for younger seekers and words for older ones.

Learn more: Homemade Heather

16. Look to the sky

Star Gazing scavenger hunt printable

Stay up late and turn your eyes to the sky with this fun nighttime scavenger hunt! Learn more about the phases of the moon and how to identify constellations.

Learn more: Real Life at Home

17. Get the picture

Neighbourhood Photo scavenger hunt with items like "Something Green" and "People Jumping"

Gather the family for a neighborhood stroll and work your way through this scavenger hunt together. The free printable lists 30 photos you need to take, capturing everything from a group yoga pose to a jagged rock. This one’s fun for class team building too.

Learn more: East Coast Mommy

18. Leaf through the newspaper

Newspaper Scavenger Hunt printable

Grab a Sunday edition and get ready to explore the pages! This is another one of those scavenger hunts you can reuse over and over with fresh newspapers.

Learn more: Playtivities

19. Take up bird watching

Find a Bird! Printable scavenger hunt with various bird-related items to find

Spark their inner ornithologist with this fun little hunt that you can do in your own backyard or on a walk through the neighborhood.

Learn more: Red Tricycle

20. Perform acts of service

Service scavenger hunt with tasks like take out the trash and clean a sink

This hunt was created to inspire kids to do acts of service around their neighborhood. You can also use it for household chores!

Learn more: One Creative Mommy

21. Discover a world of books

Child marking an X on a map on a Reading Scavenger Hunt

This scavenger hunt will take some time to complete, but it’s great for book lovers and reluctant readers alike. Kids read books that fit a variety of criteria, like one that’s been made into a movie or was written more than 20 years ago.

Learn more: Modern Parents Messy Kids

22. Bag it up

Child holding a paper bag labeled "Ellie: Nature Scavenger Hunt"

Kids love to pick up stuff like rocks and sticks, so this scavenger hunt gives them a little bit of purpose. Give each kid a paper bag with the list of items to find, then have them fill the bag and bring it to you when they’re done.

Learn more: How to Nest for Less

23. Page through the dictionary

Printable Dictionary scavenger hunt

Kids don’t necessarily spend much time with a dictionary these days! It’s just easier to look things up on the internet. But, there’s still a benefit to knowing how to use a dictionary. If you don’t have a printed one, try using the Dictionary.com app instead.

Learn more: Moms and Munchkins

24. Seek out different emotions

Emotions scavenger hunt with emoji illustrations

This social-emotional learning scavenger hunt can be used in a variety of ways. Use it while observing others, whether out and about or at home watching TV. Check out the link for the printable and other ideas for using it.

Learn more: Mosswood Connections

25. Do you wanna have a scavenger hunt?

Printable scavenger hunt for the movie Frozen

When your little ones beg to watch Frozen for the ten-thousandth time, just let it go and give them this scavenger hunt to complete while they watch. It’ll improve their observation skills and keep them busy while you grab a much-needed cup of coffee … in another room.

Learn more: The Pickled Procrastinator

Clipboards are a must for scavenger hunts, but there are lots of other clever ways to use them in the classroom and beyond. Learn more here.

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25 Scavenger Hunts For Kids To Try At Home Or In The Classroom