Day 124: phonics scavenger hunt

Okay, its really just a regular scavenger hunt! But exciting for us all the same because we are starting to incorporate words into our hunting!  Every other time we have done any kind of scavenger hunt it has been the 3D variety or picture variety (okay those links go to the same place, which is also just the page on the right side bar about scavenger hunts!) but now we are adding words to our pictures. 

Sam really liked adding this to our adventure this morning.  I didn't force too much learning of the letters but when she found something on the card we would talk about what it was and I would point out the word and letters to her.  She loved when the words had the letter S in it!  She is very into the S.

Here are some pictures from this morning.

Love that there was still frost on the ground.  It was the perfect cool morning walk and actually got me excited for getting outside in cold weather!

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The Nitty Gritty!

Here is the hunt that I made for Sam and I to do today at Governor Nelson State Park.

Download Phonics walk

Just like any other hunt that we do the pictures are super simple and can be changed very easily.  I am excited to start getting more exact with her though.  She is starting to recognize certain bird calls (geese, ducks, crows) which makes me think that if we got good bird feeders set up and kept them maintained maybe I could start working on simple bird ID with her as well.  I think she could learn chickadee, cardinal and grackle pretty easily.  But I know that I don't want to force this kind of information on her.  At this stage it is not about her learning the details, just about the experience!

Now that I know Sam likes these cards I think I will make a bunch of different ones (for all seasons) and get them laminated.  Then simply punch one hole and stick them on a ring.  Simple game/activity to take along whenever we are out on a hike!

These cards would be super easy to make without the pictures if you had an older child going on the walk with you that needed to practice reading skills.  This way you could do the same hunt with different aged kids but have it be a challenge for both.

The cards would also be really easy to make in multiple sets and taken on a walk or field trip with a class of students.  This could add an additional learning element to a school outing that is also fun for the kids. And a great way to get them exploring and noticing details! I think it is great when teachers come up with creative ways to get the kids focused on where they are and what they are doing that isn't just a worksheet. 

Comments

[welcome to our wonderland]

LOVE your walk and the pictures are so pretty! we played outside for about an hour today no pictures though :( tomorrow.

Tomorrow I post about some awesome nature products :)

[liz]

Wow, I can't imagine walking in the morning and viewing a lake like that!

[Ashley]

That looks like so much fun!!!

[mens health]

Everything else went into storage. And quite of the few of the things that started out in that carry-on bag got mailed back to the States because I just got tired of carrying them.