Non-Fiction Scavenger Hunt

Hi friends!

Today was our first day back from Spring Break. We started the day off with a fun Non-Fiction Scavenger Hunt in first grade! I’ve found that my elementary school students often learn better when they are moving and talking. A scavenger hunt provides the engagement of a game plus the ability to move and talk.

Non-Fiction Library Scavenger Hunt Cards

I created this set of 24 Non-Fiction Scavenger Hunt cards with Dewey numbers (whole numbers only, no decimals) for popular categories, with word descriptions and pictures. I also created this printable and digital set of Non-Fiction Scavenger Hunt cards, so that students could use our library iPads and scan the QR codes to confirm that they had found the right section.
I copied two sets of these onto colored card stock and laminated them (of course). Then I put one set on the non-fiction shelves, in the correct spot for that Dewey number. I handed the other set out to our first graders who worked in groups of four to find the matching cards on the shelves.

I had students bring the matching cards back to their group’s table. We celebrated as each group returned with their matching cards. Additionally, you could have them find a matching book and bring it back to the table, and even share the book title and Dewey number with the whole class. We didn’t have time for that today.
After they completed the scavenger hunt, each student checked out a non-fiction book as one of their two check-outs for the week. They were enthusiastic about the books that they saw as they were searching for their cards during the scavenger hunt!
It took me hours to decide on the most popular and well-stocked Dewey categories,  find cute graphics, and create the cards. So I put this card set in my TPT shop so that you can save yourself the trouble, if you decide to do this activity.

Reflections for the Next Non-fiction Scavenger Hunt

I’ll also use this Dewey activity with my second and third grade classes. Next time, I’ll have them work in pairs. Groups of four were a bit unwieldy. But I knew some of our first grade students would struggle if they had to work alone.

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    8 Comments

    1. Love this idea. I’ve been introducing the nonfiction call numbers to my 2nd & 3rd graders in a similar way, but I simply wrote the call number and subject on the back of old catalog cards and had students find the book. I work with the whole class, so I first read The Library Gingerbread Boy, explained the activity and had them work in pairs.

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