Math Scavenger Hunts - Fun Fridays On Fire! (2024)

We need Fun Fridays! Teaching on Fridays can be rough. The kids are tired and often crankier than any other day of the week. So am I! Mondays are usually fairly quiet days. But Fridays? We all seem to need something a little special to keep us learning and motivated. So-o-o, I created these get-up-and-move free solve-the-room task cards with a twist! They are perfect for your Fun Fridays! And they are super fun because the “twist” is that they work as a math scavenger hunt!

Since they raise motivation and are great for review and practice, they are ideal for any time – but especially long Friday afternoons.

And what increases their idealness, even more, is that preparation is quick and easy! Just print (laminate if you want) and cut in half. Then post the task cards around the room. Or, since students will not be sitting at their desks, you can place the cards directly on top of students’ empty desks.

HOW THE MATH SCAVENGER HUNTSWORK

• Students can start at any task card. (The solution to their last problem will be on the problem they answered first so that they go in a complete circle!) They can work independently, with a partner, or with a group.
• They read and solve the problem on that task card.
• Then they search for their solution on all the other task cards.
• They move to the task card with their solution and solve the new problem on that task card.
• Students continue this process until all problems are solved.

⭐Join Sum Math Fun and browse our resource library for this free math scavenger hunt for the primary grades!!

As students work through the problems, they get immediate feedback. They can “catch” their mistakes as there are only task cards with correct answers. Although an answer key is included for monitoring and adjusting or for students to check if they need to, there will be no papers for you to check! Another perfect teacher solution for Friday afternoons!

My students use their math notebooks to record their answers as they travel from task card to task card. I keep clipboards available, too. Included in each resource is a recording sheet that students may use to record their work and their answers.

This free math scavenger hunt is ideal for Fun Fridays when you need excited (or tired) children to be engaged and to continue learning with something other than just seatwork!

⭐Join Sum Math Fun and browse our resource library for this free math scavenger hunt for the upper elementary grades!!

HOW TO USE THE TASK CARDS IN A WORKSTATION (CENTER)

You can also use the free math scavenger hunts in a workstation. Students can spread the cards out, solve, then find their solution by searching the top of each of the other task cards. After students solve the problem on a task card, they should turn that card over and make a stack of their solved task cards. When they get to the last unsolved task card, they turn over their stack and the answer to their last card will be on the top. It doesn’t matter which card they begin with as long as they turn over their cards and stack them in the order, they solve them with the first card they solve being on the bottom of their upside-down stack. So much fun! Kids absolutely LOVE these!

HOW TO USE THE TASK CARDS AS A SCOOT GAME

Have students clear their desks. Place the task cards on students’ desks in any order. Using the included recording sheet, students find the letter of the problem on their desks and place their answers on their recording sheet in that place. When you say, “Scoot”, students search for the task card with their answer and move to the desk with that task card. The game continues until students have found the answers to all the task cards.

HOW TO PLAY A GAME OF I HAVE… WHO HAS…

You can also use this like an “I Have, Who Has” activity! Pass out the task cards to partners (or individuals). Have any student begin by reading the problem on their task card. All students look for the solution on their cards in the upper right corner. The student with that solution says the answer and reads the problem on their card. Continue until all solutions have been found and the student who began has the solution! So much fun!

⭐ Put some sizzle in your Fun Fridays! Download these Free Solve the Room Task Cards With a TWIST from the Free Printables Resource Library HERE. If you are already a Sum Math Friend, just log in to ourFree Resource Libraryand download.

For free fraction scavenger hunts perfect for grades 1-4, subscribe to Sum Math Fun below.

Here is a quick fun video about using scavenger hunts in your classroom:

For complete 14-task card scavenger hunts that are ideal for your whole class, try the sets below. Each pack includes a complete set (14 task cards) for whole group work and a bonus mini-set of 6 for small groups or for introducing Solve the Room With a Twist during guided practice. Available for first grade through 4th grade.

This is such a great review for my students who needed extra help with 2 step story problems! I LOVE that they have to find their answer on their next problem. This has been a great way for students to get instant feedback if they get the answer right or wrong. This activity has allowed me to have meaningful conversations with all of my students about the different problems. Thank you for such an awesome resource.-Andrea O.

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Thanks!

And as always,

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