Winter Scavenger Hunt

 How many types of snow crystals are there?  What does “winter” mean?  What are your favorite winter holidays?  Here’s a fun way to spend those chilly wintertime evenings - take your students on a winter scavenger hunt.

First, create a list of questions relating to the season of winter.  Include questions which are not easily answered and may require a little “digging.”  Here are some to consider:

• When does winter begin this year?
• How long does winter last?
• What is the “scientific name” for the start of winter?
• Why has the beginning of winter been a time for celebration in many cultures?
• What wintertime constellation is know as the Hunter?
• Where was the deepest one day snowfall?
• From what were the first known skis made? How old are they?
• Where were the first snowmaking machines used?
• Find some famous people who were born during winter.
• Which Apollo moon mission was launched on the first day of winter?
• What is a blizzard?  When was the first “unofficial “ blizzard recorded?
• What is the origin of the Yule log?
• Find five facts about Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years Day.
• What star signaled the start of winter by the ancient Persians?
• What famous store opened its first “hypermart” in Texas in December 1987?

Now turn your child loose with encyclopedias, books or at the library to search out the answers to your scavenger hunt questions.  Have fun and keep warm while learning about this frosty season!!

This idea may be adapted to help your child study for a test.  Make up a list of questions related to the subject your child is studying.  Give him 15-20 minutes to locate the answers in his textbook, and then share them as a good review of the subject matter.

For answers - see the answer key.

Original copyright 2013 Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.