Thinkabara

🛝 Park treasure hunt

Google Classroom

A treasure hunt that uses the equipment you find at almost any playground. One grown-up goes ahead to hide the clues, and the kids start at the bench.

Before you start

  • Print the clues, fold each one, and hide it in the spot the clue before it points to. Hand the first clue to the kids to start.
  • Hide clues only inside the fenced play area, well away from the road and the parking lot.
  • Keep one grown-up near the equipment, and pick up every clue once it's found so no paper is left behind.

The clues (cut along the dashed lines)

  1. Clue 1
    Grown-ups sit on me to watch you all play, Look under my seat, there's a clue on the way!
  2. Clue 2
    Climb up the ladder and whoosh to the ground, Look at my bottom, a clue can be found!
  3. Clue 3
    Back and forth, I fly up to the sky, Look by my post when no one swings by!
  4. Clue 4
    Castles and towers and cakes made of sand, Look in my corner, a clue's close at hand!
  5. Clue 5
    When you are thirsty and hot from the sun, Come have a sip, then the next clue is won!
  6. Clue 6
    The tallest thing here, with a big shady crown, Look by my trunk where a clue's settled down!
  7. Clue 7
    Hand over hand, you climb up to the top, Look down at my base, this is your next stop!
  8. Clue 8
    Who brought the water, the snacks and the fruit? Look in the grown-up's bag for the loot!
Show the answers (for the grown-up)
  1. Under the bench
  2. At the bottom of the slide
  3. By the swing set post (only when nobody is swinging)
  4. In the corner of the sandbox
  5. By the drinking fountain
  6. By the trunk of the biggest tree
  7. At the foot of the climbing frame
  8. In Mom's or Dad's bag

Answer key (for the grown-up)

  1. Under the bench
  2. At the bottom of the slide
  3. By the swing set post (only when nobody is swinging)
  4. In the corner of the sandbox
  5. By the drinking fountain
  6. By the trunk of the biggest tree
  7. At the foot of the climbing frame
  8. In Mom's or Dad's bag

The treasure

Ice pops, a deck of cards or a bouncy ball, plus a little picnic on the grass.

Questions and answers

Is it OK to hide clues in a public park?

Yes, as long as you keep them inside the play area, away from other families' things, and collect every note at the end.

What if another child picks up a clue?

Hide the clues just before you start and keep a spare printed copy in your bag. If one goes missing, simply read the clue from your copy.

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