My family and I made our way to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to visit a long-time friend and amazing teacher, Jeanne Lodwick. While eating breakfast, “Miss Jeanne” told my oldest boy (Jack - 6 years old) that he was going on a treasure hunt after breakfast at Steamboat Lake. She gave Jack an empty egg carton and said, “This is where you will keep all of the treasures that you’ll find on our walk.” Using a Sharpie Pen, she numbered each of the empty spaces 1 through 12. On an index card, Jeanne wrote down 12 characteristics of the rocks she wanted Jack to find - rough, smooth, flat, round and so on. Jack set out on his “rock hunt” which kept him busy for the better part of the morning until the task was complete.

I’m reminded that great teachers are in the business of sharing their teaching “gems” at any time. Jeanne’s scavenger hunt activity is loaded with the skills we strive to teach each day. In order to complete the task, Jack had count, compare, classify, observe and measure.

And yes, you guessed correctly… I’m saving egg cartons and frantically writing down scavenger hunt ideas for our students. The trick is to come up with object that fit into the egg carton spaces. Rocks are great, but what else might work?