GAMES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

1. GAMES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

2. A TREASURE HUNT LEVEL : Elementary school TIME : 45-60 Minutes AIMS : Language : command, prepositions, wh-questions. Other : to develop logical thought, to build a team spirit.

3. Description The students follow a series of written ( or tape recorder) clues which lead them to a hidden treasure.

4. Materials Pieces of paper or card for clues Small prizes for treasure Cassette players and cassettes, if you record the clues

5. Preparation Decide on the route of the treasure hunt. You need between 10 and 12 places to hide the clues and somewhere for the treasure itself. Write the clues. These should direct the students to the next clue but not in an immediately obvious way. You can use the clues to reinforce a particular structure such as wh-questions, prepositions or commands.

6. 3. Devise a way of checking that the students have actually followed all the clues and not taken short cuts. One idea is to prepare a question for each hiding place, for example : what is for lunch today? Alternatively, the clues could be written on cards of different colours, and the children have to tell you which clue was which colour. Different teams could have clues in a different order, so that they do not cheat by following each other round.

7. 4. Write or record the clues 5. Hide the treasure. This should be a small item such as some dried fruit or some stationery. Remember that you need enough treasure for each child to get some. 6. Prepare a couple of spare clues to use as practice examples.

8. In the class • Draw a large chest on the board. Ask the children what it is and what might be in it. Get them to tell you what treasure is, who hides it, who find it and so on. The introduce the idea of a treasure trail with clues. • Tell them that there is some treasure hidden in the school an that they are going to try and find it. You could show them a scruffy piece of paper with some clues on it.

9. Divide the class into four teams. Write a sample clue on the board and then teach team to read it and tell you where the next clue will be. Do this with few more sample clues, until they have got the idea of going from clue to clue. • Give the teams their clues or cassettes, and start the treasure hunt. • As the team finish, check that they have been round all the clues.