We’re visiting my sister this week in the suburbs of Washington, DC so we had grand plans for a plethora of tourist activities and swimming in her apartment pool. Guess who was surprised yesterday morning with grey skies and rain? Guess who didn’t prepare anything for that to happen? Yep, little ole me.
Thank goodness for Teach Mama and the calendar of activities for The Smart Summer Challenge. I’m not a perfect rule follower so I haven’t gone day by day but I do love all the activities. Yesterday we chose make a map of the house. Since we’re in an apartment and the older ones get the idea of maps, I added a twist. They each drew a map of a different room. Then they took three or four things from the toy bin and hid them in the rooms. Next, they marked each item on their maps with an X. Finally, they swapped maps and went on a treasure hunt.
It was fun for everyone and lasted just long enough for the rain to go away. First treasure hunts, then swimming. What a great day!
Mapping Room One
Marking the Treasure Spots with X
The Map
Hunting for Treasure
Success! (So maybe "treasure" is a bit of a stretch.)
Fun for Everyone...well 2 outta 3 ain't bad
The fun was contagious. Five minutes after we finished, the one who "Didn't Want To!" came to show me his map too.
What a cool way to do a treasure map! I found your blog through the Smart Summer Challenge. I blog about teaching reading.
I am so going to do this with my kids. At first I thought, ugh… now I have to go buy a treasure to hide. But I LOVE your idea of just using something from the toy box and making the game the prize itself. Such a great idea! Thanks.
Oh yeah, I’m big on free prizes.;) Seriously, they got so into the hiding and finding part it didn’t even matter what the It was. Have fun!
Really fun idea! I am so going to do this with my kids. At first I thought, ugh… now I have to go buy a treasure to hide. But I LOVE your idea of just using something from the toy box and making the game the prize itself. Such a great idea! Thanks.
LOVE the pictures of the maps! What a great idea! It’s supposed to rain (in DC!) today so I might have to try this idea out.
This is an adorable blog! So glad to have stopped by (from the weteach summer challenge link party).
Thanks! We loved it-mom and kids alike.