So my oldest, who loved story time and busy books as a toddler, has started opting away from reading. Flash cards, worksheets, reading practice all feel like chores to her. She’s on to me when I start making letters with play dough or paint, knowing that I’m trying to educate her and clearly not interested.

In fact, she rarely lets me read her a bedtime story anymore. I have started reading to the girls through lunch because they sit quietly and eat better, and our story time lunches are one of the few times I can get my oldest engaged in a book.

So I had to find another way, a fresh way to nurture my grade schooler’s reading skills. My goals included:

1. Engaging activity
2. Quick setup/cleanup
3. Sight word practice

With the nicer weather and warmer days, we played a lot outside. I am a big supporter or play-based learning, and I love to include movement or physical activity into our games.

So I came up with an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt. I developed 20 clue cards that could be placed in around the yard, and I loaded them with sight words and rhymes to help her sound out the clues on her own. I didn’t tell her about the educational component. I just said, “I set up an outdoor scavenger hunt just for you!”

She loved it! Firstly, she loved that she could take the lead on this game because she could read now. Her little sister can’t read yet and therefore can’t figure out the clues without big sis’ help.

Secondly, she did better than I expected at sounding out the words and reading the clues. The game held her attention and motivated her to do it on her own rather than have me prompt her with “What sound does a ‘G’ make?”

Plus, the setup of the clues is up to the game maker, so I positioned the clues in an order that would have her running all over the yard. She had to run up and down our hill at least three times, and poor thing was even out of breath at one point.

The ability to setup the clues in a variety of ways makes this activity repeatable all summer long. In fact, I laminated my clue cards so that we can do more scavenger hunts and less worksheets. I find that my oldest likes about 5-10 clues and a small treat or reward at the end.

I also love that I can setup this activity in under 10 minutes with no cleanup required. Just like flashcards and worksheets, I can provide her with this pre-made, educational game quickly and cost-effectively, and I don’t need a lot of space or materials.

It’s an easy game to pack and take on vacation, it’s an easy game to play with one kid, and it’s an easy game to play with a few kids taking turns reading the clue cards aloud.

If you are interested in purchasing my printable Outdoor Scavenger Hunt, check them out on my Etsy shop. It’s a great print and play activity, and shop proceeds go toward keeping this blog going.