Have you tried doing a QR Code Scavenger Hunt in the classroom? If you haven’t yet, then you’re missing out on all the learning and fun! Read on to know more about QR codes and how to use these in making your teaching more engaging and interactive.
What Is a QR Code?
A QR code, or quick response code, is a type of two-dimensional bar code, which is first designed in 1994 for the automotive industry in Japan. QR codes are used nowadays to provide easy access to online information through an external app or simply the digital camera on a smartphone or tablet.
What Is a QR Code Scavenger Hunt?
A QR code scavenger hunt is very similar to a traditional scavenger hunt or treasure hunt. The difference lies in the use of a smartphone or tablet for a QR code scavenger hunt to find the clues. The objective of a QR Code Scavenger Hunt is for students to find all the QR Codes prepared by the teacher. These QR codes can contain hidden images, answers to questions, or links to web pages.
What and How Do I Prepare for a QR Code Scavenger Hunt?
With our QR code scavenger hunts, you are provided with QR code cards that focus on certain holidays or topics. You need to print these cards on cardstock before the activity starts. You have to prepare copies of question worksheets as well.
Hide the QR code cards strategically around the classroom or area where the activity will be done. You can tape the QR code cards on the back of the classroom door, under the students’ desks, on the chalkboard, or wherever you like. Don’t be afraid to hide the QR code cards in tough places. Students think it’s more fun when they have to search around a little.
Of course, you need to make sure that your students have access to smartphones or tablets that can be used to scan the QR codes.
How Does a QR Code Scavenger Hunt Work?
Give your students a copy of the question worksheet. They have to go around the room with their smartphones or tablets and scan all the QR Code cards to answer the questions. They can do this individually or in teams. After they have completed the question sheet, you can go over the answers together with the class. You can give the certificates as rewards for completing the task quickly and accurately.
What Do I Do with Early Finishers?
Make sure that you have a plan for early finishers. You may want to have a task for them to complete when they’re done or you may have them help other students find the answers to the questions.
What Do I Do if the QR Codes Refuse to Work?
Here are some things you can do to troubleshoot:
- Make sure that your school or district does not block Google Drives (where most of my QR codes are housed) outside the organization.
- Check if your device is connected to the Internet.
- Be close enough to the QR code you’re scanning.
- Make sure that the QR codes are not blurry.
- Check whether the problem is your reader or the QR code itself.
- If you’re using an external app, try uninstalling and reinstalling your reader or use a different QR code reader altogether.
QR Code Scavenger Hunts with Jewel's School Gems Club
Jewel School Gems Club has several QR Code Scavenger Hunts on different holidays and science topics.
So far, we have the following Holiday QR Code Scavenger Hunts:
- Christmas Around the World
- Valentine’s Day
- Patrick’s Day
- Easter
- Halloween
- Thanksgiving
- Hanukkah
- Kwanzaa
- New Year
- Chinese New Year
- April Fools’ Day
- Earth Day
- Cinco de Mayo
- Memorial Day
- Labor Day
- Leap Year
We also have QR Code Scavenger Hunts for the following science topics:
- Solar System
- Weather
- Human Body
- Dinosaurs
- Apollo 11 Moon Landing Anniversary
- 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
- 2024 Total Solar Eclipse – added on March 11, 2024
What Do These QR Code Scavenger Hunts Include?
All QR Code Scavenger Hunts include Materials, Preparation, Activity and Management Tips; a Question Worksheet; QR Code Cards; and an Answer Key.
What Happy Teachers Have to Say
Here are some what happy teachers have to say about our QR code scavenger hunts:
The cards are very visually appealing and my students enjoy learning about the different holidays. Thank you. – Kathleen D.
This was a great resource for my students! I used it in my class and with my after-school group of younger students. All the kids loved it! Thank you! – Missy W.
Wonderful. Thank you very much. Used for my combination class of both on-site and remote students. My students really enjoy scavenger hunts. – Nichole B.
This was such a fun activity that had my students up and moving around the room to find the next fact! Thank you! – Ryann S.
Try These QR Code Scavenger Hunts
Would you like your students to experience these QR code scavenger hunts as well? Sign up to become a Jewel’s School Gems Club paid member and have immediate access to all our QR code scavenger hunt resources below.
