Sick of repetitive math worksheets? Try out a scavenger hunt! It brings excitement to your practice questions or unit review. This Math Monday, we’re highlighting a scavenger hunt activity from our Financial Algebra unit on Investing Strategies & Exponential Functions. 

The Activity

MOVE: Follow the Funds is a scavenger hunt where students race to answer questions about exponential functions and types of investment funds. They follow a trail of clues, each one leading to the next card.

Preparation

To run this activity, print one copy of the Scavenger Hunt Cards and hang them around your classroom.

Give each student (or pair) a copy of the Student Worksheet. They will use the worksheet to track their progress throughout the scavenger hunt. 

Walkthrough the Activity with Naomi

Let’s walk through part of the activity with an example student, Naomi. 

Naomi has a copy of the Student Worksheet. She walks over to a Scavenger Hunt Card hanging on the wall. It’s labeled “A” and has the question: “Which type of fund adjusts its portfolio over time, based on when you plan to retire?”

Naomi knows the answer! She fills in her Student Worksheet by writing the card letter (“A”) and the answer (“TDF”).

Now, Naomi is ready to find her next Scavenger Hunt Card. She looks around the room for a card that has the answer “TDF” written at the top. That’s where she needs to go next!

She finds the Scavenger Hunt Card she was looking for! It’s labeled “E”, so she fills that in on the next box of her student worksheet. Then, she starts solving the question on this card. Once she’s found the answer, it will lead her to the next Scavenger Hunt Card. 

Naomi will continue this way until she gets back to the Scavenger Hunt Card that she started on (“A”). Naomi brings her worksheet to her teacher, who can easily check her work by looking at the order of the Scavenger Hunt Card letters. (Tip: Find the answer key by clicking on the activity link while logged into your verified teacher account!)

Try it out!
If you enjoyed this activity, check out MOVE: Paycheck Scavenger Hunt! This flexible scavenger hunt format can be easily modified to flexibly fit your classroom!

We'd love to hear how you use scavenger hunts in your classroom! Join FinLit Fanatics to share your tips, tricks, and wins!

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her partner and dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.