Free Printable Back to School Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Looking for a fun and easy way to kick off the new school year? This free printable back to school scavenger hunt is a simple first day of school activity that gets kids up, moving, and excited to explore their classroom.

Whether you are a teacher planning activities for the first week of school or a parent looking for a cute back to school activity to do at home, this back to school printable is a fun and simple way to help children ease into a new routine.

This scavenger hunt is designed to be simple enough for young kids to use, but still fun for elementary students, too. It includes a colorful checklist page with pictures and checkboxes, plus matching cards to cut out and hide around the room. It is a great way to help them practice observation skills, follow directions, and get familiar with the classroom and common school supplies.

What’s Included in the Printable

This activity comes as a 4-page PDF file that includes:

• One scavenger hunt checklist page
• Checkboxes for marking each item as it is found
• 12 school supply picture cards to cut out and hide
• Fun school-themed designs
• Easy picture matching for younger children

Get the PDF at the bottom of the post by clicking on the "Get it here" button.

The scavenger hunt items include:

• Apple
• Alarm clock
• Calculator
• Notebook
• Cup of markers
• Pencil sharpener
• Ruler
• Backpack
• Push pin
• Scissors
• Highlighter
• Globe

Since the hunt uses pictures, it is especially great for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and younger elementary students who may not yet be confident readers.

Supplies Needed

You only need a few basic supplies to set up this first day of school scavenger hunt:

• Printed scavenger hunt pages
• Printed cut-out cards
• Scissors
• Pencil, crayon, or marker
• Optional clipboard
• Optional laminator

Regular copy paper works perfectly for one-time use, but cardstock is better if you want the cards to be more durable and have a more vibrant, professional look.

If you want to reuse the activity year after year, print the pages on cardstock and laminate the checklist and cards. Kids can use dry erase markers to check off each item.

How to Use the Back to School Scavenger Hunt

Print the scavenger hunt.
Print one checklist page for each child. Then print the school supply cards and cut them apart. For a classroom, you can print one set of cards to hide around the room.

Hide the cards.
Place the cards around the room. Make them easy to spot for younger kids, or tuck them in slightly trickier places for older students.

Give each child a checklist.
Hand each student a scavenger hunt page and a writing tool such as a pencil, crayon, or marker. Explain that they will look for the hidden school supply cards and check off each matching picture when they find it.

Start the hunt.
Let students search independently, with a partner, or in small groups.

Review the items together.
After the hunt, gather everyone and talk about where the items were found. This is a great time to introduce classroom areas, routines, and supplies.

When to Use This Scavenger Hunt

First Week of School

This is a perfect first day of school activity because it gives kids something fun to do right away. It helps break the ice, calm nerves, and get them used to the classroom environment.

Meet the Teacher Night

Place a scavenger hunt page on each desk during meet the teacher night or open house. Kids can search for the hidden cards while parents fill out forms, unpack supplies, or chat with the teacher. It gives students a fun reason to explore the room before the first day.

Homeschool

Hide the cards around your home classroom area and let kids search before starting your first lesson of the year as a fun activity to get them excited for the new school year.

Preschool or Daycare

For younger children, you can use the picture cards as a group activity. You can also use them for vocabulary practice by naming each item as they find it.

Easy Ways to Adapt the Scavenger Hunt by Age

You can easily adjust this activity to fit different ages and skill levels.

For younger kids, keep the activity simple and low-stress. Search as a group instead of individually, hide the cards in easy-to-see places, and limit the hunt to one small area of the classroom or room. This works especially well for preschool, pre-K, and kindergarten students who may need a little extra guidance.

For older students, make the activity more of a challenge. Set a timer for a quick classroom race, hide the cards in trickier spots, or ask students to write down where they found each card. You can also turn it into a classroom tour by placing the cards near important areas, such as the supply shelf, cubbies, classroom library, or turn-in bin.

What Kids Learn

This may seem like a simple activity, but it helps kids practice several important skills.

Students work on:

• Observation skills
• Picture matching
• Following directions
• School supply vocabulary
• Fine motor skills
• Classroom awareness
• Teamwork
• Problem solving
• Confidence in a new space

It is a fun way to sneak in learning while kids feel like they are just playing a game.

Extension Activities

Want to stretch the activity a little further? Try one of these fun and easy ideas after the scavenger hunt:

• Pair the activity with some back to school coloring pages.
• Use it before a classroom supplies lesson.
• Pair it with an All About Me worksheet.

More Back to School Printables

Looking for more easy back-to-school activities? Pair this game with some of these fun printables:

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