Egg Hunt Activity

 

 

Students return from Spring Break full of energy and excitement, knowing the end of the school year is near. Teachers often spend this time reviewing classroom expectations and reestablishing routines, especially since state testing usually begins within a few weeks. While there’s a push to return to normal, the atmosphere is different, and students often need a way to release that extra energy.

A creative teacher I worked with a few years ago had a great idea for this transition period. She used plastic eggs to make the return more engaging. She cut up a worksheet and placed one question inside each egg, then hid them outside. Students went outside with a clipboard and some paper, searching for the eggs. When they found one, they opened it, wrote down the problem number and question, solved it, and then returned the egg to its hiding spot. This continued until each student had solved 10 questions. It was a great way to get students moving while still completing academic work.

Some teachers may question how effective this approach is for actual learning. From my classroom, I could see the activity happening, and I noticed the teacher rarely had to redirect students or ask them to stay on task. Everyone seemed engaged and focused on solving the problems. The entire activity lasted about 30 minutes—which is quite reasonable for 10 math problems—and the students appeared to enjoy it. So, while it's a bit different from a traditional lesson, it can be very effective when clear expectations are set.