An internet scavenger hunt is a fun way to get your kids and students learning while they are surfing the Web. Here are 5 easy steps to creating your own unique online hunt about a particular theme or state standard of your choosing.

Five Steps to Creating Your Internet Scavenger Hunts

1. Brainstorm the topic of your online scavenger hunt. This can be anything from geography to history to the non-profit world. Choose a state standard that you are teaching and make a hunt for it. The more experiential and engaging your lesson plans are, the more your students will learn and remember.

2. Research websites that pertain to this topic. Write down relevant questions (and the answers to them). Dig deep. Don't just choose a question pertaining to something on the home page. You want your kids learning about the topic at all stages of the hunt. Depending on how hard you want the online game to be, you can choose to include the web address for the home page where kids and teens can begin looking for the answer.

3. Compile a list of your clues. Include fun graphics or thoughtful quotes pertaining to the subject. Again, use every opportunity to make this hunt educational and fun. Be sure to create an answer key for yourself as you go along.

4. Split your class into groups and distribute the list. If you are a homeschooling parent, give the list to your child. Set a time limit for the hunt or send it home for homework.

5. Check their internet scavenger hunt answers. Have a discussion on what they learned. Have each group teach about one of the clues. You can even choose to have them pick their favorite site/theme/topic from the hunt and do a report on it.

Repeat this activity throughout the school year to make your lesson plans more creative and engaging.

This internet scavenger hunt list is a helpful resource to get you started. It includes a non-profit online scavenger hunt and a National Park hunt already put together.