Creating a Scavenger Hunt with Google Forms and QR Codes (2024)

Scavenger hunts are an exciting and interactive way to engage your students while reinforcing recently covered class content. In this blog post, I will guide you through the steps I use to create a captivating scavenger hunt using Google Forms and QR codes. This engaging activity makes learning fun and helps students solidify their knowledge.

Step 1: Define Your Objectives

Before diving into the logistics, it’s essential to establish clear learning objectives. What topics or concepts do you want your students to review or reinforce? Knowing your objectives will help you create questions and tasks that align with your teaching goals.

Step 2: Select Your Clue Locations

1. For my recent mental health scavenger hunt, I chose locations that provide support to students: Social Work office, School Nurse, Academic Assistance Center, Library, etc. These locations should be accessible and safe for students to visit. (I had to move my Social Work clue away from the office door to protect student privacy).

Step 3: Create Your Google Form

1. Log in to Google Forms: Start by visiting Google Forms (forms.google.com) and sign in to your Google account.
2. Create a New Form: Click the “+ Blank” button to start a new form. Give your form a title and a brief description that lets students know what to expect. I typically title my form after the clue location.
3. Add Questions: Craft questions based on the content you want to review. You can include multiple-choice, short-answer, or paragraph text questions for longer explanations. My mental health scavenger hunt directed students to links to the school website and social media posts from community resources, in addition to recapping content recently covered in class.
4. Set Correct Answers: For each question, specify the correct answer. Some clue answers I use are open-ended, which means students could write anything as a response. However, in my scavenger hunt instructions, I tell students that ALL responses are visible to me in a spreadsheet (which is true).
5. Configure the “After Submission” Message: This is where some of the magic happens. In the settings of your Google Form, under the “Presentation” tab, there is an opportunity to add an “after submission” message. This is where you’ll inform students of the next clue’s location, keeping the excitement and engagement alive throughout the scavenger hunt.

Download a copy of one of my clues here.

Step 4: Create QR Codes for Each Location

1. Generate QR Codes: Use a free QR code generator (I preferQR Code Monkey) to create QR codes for each location. Link each QR code to the Google Form associated with that location.
2. Print and Place QR Codes: Print and securely place the QR codes in the selected locations. Make sure they are visible and easily scannable. (I find that if you make your scavenger hunt a race, students remove codes and hide clues, hence my emphasis on completion being more important than speed.)

Step 5: Organize Your Scavenger Hunt

1. Divide Students into Groups: Depending on your class size, divide your students into groups of an appropriate size. Assign each group a different starting point to avoid overcrowding.
2. Explain the Rules: Brief your students about the rules and objectives of the scavenger hunt. Let them know that correct answers will lead them to the next location. Location 1 goes to 2, 2 to 3, etc, and 6 sends students back to 1. The route is a circle. The scavenger hunt is complete once all 6 locations have been visited.)
3. Provide Devices: Ensure each group has a device with a QR code reader (smartphones or tablets) to scan the codes. While that 1 group member should be the ‘leader,’ I encourage ALL group members to scan the location QR code to engage in the clue and associated content.

Step 6: Run the Scavenger Hunt

1. Start the Hunt: Instruct your students to scan the QR code at their assigned starting location. Once they answer the question correctly, reveal the next location’s QR code.
2. Monitoring and Support: While the scavenger hunt is in progress, move around the locations to ensure students are on track. You might have a hallway location that is central to the clues. Standing here allows you to have your eyes on many students. Be ready to provide assistance or hints if needed.
3. Review and Debrief: After all groups have completed the scavenger hunt, gather back in class to review the answers and discuss the content. This is an excellent opportunity for a debriefing and discussion session.

Step 7: Assess Learning

Although I use this fun activity for review, you could gauge the effectiveness of the scavenger hunt by:

• Collecting the Google Form responses to evaluate students’ understanding of the content.
• Using this data to identify areas that may need further reinforcement.
• Encouraging students to reflect on their experience, sharing what they learned and how the activity helped them.

Students tell me that a scavenger hunt involving Google Forms and QR codes is a creative way to engage them in learning. Plus they appreciate the opportunity to move and being trusted to partake in the activity sensibly. If created carefully, this fun activity encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and retention of important concepts. If you have yet to try it, consider creating a QR code/Google form scavenger hunt to make learning interactive and memorable. I guarantee your students will thank you for it!

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