Shape Scavenger Hunt Around the House
Kids search indoors and outdoors for real-world examples of geometric shapes, then sketch and tally their finds on a checklist.
What You'll Need
- 1Paper and pencil
- 2Clipboard or hardcover book (writing surface)
- 3Timer or phone timer
- 4Crayons or colored pencils (optional)
What You'll Need
Paper and pencil for the checklist
A clipboard or hardcover book to write on while walking around
A timer (phone works great)
Crayons or colored pencils for sketching finds
How to Play
Make the checklist together. Draw each shape at the left side of the paper and write its name: circle, square, rectangle, triangle, diamond, oval.
Review the shapes. Point out one example of each around the room so your child knows what to look for.
Start the timer — 15 minutes. Your child roams the house (or yard) searching for objects that match each shape.
Every time they find one, they add a tally mark and do a quick sketch of the object next to the shape on the checklist.
When time is up, sit down and compare results. Count the tallies. Which shape won? Which was sneaky-hard to find?
For a second round, go outside. Shapes in nature look different from shapes in a house — a manhole cover is a circle, a stop sign is an octagon, tree trunks are cylinders.
Bonus challenge: find one object that combines two shapes, like a window (rectangle) with an arched top (half-circle).
Tape the finished checklist on the fridge. Over the next few days, keep adding when someone spots a new shape match.
Tips
If your child gets stuck on triangles or diamonds, give hints about where to look: roof lines, kite shapes, napkins folded in half diagonally.
Let them color-code: circles in blue, squares in red, and so on. This adds a creative layer and makes the checklist more fun to review.
For older kids (7-8), add advanced shapes: pentagon, hexagon, octagon. A soccer ball has hexagons and pentagons — great real-world example.
Encourage your child to describe where they found each shape and why it matches. This builds geometry vocabulary naturally.
Turn it into a friendly competition between siblings or parent vs. child. Most unique finds wins a small prize like choosing the bedtime story.
Age Adaptation Tips
School-age kids can take more ownership. Let them lead the activity, experiment with variations, and explain what they learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 25 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: paper and pencil, clipboard or hardcover book (writing surface), timer or phone timer, crayons or colored pencils (optional).
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 5-8 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors or outdoors?
This activity works great both indoors and outdoors, giving you flexibility based on the weather or your space.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
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