Find Us!
A Virtual Treasure Hunt where schools are but a hop, skip, and a clue away!

 Summary :

As a class, and following the model given below, students will write a series of clues leading to the discovery of the location of their school. These clues, exchanged via e-mail, will become the questions for a massive virtual treasure hunt.

At our school, using co-operative learning strategies, students will use an atlas to try and discover the location of each participating school. They then will identify these locations on a map posted in the classroom. They will also make charts. Participating schools are encouraged to do the same and a copy of the sets of clues (without the answers) will be made available upon request. The names and locations of all participating schools (the answers) will be posted at the close of the hunt. E-mail addresses could also be included as an incentive to further communication, and/or trigger new projects between schools.

Project Co-ordinator :

Judith Rohlf
judith.rohlf@visioninternet.net
École Marguerite-d'Youville
Project results are posted at http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Tower/2801/find.html

Dates : March 25 - May 22, 1998

Purpose :

1. To provide students with a fun, authentic learning situation that will allow them to use thinking skills and problem solving to organise information and form and confirm hypotheses on geographical locations.
2. To practice mapping skills.
3. To encourage students to work together co-operatively.

Subjects :

English language arts, Social studies, especially Geography

Grade Levels :

Elementary 4-6 (but others are welcome!)

Number of participants : unlimited

How to register :

Just send in your set of clues anytime before the May 22 deadline (the sooner the better!). You must, however, follow the simple procedure outlined below.

Procedure :

1. Draw up a series of clues leading to the location of your school. (See model below.)
2. E-mail a copy of the clues to judith.rohlf@prologue.qc.ca
   IMPORTANT : DO NOT INCLUDE THE ANSWER!!!
3. E-mail a copy of the clues WITH THE ANSWER
   judith.rohlf@visioninternet.net .

   If you wish to take up the Treasure Hunt Challenge with your students, please request a list of clues. They will be sent to you via e-mail or, if possible, posted on our Web page at http://www.fse.ulaval.ca/csdd/ecoles/youville.html (currently under construction) or right here on the QESN Web Site.

   Clues must be drawn up in the following manner :

4. State the name of your school.
5. Give a first clue that is very general.
6. Give two or three additional clues, each one becoming a bit more specific, in order to help students gradually hone in on the location.
7. Finish off with a little cultural or historic information or something of interest to the hunters. If so desired, you may also include a picture of your school/and or area.

   Here are our clues. Please use them as a model and, of course, do try to find us on the map!

8. The name of our school is École Marguerite-d'Youville.
9. Our city is located in the French-speaking province of Canada.
10. Our city is just a bit to the west of the provincial capital.
11. Its name has two words. One of them is French for " red ".
12. Our city got its name because of the clay cliffs around it.

NOTE :

As previously stated, this activity combines language skills and social studies, in particular, geography. It develops logical thinking and the ability to use an atlas. And since, students work in groups, it can easily call upon co-operative learning strategies and help students improve on social skills. The nature of the activity (a hunt) should in itself be a motivating factor, and it is hoped that locating actual schools on actual maps will not only increase students interest in geography, but also generate further ideas for future communication. After all, the treasure at the end of the hunt lies in each of us.

So, come on! Join the fun. Send in your clues and dig out the maps. Its time to go a-lookin!