A scavenger hunt was held in Akureyri, Iceland for 13-15 year old high school students to find trophies hidden around town containing letters that would spell a keyword when collected. Over 10 weeks, students solved weekly riddles outside of class hours that tested their motivation, resilience and resourcefulness to learn about the local history and culture by visiting different locations. The main goals were for students to appreciate the importance of history from a new perspective through independent exploration and initiative on their own terms without school pressure.
2. What is Hometown scavenger hunt?
Participants - 13-15 years old high school students
Objective - to find a trophy hidden in certain location
Time - the search takes ten weeks, one riddle every week
to solve. When solving the riddle they receive a letter
Goal - to collect ten letters = keyword
3. How is the project different from other
school activities?
Out of the classroom
Outside school hours
Participation optional
4. How does it contribute to meaningful
learning?
Key factor:
Motivation
Resilience
Resourcefulness
5. The task
Focuses on the history and culture of the
county
Involves visiting places around hometown or
libraries
6. Main objective
Learn to appreciate and acknowledge importance of
history
Focus on different perspective of studying history
Engage the student on his terms without outside pressure
Student´s initiative and independence is promoted and
rewarded
