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Staff scavenger hunts are a fun way to kick off the year and help new and returning faculty members get better acquainted. Armed with a list of descriptions, staff members "hunt" for the person who matches each item on the list. Included: A list of 25 items for which to hunt.

The back-to-school faculty meetings are looming on the calendar, the ones where administrators welcome new staff members and welcome back the veterans. A staff scavenger hunt is a great way for everyone to get acquainted and help the "newbies" feel at home.

After distributing nametags to everyone at the meeting, pass out a list of 25 "items" that need to be "discovered" within 45 minutes by conversing with people in the room. Whoever checks the most items off his or her list wins a small prize, such as a gift certificate to a bookstore or restaurant.

"Hunting" is both fun and informative. Who would have thought that quiet math teacher on the second floor climbed Mt. Everest?

ADAPT THE ACTIVITY FOR YOUR SCHOOL

Below you will find a list of 25 items for which staff members can search. Feel free to adapt this activity in any way you see fit.

• You might add your own items to the list. Add some facts you know about staff members -- facts you might have learned while interviewing them -- that few others on the faculty might know.
• To make the activity a little more difficult, you might outlaw teachers from asking their colleagues Did you do anything on this list? Instead, they must ask specific questions such as Have you ever been to a Super Bowl game? or Have you read all the books in the Lord of the Rings trilogy?
• If your teachers work in teams, you might tally individual scores to get a team score. Give a special reward to the team that gets the highest score.
• Make this one of the activities that is part of your school-wide Survivor theme this year.

Here's the list we compiled...

FIND SOMEONE IN THE ROOM WHO...

• doesn't like pizza.
• has been to Africa.
• has a cat and a dog.
• has been to a Rolling Stones concert.
• only eats Chinese food with chopsticks.
• is a downhill skier.
• uses America Online.
• saw all the "Star Wars" movies.
• puts catsup on hot dogs.
• has been to a Super Bowl.
• drives a Subaru.
• has gone snorkeling in Hawaii.
• only drinks Coke.
• only drinks Pepsi.
• watched the final episode of "Friends."
• honeymooned in Europe.
• has been to the top of the Empire State Building.
• never had an artificial Christmas tree.
• wears a watch on his/her right wrist.
• enjoys ice skating.
• has three children.
• only drinks black coffee.
• has read the Lord of the Rings series.
• reads the comics in the newspaper every day.
• doesn't have a DVD player.

Article by Ellen R. Delisio
Education World®
Copyright © 2006 Education World