October is the perfect time to practice those newly acquired orientation skills – with a “spooktacular” twist of course! The Halloween Scavenger Hunt can be adapted to meet your young student’s abilities and can be done at school or at home. Is your student working on reading skills (print or braille)? Use the print or braille clue cards. Is your student working on tech skills? Use the digital clue cards. If your student is not reading or using tech, no problem! Use a physical clue in the desired medium (print or braille) and you read the clue aloud or use the digital version and have your screen reader read the clue. How you play the game is up to you!
The Halloween Scavenger Hunt is a simple scavenger hunt. Each card is a clue. The student figures out the clue and then travels independently to the correct place where the next clue will be given. (Set the student up to incorporate good cane and O&M skills here!) Repeat until the student has traveled to all 8 places! At the last place, the student can find candy or a small Halloween basket of goodies.
Order of clue cards
O&Ms, when placing clues around the school, be sure to consider the routes that the student will travel. This should determine the order of the clues. For more advanced travelers, the routes can be longer or more complex; students with limited endurance might require clues to locations that are close to one another, creating travel between clues. Encourage students to determine and travel the quickest route from clue to clue!
Placement of clue cards
If using physical clue cards, place the cards where the student can easily find them. One option might be below the doorknob to the room or on the wall by the door; be sure to place the clue at the student’s shoulder height or the best location for YOUR student’s functional vision, if appropriate.
For scavenger hunts at school, if the student is working on social skills, consider giving the clue to a person at each location and have the student ask for the clue. (Examples: Librarian, secretary in the office, cafeteria worker, etc.)
If working on tech skills, use digital clues. When the student arrives at the desired location, text or email the clue to the student or have the student read the next clue in a digital document.
Home Halloween Scavenger Hunt: Clues and Answers
Clue: Halloween candy is so tasty and sweet. Your very first clue is in the room where you eat.
Answer: Kitchen
Clue: Even ghosts and goblins need their rest. Your next clue can be found where you sleep best.
Answer: Bedroom
Clue: Some monsters are nice, and some monsters are mean. Your next clue can be found in the room that keeps you clean.
Answer: Bathroom
Clue: Watch your feet or you might step on a mouse. Your next clue is located where you enter the house.
Answer: Front door
Clue: Haunted houses are spooky and old. Your next clue can be found in the place that keeps your food cold.
Answer: Refrigerator
Clue: If you see a vampire be sure not to stare. Your next clue can be found right under a chair.
Answer: Under a chair
Clue: You’re doing great, you’re almost done. Just a few more clues and the game is won. The next place that you should look is inside of your most favorite book.
Answer: Inside of a book
Clue: Congratulations! You’ve found your last clue! Look in a closet to find a special surprise waiting for you!
Answer: Closet
From pjsandpaint.com (Free printable scavenger hunt clue cards with Halloween images!)
Download the digital version of the Home Halloween Scavenger Hunt Clues (without answers) here.
School Halloween Scavenger Hunt: Clues and Answers
Clue: Halloween candy is so tasty and sweet. Your very first clue is in the room where you eat.
Answer: Cafeteria
Clue: Even ghosts and goblins like to sing. Your next clue is where bells ring.
Answer: Music room
Clue: Some monsters are nice, and some monsters are mean. Your next clue can be found in the room that keeps your hands clean.
Answer: Bathroom
Clue: Witches and black cats on their brooms ride, right past where you climb and slide.
Answer: Playground
Clue: Haunted houses are spooky but cool. Your next clue can be found where you enter the school.
Answer: Front door
Clue: If you see a vampire be sure not to stare. Your next clue can be found right under your chair.
Answer: Student’s classroom chair
Clue: The witch’s black cauldron is where spells bubble and cook. The next place that you should look is inside a book.
Answer: Library
Clue: Congratulations! You’ve found your last clue! Look in the office to find a special surprise waiting for you!
Answer: Office
Download the School Scavenger Hunt clues (without answers) here.
Scavenger Hunt Modes
- Print version: The original Halloween Scavenger Hunt clues were created by PJs and Paint. Go to PJs and Paint to download the original scavenger hunt clue cards with Halloween images (for homes).
- Braille version: Download the digital version of the clue cards and send the document to an embosser for Braille clue cards or braille each clue on a braille sheet of paper and cut apart.
- Tech version: Text or email each individual digital clue to the student at the appropriate time or share the digital document with the student and have the student navigate by sentence to hear each clue.
Note: Kelly with PJs and Paint clues has given Paths to Technology permission to share and adapt her Halloween Scavenger Hunt.)
By Diane Brauner
