Geography for Kids

Photographic Treasure Hunt

I got the inspiration for this geography for a kids photographic treasure hunt from a blog I read and this is my version of it.

This geography activity develops map skills and observation.

You do need some time to set it up, but it can be adapted to any age or skill level.

The purpose of the activity is to hunt for photographed details along a pre-determined route.

Materials Needed

A map of the area. How large a map depends on the age of your children. Small children will find your yard or neighbourhood fine (you could even draw up the plan yourself) – or use a street map of the nearest town for older children.

A camera

A some time without the children!! I know that isn't easy. Perhaps you and another homeschool Mom could do this together and share having the children.

Decide on a route and walk around photographing details of the journey. Small unusual details are best – an unusual brick or damaged piece of fencing. You need to choose things that will still be there when the children walk the trail. Make notes as you go so you remember where and what each photograph shows.

Home School Ideas

Prepare the hunt by printing out the photographs in order. For an easy hunt, mark the route on the map and add numbers corresponding to the photographs at certain points– when the children get to the marked reference point they have to search for the detail you have photographed.



For a harder hunt, use an orienteering map or street map and give only the grid references of each photo. You could ask the children to decide which photograph is relevant at that point, or organize the photos into the correct order.

We thought this was a fun homeschooling geography project. It makes you much more observant – I have noticed small details in my town that I would never have noticed before.

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If your children enjoyed this activity you might also enjoy Geocaching and Orienteering. 

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