Marco Polo Scavenger Hunt – Reading Comprehension Activity – Ancient China

Description

This Marco Polo Scavenger Hunt lesson is an engaging cross-curricular gallery walk activity that incorporates reading comprehension, informational text, citing text evidence, movement and critical thinking skills. It also includes an escape room aspect of a final mystery word and secret 4-digit code, leaving your students eager to finish the task. Great introduction to your Ancient China unit.

Topics include: Marco Polo, Ancient China, Silk Road, Kublai Khan, Yuan dynasty

Instead of hunting for “locations,” students will hunt for code words. All you have to do is print the 10 reading passage cards, cut them in half, and hang or hide them!

Students will revisit the non-fiction text multiple times practicing reading comprehension skills as they rotate around the room seeking text evidence. To ensure understanding of the subject matter, students will answer questions that MUST be found directly in the reading passages. No prior knowledge is needed.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

✏️ 10 Reading Passages

✏️ 10 Question Trails

✏️ Student Recording Sheet

✏️ Student Directions

✏️ Teacher Directions

✏️ Teacher Answer Key

✏️ 2 Extension Activities

This fun front-loading lesson includes 10 short reading passages, a final mystery word, a question trail and a final 4-digit code. Each card reveals a new code word. The correct code words are not only found on a different card but also must be found IN the reading passage. Students must follow the trail in the correct order to determine the final numerical code. Should you choose to use the activity as a review activity, the questions would be too easy and the completion time would be too quick. Therefore, I highly encourage this activity to introduce a new unit.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Students choose a reading card to start at and may start at ANY card. They read the passage and look at the question at the bottom labeled “code word”. The code word for THAT card number will lead them to a different card. But here’s the catch… students will NOT know where to find the answer so they will have to visit, skim, browse and revisit the clue cards and reading passages several times to find the answer they are seeking. (The more times they read or skim, the greater the chances of the info sinking in!)

Is it still a scavenger hunt? It sure is! Students are roaming around the room hunting for answers. With large groups it’s often too hard to hide clues without the first group giving away the location once a clue has been found. This format ensures that ALL students can participate, and the “answers” will not be revealed by students who “finish” first.

You can hang the cards on the wall, scatter them on the floor, place them on desks, hide them or use as stations. How you choose to set it up in your classroom is up to you.

Students can work in pairs (or individually) and race to complete 10 questions, secret word and secret code. A friendly competition always increases engagement.

Skills Used:
✔️ Reading Comprehension
✔️ Critical Thinking
✔️ Citing Evidence
✔️ Problem Solving

Benefits of Use:
✏️ Active Learning
✏️ Cross-Curricular
✏️ Highly Engaging
✏️ Movement

Options for Use:
✏️ Anticipatory Sets
✏️ Early Finishers
✏️ Gallery Walk
✏️ Stations or Centers
✏️ Sub Plans
✏️ Rewards
✏️ Individual Work
✏️ Partner Activities
✏️ Extension Activities

**Please note that the reading passage of this product overlaps with other products of mine on the same topic**

»»» Comprehension Cube Codes: Click HERE

»»» Comprehension Challenge: Click HERE

»»» Printable ESCAPE ROOMS: Click HERE

»»» Interactive Google Slides™: Click HERE

»»» Digital Secret Message Activities: Click HERE

»»» Digital ESCAPE ROOMS: Click HERE

»»» Color by Number – Text Marking: Click HERE

»»» Digital Reading Passages: Click HERE

»»» Interactive Game Boards: Click HERE

»»» Reading Passages and Text Marking: Click HERE

»»» Back to School: Click HERE

»»» Collaborative Posters: Click HERE

»»» Scavenger Hunts: Click HERE

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Copyright Information :
© Think Tank Teacher LLC. Please note – all material included in this resource belongs to Think Tank Teacher LLC. By purchasing, you have a license to use the material but you do not own the material. You may not upload any portion of this resource to the internet in any format, including school/personal websites or network drives unless the site is password protected and can only be accessed by students, not other teachers or anyone else on the internet.