2. Here is an activity that you can use to review or reinforce a lesson or concept.

3. Create a PowerPoint or Keynote file that contains problems and answers. Place Problems on a slide without the answer. Place Answers on slides immediately following the corresponding problem. Print the Presentation and keep in order. Place the very first Problem slide at the bottom of the stack of printed slides. Hang the printed slides around the room so that a problem is placed above/next to an answer.(Not the corresponding answer) Keep the order of the slides such that you have placed the first problem behind the last answer. Suppose the slides are numbered 1-16, and the first slide is problem #1 and the second slide is the answer to problem #1 and so on. Slide #1 should be placed behind slide #16 in the printed stack. When displaying slides, Problem #2 is above/next to answer #1 and so on. If displayed accurately, a student can start at any problem, work the problem, locate the answer, then work the problem above/next to their just found answer and continue in this fashion until they have worked all 8 problems. If the student has worked all of the problems accurately and followed instructions about how to progress from one problem to another they should end up where they started. Their final answer should be next to their first problem.

4. This form of review or practice provides the students with the opportunity to get up out of the desks. It allows the students a little more freedom of discussion with a partner. It provides a “giant multiple choice” practice exercise with some guidance instead of just “guess and check.” It provides the students with immediate feedback in terms of successful completion. If they did not finish where they started, they know that they did something wrong. If they do not finish in the right place, this exercise then lends itself to some good problem solving practice and reworking problems.

5. There are some things I have learned along the way that make this a more successful learning experience… Be sure to number the problems. Students work best in pairs but I have used groups of three. Require the students to justify their answers somehow. If you see that time becomes an issue, you could give each students a certain number of points for participating and staying on task and then so many points for each problem completed correctly with justification. For example, everyone starts with 50 points and each problem completed adds 5 points. Require the students to ask only “yes or no” questions. This forces them to give some thought to what they want to ask and eliminates those pesky statements like “I don’t get it.”

6. Now, I have added something new… When I create the PowerPoint I include QR codes that lead to clues to solve mysteries or puzzles. This encourages some multi tasking from the students, some logic and reasoning skills, problem solving strategies, and incorporates new technology!

7. There are many free websites that allow you to make your own QR codes. I’ve successfully used both of these. http://www.qurify.com/en/ http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

8. Decide on a mystery or puzzle that requires a succession of clues. You do however, have to either allow the students who have SMART phones to download a QR code reader app and use them or if your campus has a class set of ipods plan to download the app ahead of time. Code reader apps are numerous and many of them are free. QR Code Reader and Scanner By ShopSavvy, Inc is one I’ve used successfully and is free.

9. With all of the talk about increasing rigor, more problem solving in the classroom, increased application and implementation of technology and applying skills to real life, I’ve found this scavenger hunt idea allows me to address each of these in a fun way. My students really enjoy it and even those who will not admit to liking this activity will admit to the fact that they prefer to see the “pieces of paper hanging around the room than to see on the board that today is a ‘Practice’ day.” Have fun!