This letter scavenger hunt printable holds 156 finds, six for every letter: two for indoors, two for outdoors and two for the car. Some are things that start with the letter, others are the printed letter on a box or a sign. Ten are dealt when the page opens. For ages three to six, with an adult alongside.
Pick the letters, or pick the place
Five chips split the alphabet: A to E, F to J, K to O and P to T hold 30 finds each, and U to Z holds 36. Three more sort by place, 52 finds each: Indoors, Outdoors and In the car. Press one, then New finds. Lock the lines you like, Swap what your street cannot supply, then Print.
Three kinds of find
An alphabet scavenger hunt teaches more when a letter turns up in more than one way. Here 103 finds are things that start with the letter, such as a bench or a mailbox. Another 33 are the printed letter on a label or a sign, such as the K hiding in NO PARKING. The last 20 are shapes and actions: make an X with two spoons. The note under each line tells the adult what counts.
Tips
In the car, every find is spotted from a fastened seat, such as JCT on a road sign.
Read each line aloud and let the child point. The sheet stays in the adult's hand.
Nothing is collected or tasted, so pockets stay empty.
Questions and answers
What ages is a letter scavenger hunt for?
Ages three to six, with an adult alongside. The 77 easy finds ask for a thing that starts with the letter and need no reading. The 24 hard finds ask a child to pick one printed letter out of a word, such as the V in AVE on a street sign, and suit a child who knows most letter names.
How do I use it for a letter of the week?
Press the chip that holds your letter, such as K to O for M, and set the size to 20. Lock the M lines and press New finds: the rest change while they stay. Every letter has six finds, two for each place, so one letter can fill a week.
What do you find for Q, X and Z?
Six finds each, like every letter. Q has a quilt, a quarter and the Q in ANTIQUES or BBQ. Few words start with X, so the hunt looks for its shape, for the X in EXIT, and for words that end in it, such as box and six. Z has a zipper, a zigzag and the two Zs on a pizza box.
Mall Scavenger Hunt Ideas142 scored tasks for a shopping mall: corridor finds, price-tag finds, funny team photos, food court finds and riddles. Nothing is bought.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt Ideas124 things to see, hear or smell from the sidewalk, from a blue front door to a house number that adds up to ten.
Office Scavenger Hunt Ideas138 scored tasks for a team day: desk finds, safe 'find a colleague who' questions, building facts, photos, riddles and challenges.
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas158 nature finds sorted by woods, park, garden, pond and campsite, each with a note on what you are looking at.
Photo Scavenger Hunt Ideas120 scored prompts: team selfies, camera tricks, photography skills, things to spot, video clips and poses.
A: a capital A on the cover of a bookTrace it with a finger: two slanted sides and a bridge across.
A: an ambulance or an airport signAn airplane overhead earns the point too.
A: an ant, an acorn or an airplaneLook down for the first two and up for the third.
A: an arrow on a sign or painted on the roadArrows are everywhere, so this one comes fast. Say which way it points.
A: something to eat that starts with AApple, avocado, apricot or applesauce. Say the word and listen for the first sound.
A: the address numbers on your own homeAddress starts with A. Read the numbers aloud together.
B: a bench, a bridge or a bicycleBikes in a rack count, and so does your own.
B: a bird, a bug or a butterflyWatch it for as long as it stays.
B: a book, a ball and a blanket, all threeThree finds for one letter. Carry them to the same spot.
B: a bus, a bike or a boat on a trailerSchool buses are the easy spot. A boat on a trailer is the rare one.
B: a lowercase b in a book, and a lowercase d to compareThe two are easy to mix up. In b the stick comes first. In d the ball comes first.
B: your own seat belt buckleBelt and buckle both start with B. It stays fastened while you point.
C: a car the same color as yoursCar and color both start with C.
C: a cat, a cloud or a caterpillarSay what the cloud looks like.
C: a cow, a crane or an orange coneCones mean road work. A crane is the tall machine with the hook.
C: a crack in the sidewalkFollow it with your eyes to the end and see how far it runs.
C: a cup, a clock or a couchHard C, as in cat. Point to each one you can see from where you stand.
C: a word that starts with C on a cereal boxCereal starts with C too, but with the soft sound, as in city. C has two sounds.
D: a dandelion, a daisy or a drainYellow flower, white flower, metal grate. Flowers stay in the ground.
D: a dog on a leashWave to the owner. Petting only if the owner says yes.
D: a door, a drawer or a dinosaurToy dinosaurs count. So do dinosaurs in books.
D: a dump truck, a digger or a delivery vanBuilding sites have the first two. Every street has the third.
D: a sign that says DO NOT ENTER, DEAD END or DETOURAll three start with D. An adult reads, you spot the D.
D: the letter D on a keyboardMiddle row, between S and F. Press it once.
E: an egg in the fridge, looked at and left thereAn adult opens the carton.
E: an empty parking spaceEmpty starts with E. Count how many you pass in one lot.
E: an engine you can hear: a motorcycle, a truck or a busEngine starts with E. Windows stay up.
E: an evergreen treeA tree that stays green all year. Pines, firs and spruces count.
E: the entrance to a park, a shop or a schoolEntrance starts with E, and so does exit. Find both for a bonus.
E: the letter E, five times on one page of a bookE is the most used letter in English, so five come quickly.
F to J 30
F: a farm, a field or a fence running beside the roadGuess what the fence keeps in, or out.
F: a fire truck or a fire stationA fire hydrant on the sidewalk counts too.
F: a flag flyingSay which way the wind is pushing it.
F: a flower, a fence or a featherFeathers are looked at on the ground and left there.
F: a fork, and your own five fingersFork, five and fingers all start with F. Count the fingers aloud.
F: four things that match: four spoons, four socks or four blocksFour starts with F. Line them up and count.
G: a capital G and a lowercase g on the same page or packageThey look nothing alike. The lowercase g hangs a tail below the line.
G: a garage door, and the number of windows in itSome have none. Zero is still an answer.
G: a gas stationFind the big numbers on the sign and read one digit aloud.
G: a glove, a game or a pair of glassesHard G, as in goat.
G: a green lightGreen and go both start with G.
G: grass, a gate or a gardenAll three can turn up in one front yard.
H: a hat, a hook or a hangerThe coat closet may hold all three.
H: a hill, a hedge or a hoseWalk up the hill if there is one, holding a hand.
H: a horse, a hill or a hotelHorses in a trailer count.
H: a house with a number you can readHouse starts with H. Read the number one digit at a time.
H: a white capital H on a blue signOn US roads that sign points the way to a hospital.
H: your own hand, traced on paperHand starts with H. Write a capital H in the palm: two posts and a bridge.
I: a lowercase i with its dot, and a lowercase j with its dotOnly these two letters wear a dot. Find both on one page.
I: an ice cream shop or an ice cream truckSpotted, not stopped at, unless the driver says so.
I: an insect, watched and not touchedShort I this time, as in itch. Count its legs if it holds still: insects have six.
I: an intersection with a traffic lightA long word that starts with I. It means the place where two roads cross.
I: ice in the freezerAn adult opens the door. Ice starts with long I, the sound of the letter's own name.
I: ivy, or an iron gate or railingIvy is looked at, not picked.
J: a jar, a jacket or a jugJam and juice both start with J too.
J: a jet, or the white trail a jet leavesLook up. The trail counts even when the jet is too high to see.
J: a jungle gym, or a playground that has oneSpotting it scores. Climbing it is a separate decision.
J: jump on the spot and say three words that start with JJam, juice, jelly, jet, jeans. One jump for each word.
J: somebody jogging, or a place where you can jumpJump from a low step or over a crack, with a hand to hold.
J: the letters JCT on a road signJCT is short for junction, the place where two roads meet.
K to O 30
K: a K on a sign: PARK, WALK or KEEP OFFIn PARK and WALK the K comes last. In KEEP it comes first.
K: a kayak on a roof rackKayak starts with K and ends with K.
K: a key, a kettle or the kitchen itselfAn adult handles the kettle. You point.
K: a kite in the sky or a kid on a swingKick a ball or a pile of leaves if you find neither.
K: the K hiding in a NO PARKING signIt sits in the middle of the second word.
K: the letter K on a keyboardMiddle row, between J and L. Keyboard starts with K as well.
L: a ladybug, a log or a ladderLadders are for looking at.
L: a lamp, a lid or a lemonSay each word slowly and feel where your tongue goes.
L: a leaf bigger than your handHold your hand beside it to check. The leaf stays where it is.
L: a light switch you can reach, and one you cannotLight starts with L. Flick the low one once.
L: a traffic light, and say its colorLight starts with L.
L: lines painted on the road: say if they are white or yellowLine and lane both start with L.
M: a capital M on a signTip your head upside down and it turns into a W.
M: a mailboxMail and mailbox both start with M. Look, do not open.
M: a mirror with your own face in itClose your lips and hum: that is the sound M makes.
M: a motorcycle or a mail truckCount how many wheels each one has.
M: milk, mustard or mayonnaise, and the M on the labelAn adult opens the fridge. Point to the first letter on each label.
M: mud, moss or a mushroomMushrooms are looked at and never touched or tasted.
N: a nest in a tree, or a nut on the groundNests are looked at from below and left alone.
N: a sign that starts with the word NONO PARKING and NO TURN are common. N is the first letter of both.
N: the name of your street on a signName starts with N. Read the letters together and look for an N among them.
N: the number nine on a clock, a phone or a calendarNumber and nine both start with N.
N: the word NORTH on a highway signHighway signs name the direction of travel: north, south, east or west.
N: your own nose, then a napkinHold your nose and try to say N. It comes out sounding like D.
O: a bird or a plane over your headOver starts with O. Point straight up.
O: a sign that says ONE WAYFind the O, then say which way the arrow points.
O: an oak tree, or any tree with acorns under itAcorns come from oak trees, so acorns on the ground mean an oak overhead.
O: an orange, or something colored orangeOne word, a fruit and a color.
O: the O in a STOP signA stop sign is a red octagon, and octagon starts with O as well.
O: three things shaped like the letter OA ring, a lid, a roll of tape. O is a letter and a circle at once.
P to T 30
P: a capital P on a parking signP is for parking. Lots, garages and meters all use it.
P: a pair of anything: shoes, socks or mittensPair starts with P, and a pair is two that match.
P: a pillow, a pan or a pencilHold a hand in front of your mouth and say P. You can feel the puff of air.
P: a pine cone or a pebble, looked at and put backPockets stay empty on this hunt.
P: a police car or a pickup truckParked ones count.
P: a puddle, a path or a parkPuddles are for boots only.
Q: a quarter, held by a grown-upA quarter is a 25 cent coin. Coins stay in adult hands.
Q: a quilt, or the quietest spot in the houseQuilt and quiet both start with Q. After a Q there is nearly always a U.
Q: a sign with a Q in it, such as ANTIQUES or BBQRoadside shops and restaurants are the places to look.
Q: be quiet for one whole minute, timed by a grown-upQuiet starts with Q. The driver will thank you.
Q: something quick: a squirrel, a bird or a runnerQuick starts with Q. Squirrel hides a Q as its second letter.
Q: the letter Q on any sign, poster or noticeQ is the second rarest letter in English, so this is a jackpot. Try SQUARE, QUIET or EQUIPMENT.
R: a rainbow, a raindrop or a puddle the rain leftRain starts with R. A dry day can still have a puddle.
R: a red light, a red car or a red signStop signs are red, so one is never far away.
R: a rock, a root or a roseRoses are for smelling, not picking. Mind the thorns.
R: a ruler, a rug or a remoteMeasure the remote with the ruler while you are there.
R: railroad tracks, or the white X-shaped sign beside themThe sign is called a crossbuck. It says RAILROAD CROSSING, which has three Rs.
R: something red in each room you walk throughRed starts with R. Keep count on your fingers.
S: a school, a school bus or a SPEED LIMIT signRead the number on the speed limit sign aloud.
S: a sock, a spoon or the sinkS looks like a snake and hisses like one.
S: a spider web, a snail or a stickWebs are looked at and left whole.
S: a STOP signFour letters, and S comes first. White letters on a red octagon.
S: the sky, a shadow or a patch of sunlightNever look straight at the sun. Its light on the ground is the find.
S: the stairs or a step stool: count the stepsA grown-up stays alongside on any stairs.
T: a table, a towel or a toothbrushTap the table two times: tap and two start with T as well.
T: a tree taller than a houseTree and tall both start with T.
T: a truck, a tractor or a trailerOne truck pulling a trailer scores both at once.
T: a tunnel, a tower or a trainWater towers and cell towers both count.
T: a twig, a tulip or a tree trunk too wide to hugTry the hug. That is the test.
T: two things that tick or tell the timeA clock, a watch, a kitchen timer, the corner of a phone screen.
U to Z 36
U: a sign with an arrow bent into a UThat is a U-turn arrow. It bends back the way it came, just like the letter.
U: an umbrella, kept closed indoorsShort U, as in up.
U: drive under something: a bridge, a sign or a branchUnder starts with U. Call it out as you pass beneath.
U: look up and name three things above your headUp starts with U. Branches, wires, clouds, birds.
U: something shaped like a U: a bike lock, a swing, a horseshoeTrace the U in the air with a finger: down, around and up.
U: something that lives under the bed or under the couchUnder starts with U. A flashlight helps.
V: a street sign that ends in AVEAVE is short for avenue. The V sits in the middle.
V: a V shape: a forked branch, birds flying, or a roof seen from the endHold up two fingers to make a V of your own.
V: a vanDelivery vans, minivans and camper vans all count.
V: a vase, a vest or a vacuum cleanerThe vacuum stays switched off.
V: a vegetable in the kitchenAny vegetable. Name it, then say vegetable and feel your top teeth touch your lip on the V.
V: a vine climbing a wall, a fence or a treeLook, do not pull.
W: a sign that says WALK, ONE WAY or WESTIn WALK and WEST the W comes first. In ONE WAY it starts the second word.
W: a window, and what you can see through itName three things on the other side of the glass.
W: a worm, a web or a wallWorms turn up on the sidewalk after rain. Help one back to the grass with a leaf.
W: the wind: find something it is movingA flag, a leaf, your own hair.
W: water in three placesA tap, a glass, a pet bowl, a vase. Water starts with W.
W: wheels: count them on the biggest truck you passWheel starts with W. Big trucks can have eighteen.
X: an X made of crossed bars in a fence, a gate or a bridgeBuilders use the X shape because it keeps a frame from leaning.
X: make an X with two spoons, two pencils or your two armsFew words start with X, so this hunt looks for its shape and for words that end in it.
X: something that ends in X: a box, a fox in a book or the number sixAt the end of a word, X sounds like k and s said together.
X: the word XING or X-ING on a sign or painted on the roadIt is short for crossing. The X stands in for the word cross.
X: the X in EXIT, NEXT or TAXIHighway exits make this the easiest X of all.
X: two sticks, two paths or two lines that cross like an XShadows of wires and branches make them too.
Y: a Y shape: a branch that forks in twoStand with your arms up and out, and you are a Y as well.
Y: a yard with a tree in itYard starts with Y. Your own counts.
Y: a yellow sign of any shapeYellow starts with Y. Guess what each one is telling the driver.
Y: a YIELD signA triangle that points down. The word starts with Y.
Y: something yellow in the kitchenA banana, a lemon, mustard or butter.
Y: yogurt in the fridge, or yarn in a drawerAn adult opens the fridge.
Z: a zigzag in a fence, a path, a crack or the edge of a leafDraw it in the air: a Z is a zigzag with three strokes.
Z: a zipper: zip it up and down onceZip and zipper both start with Z, and the zipper makes the sound for you.
Z: the Z in a SCHOOL ZONE, WORK ZONE or PIZZA signZ is the rarest letter in English, so a Z on a sign is a real find.
Z: the Z on a pizza box, a puzzle box or a frozen food labelPizza and puzzle each hide two Zs. Frozen hides one.
Z: zero: the number 0 on a house, a sign or a license plateZero starts with Z and looks like the letter O.
Z: zoom: a car, a train or a plane going faster than youZoom starts with Z. Say it as it passes.
How this list was compiled: Written for this site by its editors in September 2026: 156 original finds, six for every letter from A to Z, two for indoors, two for outdoors and two for the car. Each find is one of three kinds, recorded in x.kind: a thing whose name starts with the letter (sound), the printed letter itself on a book, a label or a sign (print), or the letter's shape, or an action or idea that starts with it (shape). Levels are the editors' judgment: easy finds need no reading, medium finds need an adult to read a word aloud, hard finds ask the child to pick out a printed letter or a rare word. Nothing is collected, nothing is tasted, an adult opens the fridge and handles coins and the kettle, and every car find is spotted from a fastened seat. No brand names are used. Facts in the notes were checked on 2026-09-19: E as the most used letter in English and Z and Q as the two least used (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_frequency and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q), the dot carried only by lowercase i and j (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tittle), the crossbuck and its words RAILROAD CROSSING (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbuck), the stop sign as a red octagon with white letters (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_sign), the yield sign as a downward-pointing triangle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yield_sign), the abbreviations JCT, AVE and X-ING in Table 1A-1 of the US Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part1/part1a.htm), and the hospital sign among the white-on-blue general service signs in its Part 2I (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part2/part2i.htm). Road sign finds describe signs in the United States, which is where this page's readers are. Keyboard positions are those of the standard QWERTY layout. Licence: own work