Open House Scavenger Hunt

48 things for a student and a grown-up to find and do together at a school open house.

Open House Scavenger Hunt

TeamDate

  1. The student and the grown-up stay together.
  2. Walk and use indoor voices.
  3. Open no desk, bag or cupboard that is not yours.
  4. Nobody steps into the car line or the parking lot.
  1. A spot where your grown-up can sit in your chairTrade places for ten seconds. Everyone laughs; nobody minds.
  2. The door your class takes out to recessPoint the way. The playground can wait for another day.
  3. The hook or cubby where your backpack will liveHang your backpack there together, so the first morning feels practiced.
  4. The restroom your class usesWalk there and back together, so the route feels known.
  5. The first date on the class calendar that has a note on itRead what it says together, then find today's date.
  6. Something in the room you do not know the use of yetAsk the teacher what it is for.
  7. Your favorite thing in the room so farTell your grown-up why in one sentence.
  8. A book in the class library you want to read this yearShow your grown-up the cover and say why.
  9. Something you made, up on the wallNo work up yet? Show where the class work will hang.
  10. The class plant, pet or fish tankNo living thing? Name one you would like the class to look after.

Next step More classroom finds for the first dayAll about me questions for the first week

How it works

This open house scavenger hunt is for a student and a grown-up walking the school together: 48 finds, from the student's own seat to the meeting spot for pick-up. It works the same at a meet the teacher night.

Read the full guide

One sheet per family

Choose a list in the menu beside the main button, then press Print this list and leave copies by the classroom door. Show your grown-up opens first, because the student leads it. Before you leave holds the last few minutes: a note for the first day and a handshake for drop-off.

Meet the teacher scavenger hunt

On a busy night, keep Meet the people to three finds so the teacher is not asked the same question forty times. Easy finds need no reading from the student; hard ones ask them to speak to someone new.

Tips
  • Teachers: put the pick-up spot and the restroom on every sheet you hand out.

Questions and answers

What should kids find at an open house?

The places the first week depends on: their seat, the hook for their backpack, the restroom, the meeting spot for pick-up, the lunch area and the library shelves for their grade, plus a hello to the teacher.

How does the student and grown-up version work?

The student leads and the grown-up follows. Every find is done together, nothing is opened or bought, and nobody walks into the car line. The note under each line says how to do it.

What can families do before they leave open house?

Agree on the pick-up spot, say the start and end times out loud, sign one family sheet, and make up a handshake for the first drop-off. Each takes a minute or less.

More tools

Browse Word Games

All 48 finds

Show your grown-up 12

  • A book in the class library you want to read this year Show your grown-up the cover and say why.
  • A spot where your grown-up can sit in your chair Trade places for ten seconds. Everyone laughs; nobody minds.
  • The class plant, pet or fish tank No living thing? Name one you would like the class to look after.
  • The door your class takes out to recess Point the way. The playground can wait for another day.
  • Every place your name appears in the room A desk tag, a hook, a chart or a cubby. Point to each one.
  • The first date on the class calendar that has a note on it Read what it says together, then find today's date.
  • The hook or cubby where your backpack will live Hang your backpack there together, so the first morning feels practiced.
  • The restroom your class uses Walk there and back together, so the route feels known.
  • Show your grown-up your seat Sit in it together for a moment, if it fits them.
  • Something in the room you do not know the use of yet Ask the teacher what it is for.
  • Something you made, up on the wall No work up yet? Show where the class work will hang.
  • Your favorite thing in the room so far Tell your grown-up why in one sentence.
Show all 48 finds (36 more)

Meet the people 12

  • A classmate from last year Tell each other one thing you did over the summer.
  • A family who is new to the school Grown-ups say hello too. Point out one thing you already found.
  • A helper from the cafeteria If someone is there, say thank you before the first lunch.
  • A room helper or volunteer Ask what they help with in the classroom.
  • A student who will ride the same bus or walk the same way Say hello, so the first trip has a familiar face.
  • A teacher for art, music or gym Find their room and say hello if the door is open.
  • An older student who can tell you one tip for this grade Listen, say thank you, and share the tip on the way home.
  • Another student who will be in your class Say hello and learn one name.
  • One question for your teacher Think of it together on the walk in, then ask it.
  • The principal or someone from the front office A wave from down the hall counts.
  • The school librarian Ask how many books a student may borrow at once.
  • Your teacher, with a hello Say your name and one thing you like to do.

Around the building 12

  • A map of the school Find your classroom on it and trace the way from the front door.
  • A room for a special class you will visit each week Art, music, a computer lab or a maker room. Name one thing inside you want to try.
  • A trophy case or a hall display Find the oldest year shown anywhere in it.
  • The bin where lost jackets and bottles end up Look now, so you know where to check later.
  • The bus loop or car line, seen from the door Look from inside. Nobody steps into the drive.
  • The cafeteria table or area for your class Find where the lunch line starts, too.
  • The front office Grown-ups learn where visitors sign in.
  • The gym, and the door your class uses to reach it Say which game you hope to play there first.
  • The library shelves for your grade Find one book with an animal on the cover.
  • The meeting spot for pick-up Stand there together and agree it is the place to wait.
  • The school's name or mascot painted on a wall Read it aloud together.
  • The water fountain or bottle filler nearest your room Count the steps from your classroom door.

Before you leave 12

  • A high five at the door on the way out Promise the same one at pick-up on the first day.
  • A note from your grown-up to find on the first day The grown-up writes one line, and the teacher shows where it may go.
  • A photo together by the classroom door Only where the school's signs allow photos.
  • A secret handshake for the first drop-off Make it up at the classroom door and practice it twice.
  • Both names on one family sign-up sheet A helper slot, a class event or a contact form. Sign only; buy nothing.
  • One thing that feels a little worrying Say it out loud. Ask the teacher about it if you want to.
  • One thing that helps you learn, told to the teacher Quiet spots, a front seat, drawing while listening. The grown-up can add one.
  • The part of this year each of you is most excited about The grown-up answers too.
  • The time school starts and the time it ends Say both times out loud together, twice.
  • The walk from the front door to your room Walk it once more, with the student leading the way.
  • What supplies stay at school Ask the teacher, so nothing comes from home twice.
  • Your guess at how many students will be in the class Count the chairs to check.

How this list was compiled: Written for this site by its editors in September 2026: 48 original finds and tasks for a student and a grown-up at a school open house or meet the teacher night. Nothing was copied from another list, and no school, product or brand is named. The notes are simple rules for doing each task, not facts, so no outside page was read for them. Every task is done by looking, walking together or talking: nothing is opened, bought or taken, and nobody goes near the car line. Levels are the editors' judgment. Licence: own work