Color Scavenger Hunt Printable, With Letter and Shape Sheets

Colors, letters and shapes to find around the house, a sheet for each.

Color Scavenger Hunt Printable, With Letter and Shape Sheets

  1. Something orange: a safety vest or a life jacketBright orange is easy to see from far away, which is the whole idea.
  2. Something pink: a flamingo: toy, picture or lawn ornamentStand on one leg like a flamingo to prove you found it.
  3. Something orange: a sweet potatoBrown and dusty outside, bright orange inside. Ask to see one cut open.
  4. Something orange: a basketballFeel the bumps on it. Those help hands hold on.
  5. Something brown: a tree trunkFeel the bark. Is it rough or smooth?
  6. Something green: broccoli or peasIn the fridge or the freezer. A picture on the bag counts.
  7. Something purple: a picture-book cover with purple on itPull the books out one at a time and put each one back.
  8. Something gray: a slab of sidewalkLook for a crack, a leaf print or a date pressed into it.
  9. Something white: an eggSome eggs have brown shells. Open the carton with a grown-up and see which you have.
  10. Something purple: a crayon or a markerFind the purple one in the box, then scribble a purple cloud.

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Color Scavenger Hunt Printable, With Letter and Shape Sheets: how it works

This color scavenger hunt printable opens on its color sheet: 120 finds in 12 colors, such as something yellow: a rubber duck. Two more sheets share the page, 156 letter finds from A to Z and 155 shape finds in 16 shapes, all written for ages two to six. An adult reads, the child points, and every find has a box to tick.

Pick a sheet, then narrow it

The Sheet row switches between Colors, Rainbow colors only, Letters A to Z and Shapes. Rainbow colors only keeps the 60 finds in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, which makes a rainbow scavenger hunt printable for a wet afternoon. Just one narrows the list to a single color, letter or shape, such as Red, Letter B or Circles. Lock the lines your house can supply and Swap the rest.

What the letter and shape sheets teach

For a letter scavenger hunt printable, press Letters A to Z. Each letter has six finds: some are things that start with it, such as a mailbox for M, and some are the printed letter, such as the K hiding in NO PARKING. The shape scavenger hunt printable covers 12 flat shapes and four solids. The Common Core kindergarten standards ask children to name shapes "regardless of their orientations or overall size", so a sticky note stood on its corner is still a square.

Tips

  • For a two-year-old, set the size to 5, press Easy and walk the list together. A five-year-old can take 10.
  • Any object of the right color counts: a red cup can stand in for the red sock.
  • Tick finds on the screen, or press Print for a sheet with a box beside every line.

Questions and answers

What ages are these three hunts for?

About two to six, with an adult alongside. Easy keeps to 211 things a toddler already knows, such as a banana or a teddy bear. The 56 hard finds depend on season or luck, such as a ladybug or snow, or ask the child to pick one printed letter out of a word.

Why 12 colors and not the seven of the rainbow?

A rainbow is a continuous band, and the seven names most people learn are Isaac Newton's. Small children learn purple long before indigo, so the color sheet uses six rainbow colors, then adds pink, brown, black, white, gray, and gold and silver.

How do I run a letter of the week hunt?

Open Just one and choose the letter, such as Letter M. The list shrinks to that letter's six finds: two for indoors, two for outdoors and two for the car. Tick one or two a day and the six last the week.

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Colors 120

  • Something black: a car tire Look at parked cars from the sidewalk. Can you find a tire that is not black?
  • Something black: a cat, real or in a picture A real cat decides for itself whether it wants to be found.
  • Something black: a crow or a blackbird Listen for a loud caw, then look up.
  • Something black: a screen that is switched off A TV, a tablet or a phone. You can see yourself in it.
  • Something black: an ant Follow it with your eyes. Ants often walk in a line, one behind another.
  • Something black: an umbrella, a belt or a pair of shoes Check the closet by the front door.
  • Something black: the black keys on a piano or the keys of a keyboard On a piano, the black keys come in twos and threes.
  • Something black: the sky at night, seen through a window Switch off the lamp and look again. It gets even blacker.
  • Something black: the words in a book Open any picture book. The letters are nearly always printed in black.
  • Something black: your own shadow on a sunny day Not quite a thing, but it counts. Make it wave.
  • Something blue: a bucket, a bin or a watering can Check the porch, the garage and the garden.
  • Something blue: a building block or a toy brick Find the blue ones and stack them into one blue tower.
  • Something blue: a flower Blue flowers are rarer than you would think. Many that look blue are nearer to purple.
  • Something blue: a front door or a parked car Walk the block with a grown-up and count every blue car you pass.
  • Something blue: a pair of jeans In a drawer, in the laundry or on somebody's legs.
  • Something blue: a sign with a wheelchair on it The blue sign marks a parking space kept for people who need to park close.
  • Something blue: a toothbrush or a cup in the bathroom Whose is it? Point, do not borrow.
  • Something blue: blueberries Blue on the outside. Squash one on a plate and see what color is inside.
  • Something blue: the ocean on a map or a globe There is more blue than anything else on a globe. Spin it and see.
  • Something blue: the sky on a clear day Only when the clouds cooperate. On a gray day, swap this one.
  • Something brown: a cardboard box Big enough to sit in is best, but any box counts.
  • Something brown: a dog or a squirrel Watch from where you are. Let it come and go as it likes.
  • Something brown: a paper bag From the grocery store or a packed lunch.
  • Something brown: a pine cone or an acorn Small things stay out of mouths. Look, then leave it for the squirrels.
  • Something brown: a slice of toast White or tan bread goes in, brown toast comes out.
  • Something brown: a stick Find one as long as your arm. Sticks stay low and away from faces.
  • Something brown: a teddy bear Give it a hug to prove you found it.
  • Something brown: a tree trunk Feel the bark. Is it rough or smooth?
  • Something brown: a wooden spoon, table or chair Look for the lines in the wood. Those are the grain.
  • Something brown: soil in a flower pot or a garden bed Dark brown when it is wet, light brown when it is dry.
  • Something gold or silver: a door handle or a faucet Find three around the house. Are they all the same color?
  • Something gold or silver: a gold star sticker, a medal or a trophy On a chart, a shelf or the fridge.
  • Something gold or silver: a key in a grown-up's hand Is it silver or gold? Keys go straight back where they live.
  • Something gold or silver: a mirror It looks silver until you stand in front of it. Wave at the find.
  • Something gold or silver: a pot lid or a pan In a cupboard, not on the stove. Tap the lid and listen to it ring.
  • Something gold or silver: a ring, a watch or a necklace somebody is wearing Ask before you look closely. Gold and silver both count.
  • Something gold or silver: a sheet of foil Ask for a small piece. One side is shinier than the other.
  • Something gold or silver: a spoon Look into the bowl of the spoon. Your face is upside down.
  • Something gold or silver: a zipper or a belt buckle Check the coats by the door.
  • Something gold or silver: the spokes or the bell of a bicycle Look at a parked bike. Spin nothing without asking.
  • Something gray: a dolphin, a shark or a whale in a book Ocean books are the place to look.
  • Something gray: a mouse: toy or in a book Storybook mice are nearly always gray.
  • Something gray: a pigeon or a gray squirrel Parks and sidewalks are good places. Watch, do not chase.
  • Something gray: a rain cloud Gray clouds are thick with water, so less sunlight gets through them.
  • Something gray: a rock or a pebble Turn it over. Is the bottom darker? Put it back where it was.
  • Something gray: a slab of sidewalk Look for a crack, a leaf print or a date pressed into it.
  • Something gray: a sweatshirt, a sweater or a sock Gray hides in every laundry basket.
  • Something gray: an elephant: toy or in a book Swing an arm like a trunk when you find one.
  • Something gray: dust under a bed or on a high shelf Shine a flashlight under the bed. Dust is gray whatever color the room is.
  • Something gray: the mark a pencil makes Pencil lines are gray, not black. Draw one beside a marker line and compare.
  • Something green: a cucumber or a lime Dark green outside and pale green inside. Ask to see one cut open.
  • Something green: a frog: real, toy or in a book A real one counts double. Watch it, do not catch it.
  • Something green: a houseplant Count its leaves, or stop at ten.
  • Something green: a leaf on a tree Reach up and point. Is it darker on the top than underneath?
  • Something green: a street name sign Many street name signs are green with white letters. Find the one for your street.
  • Something green: a toy dinosaur or a toy turtle Check the toy box and the bathtub.
  • Something green: broccoli or peas In the fridge or the freezer. A picture on the bag counts.
  • Something green: grass Look closely at one blade. It is a long, thin leaf.
  • Something green: moss on a stone or a tree trunk Look in shady, damp spots. Touch it gently: moss feels like a tiny carpet.
  • Something green: the bottom light on a traffic signal On an upright signal, green sits at the bottom. Green means go for cars, not for you.
  • Something orange: a basketball Feel the bumps on it. Those help hands hold on.
  • Something orange: a carrot In the fridge drawer. The leafy top, if it still has one, is green.
  • Something orange: a fall leaf Only in autumn. Any other time of year, swap this one.
  • Something orange: a goldfish, in a bowl or in a book Called gold, but look again: most goldfish are orange.
  • Something orange: a pumpkin Easy in October. The rest of the year, look in a picture book.
  • Something orange: a safety vest or a life jacket Bright orange is easy to see from far away, which is the whole idea.
  • Something orange: a sweet potato Brown and dusty outside, bright orange inside. Ask to see one cut open.
  • Something orange: a traffic cone Point from a distance, with a grown-up. Cones mean keep away.
  • Something orange: an orange The fruit and the color share a name. Smell the peel while you are there.
  • Something orange: juice in a glass or a carton Orange juice, carrot juice or mango juice. A picture on the carton counts.
  • Something pink: a balloon or a ribbon Left over from a party, or in the drawer with the wrapping paper.
  • Something pink: a bar of soap or a sponge By the sink or the bathtub.
  • Something pink: a flamingo: toy, picture or lawn ornament Stand on one leg like a flamingo to prove you found it.
  • Something pink: a flower in bloom Roses, tulips, blossom on a tree. Sniff, do not pick.
  • Something pink: a piece of chalk or a crayon Draw a pink circle on paper or on the sidewalk.
  • Something pink: a pig: toy, piggy bank or in a book Pigs in picture books are almost always pink. Oink when you find one.
  • Something pink: a sock, a shirt or a pair of shoes Try the closet floor and the laundry basket.
  • Something pink: strawberry yogurt or strawberry milk Red berries and white milk make pink.
  • Something pink: the eraser on the end of a pencil Rub it on a pencil mark and watch the gray disappear.
  • Something pink: the sky at sunrise or sunset Look at the clouds near the sun's side of the sky, never at the sun itself.
  • Something purple: a crayon or a marker Find the purple one in the box, then scribble a purple cloud.
  • Something purple: a flower A violet, a pansy, a lilac or lavender. Sniff, do not pick.
  • Something purple: a picture-book cover with purple on it Pull the books out one at a time and put each one back.
  • Something purple: a plum or a purple onion In the fruit bowl or the vegetable basket.
  • Something purple: a shirt, a dress or a hair tie Check the closet and the laundry basket.
  • Something purple: a stuffed animal or a toy Line up every purple toy you own and count them.
  • Something purple: an eggplant So dark it can look black. Hold it near a window to see the purple.
  • Something purple: grape jelly or jam On the fridge door. Hold the jar up to the light.
  • Something purple: grapes Some grapes are green and some are purple. Only purple counts this time.
  • Something purple: the sky just after sunset Some evenings there is a band of purple between the orange and the dark blue.
  • Something red: a ball Roll it to a grown-up to show you found it.
  • Something red: a brick wall or a brick step Bricks are baked clay. Look closely: no two are quite the same red.
  • Something red: a fire truck, real or toy A toy one counts. So does one in a picture book.
  • Something red: a heart on a card, a shirt or a sticker Valentine hearts are nearly always red or pink. Find a red one and trace it with a finger.
  • Something red: a ladybug Look on leaves and stems. Count the spots before it flies away.
  • Something red: a ripe tomato or a strawberry Check the kitchen counter and the fridge. Both start out green and turn red as they ripen.
  • Something red: a sock, a hat or a mitten Try the laundry basket and the box by the front door.
  • Something red: a stop sign Spot it from the sidewalk, holding a grown-up's hand. Count its sides together.
  • Something red: an apple Apples come in green and yellow too. Only a red one counts this time.
  • Something red: the top light on a traffic signal On an upright signal, red sits at the top. Watch from the sidewalk until it changes.
  • Something white: a cloud What shape is it? Look again in a minute and it will have changed.
  • Something white: a daisy or a clover flower Look down in the grass. White petals, yellow middle.
  • Something white: a gull, a dove or a white duck Near water or in a park. A picture in a bird book counts too.
  • Something white: a pillowcase or a bed sheet Check the beds and the linen closet.
  • Something white: a sheet of paper Find a blank one, then make it less blank.
  • Something white: an egg Some eggs have brown shells. Open the carton with a grown-up and see which you have.
  • Something white: milk in a glass Or in the carton in the fridge door.
  • Something white: rice, flour, sugar or salt Four white foods that look alike. A grown-up can tell you which is which.
  • Something white: snow or frost Only in winter. Any other time, swap this one or open the freezer with a grown-up.
  • Something white: the stripes of a crosswalk Hold a hand and spot them from the curb.
  • Something yellow: a banana Green when it is not ready, yellow when it is, brown spots when it is sweetest.
  • Something yellow: a dandelion Look in the grass in spring and summer. Yellow first, then a white puff of seeds.
  • Something yellow: a lemon Sniff it. Yellow can smell sharp.
  • Something yellow: a line painted on a road or in a parking lot Spot it from the sidewalk, holding a hand. Painted lines tell drivers where to go.
  • Something yellow: a pencil Lots of pencils are painted yellow. Find one and draw a yellow-pencil line.
  • Something yellow: a raincoat or a pair of rain boots By the door or in the closet. Yellow shows up well on a gray, rainy day.
  • Something yellow: a rubber duck Check the side of the bathtub.
  • Something yellow: a school bus Wave from the sidewalk. School buses in the United States and Canada are painted one special yellow.
  • Something yellow: the sun in a drawing or a book Never look at the real sun. A drawing, a sticker or a page in a book is the find.
  • Something yellow: the yolk of an egg Ask to watch the next time an egg is cracked for cooking.

Letters A to Z 156

  • A: a capital A on the cover of a book Trace it with a finger: two slanted sides and a bridge across.
  • A: an ambulance or an airport sign An airplane overhead earns the point too.
  • A: an ant, an acorn or an airplane Look down for the first two and up for the third.
  • A: an arrow on a sign or painted on the road Arrows are everywhere, so this one comes fast. Say which way it points.
  • A: something to eat that starts with A Apple, avocado, apricot or applesauce. Say the word and listen for the first sound.
  • A: the address numbers on your own home Address starts with A. Read the numbers aloud together.
  • B: a bench, a bridge or a bicycle Bikes in a rack count, and so does your own.
  • B: a bird, a bug or a butterfly Watch it for as long as it stays.
  • B: a book, a ball and a blanket, all three Three finds for one letter. Carry them to the same spot.
  • B: a bus, a bike or a boat on a trailer School 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 compare The two are easy to mix up. In b the stick comes first. In d the ball comes first.
  • B: your own seat belt buckle Belt and buckle both start with B. It stays fastened while you point.
  • C: a car the same color as yours Car and color both start with C.
  • C: a cat, a cloud or a caterpillar Say what the cloud looks like.
  • C: a cow, a crane or an orange cone Cones mean road work. A crane is the tall machine with the hook.
  • C: a crack in the sidewalk Follow it with your eyes to the end and see how far it runs.
  • C: a cup, a clock or a couch Hard 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 box Cereal starts with C too, but with the soft sound, as in city. C has two sounds.
  • D: a dandelion, a daisy or a drain Yellow flower, white flower, metal grate. Flowers stay in the ground.
  • D: a dog on a leash Wave to the owner. Petting only if the owner says yes.
  • D: a door, a drawer or a dinosaur Toy dinosaurs count. So do dinosaurs in books.
  • D: a dump truck, a digger or a delivery van Building sites have the first two. Every street has the third.
  • D: a sign that says DO NOT ENTER, DEAD END or DETOUR All three start with D. An adult reads, you spot the D.
  • D: the letter D on a keyboard Middle row, between S and F. Press it once.
  • E: an egg in the fridge, looked at and left there An adult opens the carton.
  • E: an empty parking space Empty starts with E. Count how many you pass in one lot.
  • E: an engine you can hear: a motorcycle, a truck or a bus Engine starts with E. Windows stay up.
  • E: an evergreen tree A tree that stays green all year. Pines, firs and spruces count.
  • E: the entrance to a park, a shop or a school Entrance starts with E, and so does exit. Find both for a bonus.
  • E: the letter E, five times on one page of a book E is the most used letter in English, so five come quickly.
  • F: a farm, a field or a fence running beside the road Guess what the fence keeps in, or out.
  • F: a fire truck or a fire station A fire hydrant on the sidewalk counts too.
  • F: a flag flying Say which way the wind is pushing it.
  • F: a flower, a fence or a feather Feathers are looked at on the ground and left there.
  • F: a fork, and your own five fingers Fork, five and fingers all start with F. Count the fingers aloud.
  • F: four things that match: four spoons, four socks or four blocks Four starts with F. Line them up and count.
  • G: a capital G and a lowercase g on the same page or package They look nothing alike. The lowercase g hangs a tail below the line.
  • G: a garage door, and the number of windows in it Some have none. Zero is still an answer.
  • G: a gas station Find the big numbers on the sign and read one digit aloud.
  • G: a glove, a game or a pair of glasses Hard G, as in goat.
  • G: a green light Green and go both start with G.
  • G: grass, a gate or a garden All three can turn up in one front yard.
  • H: a hat, a hook or a hanger The coat closet may hold all three.
  • H: a hill, a hedge or a hose Walk up the hill if there is one, holding a hand.
  • H: a horse, a hill or a hotel Horses in a trailer count.
  • H: a house with a number you can read House starts with H. Read the number one digit at a time.
  • H: a white capital H on a blue sign On US roads that sign points the way to a hospital.
  • H: your own hand, traced on paper Hand 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 dot Only these two letters wear a dot. Find both on one page.
  • I: an ice cream shop or an ice cream truck Spotted, not stopped at, unless the driver says so.
  • I: an insect, watched and not touched Short I this time, as in itch. Count its legs if it holds still: insects have six.
  • I: an intersection with a traffic light A long word that starts with I. It means the place where two roads cross.
  • I: ice in the freezer An adult opens the door. Ice starts with long I, the sound of the letter's own name.
  • I: ivy, or an iron gate or railing Ivy is looked at, not picked.
  • J: a jar, a jacket or a jug Jam and juice both start with J too.
  • J: a jet, or the white trail a jet leaves Look up. The trail counts even when the jet is too high to see.
  • J: a jungle gym, or a playground that has one Spotting it scores. Climbing it is a separate decision.
  • J: jump on the spot and say three words that start with J Jam, juice, jelly, jet, jeans. One jump for each word.
  • J: somebody jogging, or a place where you can jump Jump from a low step or over a crack, with a hand to hold.
  • J: the letters JCT on a road sign JCT is short for junction, the place where two roads meet.
  • K: a K on a sign: PARK, WALK or KEEP OFF In PARK and WALK the K comes last. In KEEP it comes first.
  • K: a kayak on a roof rack Kayak starts with K and ends with K.
  • K: a key, a kettle or the kitchen itself An adult handles the kettle. You point.
  • K: a kite in the sky or a kid on a swing Kick a ball or a pile of leaves if you find neither.
  • K: the K hiding in a NO PARKING sign It sits in the middle of the second word.
  • K: the letter K on a keyboard Middle row, between J and L. Keyboard starts with K as well.
  • L: a ladybug, a log or a ladder Ladders are for looking at.
  • L: a lamp, a lid or a lemon Say each word slowly and feel where your tongue goes.
  • L: a leaf bigger than your hand Hold your hand beside it to check. The leaf stays where it is.
  • L: a light switch you can reach, and one you cannot Light starts with L. Flick the low one once.
  • L: a traffic light, and say its color Light starts with L.
  • L: lines painted on the road: say if they are white or yellow Line and lane both start with L.
  • M: a capital M on a sign Tip your head upside down and it turns into a W.
  • M: a mailbox Mail and mailbox both start with M. Look, do not open.
  • M: a mirror with your own face in it Close your lips and hum: that is the sound M makes.
  • M: a motorcycle or a mail truck Count how many wheels each one has.
  • M: milk, mustard or mayonnaise, and the M on the label An adult opens the fridge. Point to the first letter on each label.
  • M: mud, moss or a mushroom Mushrooms are looked at and never touched or tasted.
  • N: a nest in a tree, or a nut on the ground Nests are looked at from below and left alone.
  • N: a sign that starts with the word NO NO PARKING and NO TURN are common. N is the first letter of both.
  • N: the name of your street on a sign Name 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 calendar Number and nine both start with N.
  • N: the word NORTH on a highway sign Highway signs name the direction of travel: north, south, east or west.
  • N: your own nose, then a napkin Hold your nose and try to say N. It comes out sounding like D.
  • O: a bird or a plane over your head Over starts with O. Point straight up.
  • O: a sign that says ONE WAY Find the O, then say which way the arrow points.
  • O: an oak tree, or any tree with acorns under it Acorns come from oak trees, so acorns on the ground mean an oak overhead.
  • O: an orange, or something colored orange One word, a fruit and a color.
  • O: the O in a STOP sign A stop sign is a red octagon, and octagon starts with O as well.
  • O: three things shaped like the letter O A ring, a lid, a roll of tape. O is a letter and a circle at once.
  • P: a capital P on a parking sign P is for parking. Lots, garages and meters all use it.
  • P: a pair of anything: shoes, socks or mittens Pair starts with P, and a pair is two that match.
  • P: a pillow, a pan or a pencil Hold 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 back Pockets stay empty on this hunt.
  • P: a police car or a pickup truck Parked ones count.
  • P: a puddle, a path or a park Puddles are for boots only.
  • Q: a quarter, held by a grown-up A quarter is a 25 cent coin. Coins stay in adult hands.
  • Q: a quilt, or the quietest spot in the house Quilt 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 BBQ Roadside shops and restaurants are the places to look.
  • Q: be quiet for one whole minute, timed by a grown-up Quiet starts with Q. The driver will thank you.
  • Q: something quick: a squirrel, a bird or a runner Quick starts with Q. Squirrel hides a Q as its second letter.
  • Q: the letter Q on any sign, poster or notice Q 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 left Rain starts with R. A dry day can still have a puddle.
  • R: a red light, a red car or a red sign Stop signs are red, so one is never far away.
  • R: a rock, a root or a rose Roses are for smelling, not picking. Mind the thorns.
  • R: a ruler, a rug or a remote Measure the remote with the ruler while you are there.
  • R: railroad tracks, or the white X-shaped sign beside them The sign is called a crossbuck. It says RAILROAD CROSSING, which has three Rs.
  • R: something red in each room you walk through Red starts with R. Keep count on your fingers.
  • S: a school, a school bus or a SPEED LIMIT sign Read the number on the speed limit sign aloud.
  • S: a sock, a spoon or the sink S looks like a snake and hisses like one.
  • S: a spider web, a snail or a stick Webs are looked at and left whole.
  • S: a STOP sign Four letters, and S comes first. White letters on a red octagon.
  • S: the sky, a shadow or a patch of sunlight Never look straight at the sun. Its light on the ground is the find.
  • S: the stairs or a step stool: count the steps A grown-up stays alongside on any stairs.
  • T: a table, a towel or a toothbrush Tap the table two times: tap and two start with T as well.
  • T: a tree taller than a house Tree and tall both start with T.
  • T: a truck, a tractor or a trailer One truck pulling a trailer scores both at once.
  • T: a tunnel, a tower or a train Water towers and cell towers both count.
  • T: a twig, a tulip or a tree trunk too wide to hug Try the hug. That is the test.
  • T: two things that tick or tell the time A clock, a watch, a kitchen timer, the corner of a phone screen.
  • U: a sign with an arrow bent into a U That is a U-turn arrow. It bends back the way it came, just like the letter.
  • U: an umbrella, kept closed indoors Short U, as in up.
  • U: drive under something: a bridge, a sign or a branch Under starts with U. Call it out as you pass beneath.
  • U: look up and name three things above your head Up starts with U. Branches, wires, clouds, birds.
  • U: something shaped like a U: a bike lock, a swing, a horseshoe Trace the U in the air with a finger: down, around and up.
  • U: something that lives under the bed or under the couch Under starts with U. A flashlight helps.
  • V: a street sign that ends in AVE or Ave Both are short for avenue. The V sits in the middle.
  • V: a V shape: a forked branch, birds flying, or a roof seen from the end Hold up two fingers to make a V of your own.
  • V: a van Delivery vans, minivans and camper vans all count.
  • V: a vase, a vest or a vacuum cleaner The vacuum stays switched off.
  • V: a vegetable in the kitchen Any 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 tree Look, do not pull.
  • W: a sign that says WALK, ONE WAY or WEST In WALK and WEST the W comes first. In ONE WAY it starts the second word.
  • W: a window, and what you can see through it Name three things on the other side of the glass.
  • W: a worm, a web or a wall Worms turn up on the sidewalk after rain. Help one back to the grass with a leaf.
  • W: the wind: find something it is moving A flag, a leaf, your own hair.
  • W: water in three places A tap, a glass, a pet bowl, a vase. Water starts with W.
  • W: wheels: count them on the biggest truck you pass Wheel starts with W. Big trucks can have eighteen.
  • X: an X made of crossed bars in a fence, a gate or a bridge Builders use the X shape because it keeps a frame from leaning.
  • X: make an X with two spoons, two pencils or your two arms Few 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 six At 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 road It is short for crossing. The X stands in for the word cross.
  • X: the X in EXIT, NEXT or TAXI Highway exits make this the easiest X of all.
  • X: two sticks, two paths or two lines that cross like an X Shadows of wires and branches make them too.
  • Y: a Y shape: a branch that forks in two Stand with your arms up and out, and you are a Y as well.
  • Y: a yard with a tree in it Yard starts with Y. Your own counts.
  • Y: a yellow sign of any shape Yellow starts with Y. Guess what each one is telling the driver.
  • Y: a YIELD sign A triangle that points down. The word starts with Y.
  • Y: something yellow in the kitchen A banana, a lemon, mustard or butter.
  • Y: yogurt in the fridge, or yarn in a drawer An adult opens the fridge.
  • Z: a zigzag in a fence, a path, a crack or the edge of a leaf Draw it in the air: a Z is a zigzag with three strokes.
  • Z: a zipper: zip it up and down once Zip 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 sign Z 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 label Pizza and puzzle each hide two Zs. Frozen hides one.
  • Z: zero: the number 0 on a house, a sign or a license plate Zero starts with Z and looks like the letter O.
  • Z: zoom: a car, a train or a plane going faster than you Zoom starts with Z. Say it as it passes.

Shapes 155

  • Circle: a bicycle wheel A wheel has to be a circle to roll smoothly. Spot two on one bike.
  • Circle: a button on a coat Leave it on the coat. Count the holes while you are there: two or four.
  • Circle: a dinner plate seen from above Look straight down on it. From the side of the table the same plate looks like an oval.
  • Circle: a manhole cover Spot it from the sidewalk with a grown-up. A round cover cannot drop through its own hole.
  • Circle: a plastic play hoop A hoop is all edge and no middle, and it is still a circle.
  • Circle: the center of a daisy or a sunflower The petals stand around it like the numbers around a clock face.
  • Circle: the drain in a sink or a tub Drains are circles because the pipes under them are round.
  • Circle: the face of a wall clock Trace the rim with a finger. A circle has no corners and no straight sides.
  • Circle: the letter O on a sign or a book cover In many typefaces the O is closer to an oval. Decide together which one you found.
  • Circle: the lid of a jar The jar is a cylinder. Its lid, seen from above, is the circle.
  • Circle: the rim of a drinking glass Look down into it. The rim is a circle even when the glass is tall.
  • Circle: the ring left by a wet cup Set a damp cup on paper and lift it. The ring is a circle you made yourself.
  • Cone: a kitchen funnel A cone with the point cut off and a tube in its place.
  • Cone: a party hat Unroll a paper one and it turns into a flat shape like a slice of pie.
  • Cone: a traffic cone Spot it from the sidewalk with a grown-up and leave it where it stands.
  • Cone: an ice cream cone A circle at the top that narrows to a point.
  • Cone: the tip of a sharpened pencil Look, do not poke. The sharpener carves the wood into a cone.
  • Crescent: a banana Hold it up like a smile, then like a frown. Same crescent.
  • Crescent: a croissant The name is the French word for crescent.
  • Crescent: a moon in a bedtime book or on a night-light The crescent faces left in some books and right in others. The real moon does both.
  • Crescent: a piece of elbow macaroni Dry, from the box. A curved tube looks like a crescent from the side.
  • Crescent: a round cookie with one bite gone Bite a circle out of a circle and a crescent is what is left.
  • Crescent: a slice of melon A slice of melon curves like the moon. An orange segment is close, with one straighter edge.
  • Crescent: the lit side of a ball held near a lamp In a dim room, hold a ball beside a lamp and walk around it. The lit part thins to a crescent, as the moon does.
  • Crescent: the moon on a night when it is not full Look from a window or the yard with a grown-up. A thin crescent shows soon after sunset or before sunrise.
  • Crescent: the mouth on a smiley face A thin smile is only a curved line. A wide open one is a crescent.
  • Crescent: the white tip of a fingernail Look at the base of a thumbnail too. Many people have a pale half-moon there.
  • Cube: a cube-shaped tissue box The tall boxes are close to cubes. The long flat ones are rectangular prisms.
  • Cube: a die from a board game Six faces, all squares. The dots on opposite faces of a standard die add up to 7.
  • Cube: a sugar cube or a stock cube Ask a grown-up to check the pantry. Count the faces without unwrapping it: six.
  • Cube: a wooden building block Check that every face is a square. A longer block is a rectangular prism.
  • Cube: an ice cube Few ice cubes are true cubes. Look at one and say which faces are not square.
  • Cylinder: a can of food A circle on top, a circle on the bottom and a label that unrolls into a rectangle.
  • Cylinder: a crayon A cylinder with a cone on the end, until the point wears down.
  • Cylinder: a paper-towel tube A hollow cylinder. Look through it and the far end is a circle.
  • Cylinder: a rolling pin It rolls one way only. A sphere rolls every way and a cube not at all.
  • Cylinder: the trunk of a tree Wrap your arms around it. A trunk is a rough cylinder that gets a little wider each year.
  • Diamond: a baseball infield, at a park or on TV It is called a diamond, but the four bases sit at the corners of a square.
  • Diamond: a diamond on a rug or on wrapping paper Look for a shape with four sides that stands on a point.
  • Diamond: a gap in a chain-link fence Every gap is a small diamond. Look, and keep fingers out.
  • Diamond: a gap in a garden trellis Criss-cross slats leave diamond holes for plants to climb through.
  • Diamond: a kite, real or in a picture Grown-ups call this exact shape a kite: two short sides at the top and two long ones below.
  • Diamond: a pane in a criss-cross window Old cottages, churches and storybook houses have them. Spot it from the sidewalk.
  • Diamond: a patch on a quilt Diamonds fit together with no gaps, so a whole quilt can be made of them.
  • Diamond: a square tile laid on its corner A square standing on one corner is still a square, and a square is one kind of diamond.
  • Diamond: a yellow warning sign beside the road In the United States and Canada most warning signs are yellow diamonds. Spot it from the sidewalk.
  • Diamond: the diamonds on a playing card The suit is named for the shape: four equal sides, standing on a point.
  • Diamond: the gap between your two hands Touch thumb to thumb and pointer to pointer. The gap is a diamond you can carry around.
  • Diamond: the pattern on an argyle sock or sweater Argyle is rows of diamonds with thin lines crossing through them.
  • Heart: a heart made with two hands Curl your fingers down and touch your thumbs together at the bottom.
  • Heart: a heart on a greeting card Two round bumps on top and one point at the bottom.
  • Heart: a heart on a grown-up's phone keyboard Ask a grown-up to open the picture keyboard. There are hearts in many colors.
  • Heart: a heart printed on a shirt, a sock or pajamas The laundry basket is a good place to look.
  • Heart: a heart-shaped box, locket or cookie cutter Fold a paper heart in half down the middle. Both sides match.
  • Heart: a heart-shaped leaf Lilac, redbud, violet and morning glory all have heart-shaped leaves. Look low on bushes and vines.
  • Heart: a strawberry cut in half from top to bottom Ask a grown-up to slice it. The cut face is close to a heart.
  • Heart: the hearts on a playing card Find the card with the most hearts on it.
  • Hexagon: a cell of honeycomb, real or on a honey jar Bees build six-sided cells. The shape leaves no gaps and uses little wax.
  • Hexagon: a gap in chicken wire Garden fences and rabbit hutches. The wire is twisted so every gap has six sides.
  • Hexagon: a nut on a bolt Look on a bike, a bench or a swing set. Six flat sides give a wrench something to grip.
  • Hexagon: a nut on the wheel of a parked car Spot it from the sidewalk with a grown-up. Each nut that holds the wheel on has six sides.
  • Hexagon: a panel on a classic soccer ball The classic ball has 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons. The pentagons are usually the black ones.
  • Hexagon: a plate on a turtle's shell, in a book The plates are called scutes, and many of them have six sides.
  • Hexagon: a six-sided paving stone Count the sides by walking around one stone.
  • Hexagon: a six-sided tile from a board game Check the game shelf. Six-sided tiles fit together with no gaps, and each one touches six neighbors.
  • Hexagon: a small six-sided bathroom floor tile Older bathrooms often have them. They fit together with no gaps, like honeycomb.
  • Hexagon: a snowflake, real or cut from paper Snow crystals start as a tiny hexagon and grow an arm from each of the six corners.
  • Hexagon: the end of a wooden pencil Look at the unsharpened end. Six flat sides keep it from rolling off the desk.
  • Hexagon: the hole in a flat-pack furniture bolt The little bent key that comes in the box has six sides, and so does the hole it fits.
  • Octagon: a gazebo or a bandstand in a park Count the posts as you walk around it. Many park gazebos have eight sides.
  • Octagon: a paper square with its corners cut off Make one. Snip the four corners off a paper square and four sides become eight.
  • Octagon: a stop sign Count the sides from the sidewalk: eight. The shape was chosen in the 1920s so drivers know it even from the back.
  • Octagon: a stop sign in a toy set or a picture book Count the corners with a finger. Eight corners, eight sides.
  • Octagon: an eight-sided floor tile Octagons cannot cover a floor alone. Look for the little squares that fill the gaps.
  • Octagon: an eight-sided mirror, clock or picture frame Look, do not touch. Count each straight edge once.
  • Octagon: an eight-sided plate or serving dish Ask a grown-up to check the cupboard. Count the flat edges around the rim.
  • Octagon: an eight-sided window Look high on house fronts and above garage doors. Spot it from the sidewalk.
  • Octagon: an open umbrella seen from underneath Count the ribs. Eight ribs pull the edge into eight sides.
  • Oval: a bar of soap New bars often have corners. A used one wears down toward an oval.
  • Oval: a bathtub seen from above Some tubs are ovals and some are rectangles with rounded corners. Which is yours?
  • Oval: a grape, a lemon or an avocado from the side From the end, the same fruit looks like a circle.
  • Oval: a leaf Many leaves are ovals with a point at one end. Take one from the ground, not from the plant.
  • Oval: a mirror in a bathroom or a hallway Look, do not touch. No corners and longer one way than the other.
  • Oval: a pebble worn smooth Water tumbles stones until the corners are gone. Leave it where you found it.
  • Oval: a round plate seen at a slant A circle seen from the side looks like an oval. Walk around the table and watch it change.
  • Oval: a running track Two straight sides joined by two half circles. Grown-ups call this exact shape a stadium.
  • Oval: a serving platter Ask a grown-up to show you one. Longer one way than the other, with no corners.
  • Oval: a toilet seat An oval with the middle missing. Lid down when you are done.
  • Oval: an egg The word oval comes from the Latin word for egg. One end is rounder than the other.
  • Oval: the bowl of a spoon Look at your reflection in it while you are there. It is upside down.
  • Oval: the number 0 on a clock, a phone or a front door A zero is usually a tall oval. Compare it with the letter O beside it if you can.
  • Rectangle: a bed seen from the doorway The mattress is a big rectangle and the pillow is a small one.
  • Rectangle: a brick in a wall Every brick face is a rectangle, and each row is shifted so the joins do not line up.
  • Rectangle: a door Two long sides, two short sides and four matching corners.
  • Rectangle: a doormat One on each side of the front door counts as two.
  • Rectangle: a license plate on a parked car Spot it from the sidewalk with a grown-up.
  • Rectangle: a light switch plate Look, do not flip. The plate on the wall is the rectangle.
  • Rectangle: a playing card A rectangle with rounded corners. The shapes printed on it may be hearts or diamonds.
  • Rectangle: an envelope Look at the back. The flap is a triangle sitting on a rectangle.
  • Rectangle: one step of a staircase Look from the bottom, holding the rail. Each tread is a long thin rectangle.
  • Rectangle: the cover of a book Open the book flat and you get a wider rectangle made of two.
  • Rectangle: the door of a mailbox or a mail slot Your own mailbox, or one you can see from the sidewalk.
  • Rectangle: the front of a cereal box The box is a solid called a rectangular prism. Each of its six faces is a rectangle.
  • Rectangle: the screen of a phone or a tablet Turn it sideways. It is still a rectangle, only lying down.
  • Sphere: a ball A ball is a sphere, not a circle. A circle is flat, and a sphere rolls in every direction.
  • Sphere: a globe The Earth is very nearly a sphere, so a globe is its most honest map.
  • Sphere: a pea or a blueberry Small spheres, and the reason both escape from forks.
  • Sphere: a soap bubble Blow one outside. A floating bubble pulls itself into a sphere.
  • Sphere: an orange Roll it across the table. Spheres have no flat face to stop on.
  • Spiral: a cinnamon roll or a swirl cookie Start in the middle and follow the line out with your eyes.
  • Spiral: a coiled garden hose Seen from above, each loop sits outside the last.
  • Spiral: a roll of tape or ribbon seen from the side It looks like rings, but it is one long strip wound around and around.
  • Spiral: a seashell Look at the pointed end. The shell grew around and around as the animal got bigger.
  • Spiral: a snail's shell Look after rain, low on walls and leaves. Watch it and leave the snail where it is.
  • Spiral: a spider's web A round web is a spiral of sticky thread laid over straight spokes. Look, and do not touch.
  • Spiral: a swirl lollipop Two colors wound together make the spiral easy to follow.
  • Spiral: the bottom of a pinecone Turn it over. The scales run outward from the stem in curving spirals.
  • Spiral: the curled tip of a new fern leaf New fern leaves unroll from a tight spiral called a fiddlehead. Spring is the season to look.
  • Spiral: the end of a rolled-up towel or yoga mat Roll anything flat and the end shows a spiral.
  • Spiral: the whorl of a fingerprint Look closely at a fingertip. Some prints curl into a spiral called a whorl, and others make loops or arches.
  • Spiral: the wire of a spiral notebook A spiral that climbs like this one is called a helix. A spring is a helix too.
  • Spiral: water going down the drain Pull the plug after a bath and watch the water spin into a spiral.
  • Square: a couch cushion or a throw pillow Measure two sides in hand-widths. The same number both ways means square.
  • Square: a cracker Four equal sides. Then eat the evidence.
  • Square: a floor or wall tile Check it: four sides the same length and four matching corners. Longer one way makes it a rectangle.
  • Square: a letter key on a keyboard Letter keys are close to square. The space bar is a long rectangle.
  • Square: a paper napkin Fold a square napkin corner to corner and you get a triangle.
  • Square: a paving slab on a patio or a path Stand on one and look at all four corners.
  • Square: a slice of sandwich bread Nearly square. If the top is rounded, say which side is not straight.
  • Square: a sticky note Turn it so it stands on one corner. It is still a square.
  • Square: a windowpane Some panes are squares and some are rectangles. Compare two sides before you count it.
  • Square: one pocket of a waffle Each dent in a waffle is a small square. Count how many fit in one row.
  • Square: one space on a checkerboard The board is 8 squares across and 8 down, and the whole board is a square too.
  • Square: the lid of a board game box Give the lid a quarter turn. A square looks exactly the same afterward, and a rectangle does not.
  • Star: a badge or a wand in the dress-up box Toy sheriff badges and fairy wands are nearly always stars.
  • Star: a sea star in a book or an aquarium tank Most sea stars have five arms. Count them from the tip of one to the tip of the next.
  • Star: a star on a flag The stars on the United States flag have five points each.
  • Star: a star ornament or a star on a string of lights Check the box of decorations with a grown-up.
  • Star: a star sticker on a chart Count the points. Most sticker stars have five.
  • Star: a star-shaped cookie cutter Press it into play dough and count the points on the print.
  • Star: the little star on a keyboard or a phone keypad It is called an asterisk, from the Greek for little star. Count its points: five, six or eight.
  • Star: the star inside an apple Ask a grown-up to cut an apple across the middle, not top to bottom. The seed pockets make a five-pointed star.
  • Triangle: a clothes hanger Ignore the hook. The part that holds the shirt is a triangle.
  • Triangle: a flag on a string of party bunting Each little flag is a triangle hanging point down.
  • Triangle: a musical triangle One corner is left open so it can ring. Talk about whether an open shape still counts.
  • Triangle: a play tent seen from the front A blanket over a rope makes the same shape.
  • Triangle: a sandwich cut corner to corner One square of bread makes two triangles.
  • Triangle: a slice of pizza Two straight sides and a curved crust, so it is nearly a triangle. Say which side is not straight.
  • Triangle: a swing set seen from the end The two legs and the ground make a tall letter A, which is a triangle.
  • Triangle: a tortilla chip Three corners and three sides, even when the sides curl.
  • Triangle: a yield sign A yield sign is a triangle standing on its point. Upside down is still a triangle.
  • Triangle: the end wall under a sloping roof Where two slopes of a roof meet, the wall beneath them is a triangle called a gable.
  • Triangle: the frame of a bicycle Look between the wheels. The tubes make triangles because a triangle holds its shape when pushed.
  • Triangle: the play button on a screen or a remote It points to the right. Pause is two rectangles and stop is a square.
  • Triangle: the sail on a toy boat or in a picture Bath toys and picture books both count.

How this list was compiled: Written for this site by its editors in September 2026: 431 original finds for ages two to six with an adult alongside, on three sheets. The color sheet has 120 finds in 12 colors, 10 to a color, and its Rainbow colors group holds the 60 in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. The letter sheet has 156 finds, six for every letter from A to Z: two indoors, two outdoors and two for the car. Each is a thing whose name starts with the letter, the printed letter itself on a book, a label or a sign, or the shape of the letter. The shape sheet has 155 finds in 16 named shapes, 12 flat and four solid. Every find was screened against the site's rules for children's pages: the child looks and points, nothing is tasted, collected, bought, picked or climbed, small objects stay out of mouths, an adult opens the fridge and handles coins and the kettle, street finds and road signs are spotted from the sidewalk holding an adult's hand, car finds are spotted from a fastened seat, animals are watched and never chased, and no find asks about a person. No brand names are used. Levels (easy, medium, hard) are the editors' judgment: easy finds need no reading, medium finds need an adult to read a word aloud or a second look, and hard finds are seasonal, rare or ask the child to pick out a printed letter. Facts in the notes and the page copy were checked on 2026-09-18 and 2026-09-19. Colors: red on the outer edge of a rainbow and violet on the inner, and Newton's seven named colors (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow); red and yellow make orange, yellow and blue make green, blue and red make purple in the traditional paint model (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_color); red at the top and green at the bottom of an upright traffic signal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_light); school bus yellow formulated in 1939 for buses in the United States and Canada (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_bus_yellow); eggshell color set by the breed of hen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggs_as_food). Letters: 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). Road sign wording follows the US Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition, checked 2026-09-19: JCT for junction and Ave for avenue in Table 1D-1 and XING for crossing in Table 1D-2 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Edition/part1.pdf), and the Hospital sign among the General Service signs, which carry a white legend on a blue background, in Section 2I.02 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Edition/Chapter2hthu2n.pdf). Road sign finds describe signs in the United States. Keyboard positions are those of the standard QWERTY layout. Shapes: shape names were checked against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_two-dimensional_geometric_shapes (circle, oval, crescent, heart, spiral, rhombus, hexagon, octagon, star polygon, and stadium for the running track), and the notes against the Wikipedia articles Stop sign (red octagon, shape selected in 1922), Yield sign, Warning sign (yellow diamonds in the United States and Canada), Hexagon (honeycomb cells, turtle scutes), Truncated icosahedron (12 pentagons and 20 hexagons on the classic soccer ball), Snowflake, Rhombus (a rhombus with right angles is a square), Baseball field (the infield is a 90-foot square), Oval (from Latin ovum, egg), Spider web, Asterisk and Pentagon. The kindergarten shape names in the page copy (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders and spheres) and the wording 'regardless of their orientations or overall size' are from the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Kindergarten, Geometry K.G, read in the standards document hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers (https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Math_Standards1.pdf), checked 2026-09-19. Licence: own work