Scavenger Hunt...at the Zoo

The number of learning opportunities at the zoo are endless!  We went today for our Fantastic Friday and it was a very different experience.

A few weeks ago, my kids were invited to a birthday party at the zoo.  They had such a great time and came home singing the praises of a zoo scavenger hunt.
So, once again, I stole this idea and made it work for our family. 

In order to minimize competition between siblings and cultivate unity, we used one list and the kids worked together to find everything on the list.  Here is a picture of our list before the hunt.

At first, it was a real struggle for the kids to work together...especially since all the kids got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.  I think I will turn their beds around tonight!  Or, maybe it was me who got up on the wrong side of the bed.  Haha.  Anyway, initially there was a struggle between who would control the list and pencil.  The grumpiness escalated but I was determined to help them work through it.  I felt that a break through was just around the corner.  I was wrong.  But, we still made the most of the day:)  Next time, I think I will really print a list for each child and let them choose their own animals. 

But, today we had to work through and share.  Here are a few pictures of the kids working together...mostly anyway:)

We took a break from the scavenger hunt for Nathan to show the littles how he could make a catapult out of this branch and send little objects flying across the zoo.  A physics lesson in action!

Somehow my kids always find it fun to look through this "telescope" that only works if you put quarters in...we never do...but they always look anyway:)

 The littles who spent most of the day in the stroller, but still had smiles on their sweet little faces:)  Love these little guys!

Here is the list at the end of the day.

So, next time we will find another educational and entertaining way to enjoy the zoo.  But this scavenger hunt really made the kids pay attention to the details of the animals...and by the end of the trip the kids were sharing and had worked through the grumpiness (or just began to practice self-control).