Gingerbread Man Loose in the Library! A Library Orientation Scavenger Hunt

BESTSELLER!!

This is a fun back-to-school library orientation activity for your younger elementary students and is based on the fabulous book The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray!

There are ten fun rhyming clues to learn more about different areas of your library. There is also a QR Code version of this scavenger hunt along with blank templates to create your own clues if you so choose. You pick which version you would like to use!

I print out the clue cards on cardstock and laminate for extra durability and hide them in the appropriate spots prior to the class coming into the media center. If the students are younger, I place the clues in plain sight, but I’ll make the clues a little harder to find with the older students. I have included a guide in the packet that tells you where to place each card.

After reading the story to the children, I tell them that we have a Gingerbread Man that is loose in our library and has left clues for them to review different parts of the media center. If they find all of the clues, they will earn a special treat such as a bookmark or a piece of candy.

The clues could be read by you or the students, depending on the grade level you’re using them with. After the clue is read, I pick one student to be the “finder”. After we determine as a group where the clue card may be found, we all walk over to the section and the chosen student gets to find the card. This prevents a stampede to be the first to find the card! After the card has been found, I talk a little bit more about that location (rules, procedures, etc.) before moving on to the next clue.

I selected ten locations:

-Circulation Desk

-Magazine Section (If you don't have a magazine section, I have included a different version that substitutes a Makerspace or STEM Lab clue instead)

-Easy or Everybody Section

-Nonfiction Section

-Computer Lab (if you don’t have a lab, then place the clue where the bulk of your computers, iPads or tech. carts are located)

-Shelf Marker location

-Online Card Catalog Computer(s)

-Bathrooms (We talk about where the closest restrooms are as well as the rules for excusing yourself to use the bathroom)

-Fire Drill Exit (Again, we discuss as a class what to do if there’s a fire drill during media class time and which doors we exit out of)

-The Media Specialist (That’s You!) I usually wear an apron with lots of pockets during media classes and put the last card in one of those pockets to pull out and read. You can also just keep it nearby when the students identify you as their media specialist. I also included an extra clue card if you prefer the term “Library Teacher”.

I also have a fun nonfiction bingo game that helps review Dewey subjects:

Quiet!! A Dewey Nonfiction Bingo Game

Important: This product is also part of a huge discounted elementary library product bundle you can purchase here:

Huge Elementary Library Product Bundle!

Have a GREAT start to the school year!

Would you like FREE K-5 Library Lessons for the first week of school? Click HERE

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© Elementary Library Mama. All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the original purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher/librarian is prohibited. Additional licenses are available at a discount. For librarians: you may use this product with all of your classes and students.

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