Book week is always a fun time of the year. Kids (and sometimes teachers) love dressing up, and what is better than celebrating reading?! Anything that gets kids into reading for enjoyment is a win in our books (excuse the pun!)
During one of Sydney’s lengthy lockdown’s my children and I set up a ‘Where’s Wally’ hunt around our local neighbourhood. We strategically placed the Wally’s so we could see people hunting from where we were living. Everyone got so much joy from the real life Where’s Wally hunt.
Find the FREE Where’s Wally templates at the end of this blog.
So much so, people started to ask about it so they could create their own. So many teachers contacted us wanting to create a similar hunt in their schools for the children of essential workers. We were even interviewed on a rural news station about ‘Where’s Wally’ – but that is a story for another day!
Since first sharing our Where’s Wally hunt, we have seen it in schools all around Australia. And we even found one in our local children’s ward at the hospital!
So as Book Week begins again this year, we wanted to give you the opportunity keep the Where’s Wally hunt alive in your school.
It is really easy and simple set this up in your school. We even have a free printable at the end of this post that you can use that will have you covered and ready!
What you need to do:
1. Download our FREE template at the end of this blog post (it is pretty scrappy but has everything you need).
2. Cut your Wally’s (and laminate if you wish) so they are ready for the Great Hunt.
3. Hide your Wally’s around your school playground, inside the buildings or in your school library.
4. Pin up the ‘Have you seen this man’ posters and let the fun begin!
We have also included a recording sheet if you want your students to mark off every Wally they find.
5. Make sure you tag us on social media @rainbowskycreations so we can see all the fun you have!
“Thank you so much ladies, this Where’s Wally hunt has brought so much joy to our school. Everyone was invested in finding them – even some of the teachers! What fun” Aaron
Want to take Where’s Wally further?
There are so m many ways you can step up the ‘Where’s Wally Hunt’ in your school.
- Instead of Where’s Wally, take photos of your school librarian and hide them around the school
- Hide photos of teachers or the principal around the school for students to find
- Choose another character in a book that your school wants to hide
- Create the Where’s Wally hunt inside the library and make it a hunt for books
- Give each class a Wally to hide around the school. the aim is for the students to find every Wally
- Take your Where’s Wally hunt out into your local library or community
- Add an act of kindness under each Wally that students need to complete as a challenge as they search and hunt
- Give each Wally a letter. When students find them all, they unscramble the letters to reveal a secret Book Week message
- Create a “Golden Wally” that is worth double points or earns the finder/s a special reward
- Add a QR code next to each Wally that reveals a book recommendation, a fun reading fact, or a read-aloud recommendation
We hope Where’s Wally brings your school a little extra fun and sparkle to your school celebrations this year! We love to know if you give it a go love to know if you give it a go.
Find your FREE Where’s Wally templates here.
Looking for easy costume ideas?
Finally, if you are in need of a ready-to-go activity to help celebrate reading in your classroom? Check out this craft activity that celebrates reading!! Click here to view.
“Absolutely perfect for a quiet afternoon with my kids; they loved being able to choose the template they wanted to do. Had heaps of fun making them so far and will be using them again.” Sophie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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A FREE Multiplication game that students LOVE
