Texture Scavenger Hunt

Children handle textures all day without ever having words for them. This gives them six, and once they have the words they find the textures everywhere.

The hunt

Print it, write it on a scrap of paper, or just read it out. It works either way.

1. Something rough

2. Something smooth

3. Something waxy

4. Something hairy or fuzzy

5. Something papery

6. Something sticky

7. Something that changes when you press it

How to run it

Twenty minutes, with a rubbing crayon and paper if you have them. Waxy is the one to demonstrate first, because most children have never been given the word and will not find it otherwise.

Rubbings work for rough and papery. Sticky and waxy need a drawing instead, which the sheet allows for.

For younger children

Three textures. Rough, smooth, soft. Let them bring things to you rather than recording anything.

For older children

Add why. A waxy leaf sheds water. A hairy leaf traps moisture and deters insects. A papery bark peels to shed climbing plants. Every texture is doing a job, and older children can work out what.

What to do afterwards

Make a texture board. Card, glue, and one example of each labelled. It stays on the wall and children touch it for months.

More like this

Every hunt on this site is free and needs no preparation. See the Start Here pages if you want them ordered by age.