Living Montessori Now

Montessori Inspiration for Parents and Teachers

Free Summer Scavenger Hunt Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities

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My family loves scavenger hunts! We already had a fall scavenger hunt unit, winter scavenger hunt unit, and spring scavenger hunt unit. Now we’re ready for a summer scavenger hunt unit! It has many activities and resources that can be used for any summer unit, but we have scavenger hunt variations.

Here, you’ll find links to free summer scavenger hunt printables used to prepare hands-on activities and a new Montessori-inspired summer scavenger hunt pack for our free newsletter subscribers’ resource library! This unit has resources for preschool through elementary.

Free Summer Scavenger Hunt Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities

These free summer scavenger hunt printables and Montessori-inspired activities are designed for preschoolers through elementary; perfect for home or classroom – Living Montessori Now

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Summer Scavenger Hunt Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired summer scavenger hunt themed numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Note: The Montessori-inspired summer scavenger hunt pack isn’t designed as a complete summer scavenger hunt unit but as supplemental materials. I design the packs using realistic images that I’ve often looked for when preparing a unit study (such as font cards and phonogram cards featuring the letter and phonogram related to the theme and math cards with realistic images that fit the theme and can be adapted for math activities at a variety of levels.)

You could mix your summer scavenger hunt themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special summer scavenger hunt themed area something like the one pictured. My shelves at the beginning of our unit have a mixture of skill levels. Many of the activities can be adapted for a variety of levels. If you’re a homeschooler, just choose the activities that work for your child’s interests and ability levels. If you don’t have room for all the activities you’d like to do, simply rotate them.

Montessori Shelves with Summer Scavenger Hunt Themed Activities and The Young Botanist Art Print

Montessori Shelves with Summer Scavenger Hunt Themed Activities and The Young Botanist Art Print

Notice the framed art print The Young Botanist (1888-1890) by Paul Peel. It’s a free download from Wikimedia Commons.

For our monthly featured art print, I purchased a Li’l DAVINCI art frame that opens in the front for easily changing a free art masterpiece printable or vintage illustration to fit with the month’s theme. The frame can be switched from horizontal to vertical without changing the hanger, which is perfect!

If you’re wondering about the rugs and rug box I use, both the rugs and wooden rug holder are from Montessori Services. I love the Montessori Services rugs and rug holder! I used to use an umbrella stand something like these. I loved that for 1-3 rugs, but I needed something different when I had more grandchildren and some projects that needed more than one rug.

Favorite Shelves, Trays, Baskets, and More for Montessori Homeschoolers

I often get asked about the trays, baskets, etc., that I use, so I published a post with many of the items. You can find lots of helpful resources here. They’re not all essential, so don’t feel you need to have everything. Just choose what’s best for your budget and your unique family’s needs. You’ll find more ideas in the Living Montessori Now Amazon shop

Books for a Summer Unit 

Even though I have books on shelves, I’m now keeping many of my themed books in a forward-facing display after placing a plant where the themed book basket was before. 

For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).

Books for a Summer Unit

Books for a Summer Unit

Top Shelf of Themed Shelves: 

Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:

2nd Shelf:

3rd Shelf:

4th Shelf

Bottom Shelf

  • The Very Quiet Cricket (This actually has batteries, but they’re simply a lovely addition to the book when the cricket chirps at the end.) We love Eric Carle books, and many of them have a summer theme.
  • Summer in the Forest (a lift-a-flap surprise board book)
  • Summer (lovely wordless seasons board book by Gerda Muller)

We have more summer books in book baskets (a variety from the following blog posts):

You can see many summer books here: Summer Books for Kids (including books as they’re published)

Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer Book with Summer Scavenger Hunts

Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer Book with Summer Scavenger Hunts

Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer Book with Summer Scavenger Hunts

I’ve been waiting for Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer to be published (as I have and love the rest of the books in Kenard Pak’s changing seasons series)! This book was just published May 6, 2025! It’s a lovely, Montessori-friendly book about a girl walking through open fields and forest, welcoming the signs of summer.  It’s perfect for Montessori classrooms and homeschools. The book is recommended for ages 4-8.

Free Printable: Alphabet Nature Walk by Wild About Wildschool at TPT

This is a fun outdoor scavenger hunt. We’ve used these child-size binoculars many times over the years, and they’re always great for nature scavenger hunts!

Some other great options for outdoor summer scavenger hunts:

Free Printable: Nature Color Hunt by Mother Natured at TPT

The nature color hunt from our spring scavenger hunt unit is also perfect for summer!

Using the Nature Color Wheel on a Nature Scavenger Hunt

Using the Nature Color Wheel on a Nature Scavenger Hunt

Beach Walk Book with Beach Scavenger Hunt Bingo

Beach Walk Book with Beach Scavenger Hunt Bingo

Beach Walk Book with Beach Scavenger Hunt Bingo

The Backpack Explorer series is lots of fun for nature explorers. These books have lots of beautiful photographs and engaging illustrations along with lots of ideas for nature activities. I have the 5-book set, which also includes a nature collection box to display nature treasures. I also have a couple other books from the series, including Beach Walk.

Free Printable: Beach & Tide Pool Scavenger Hunt Bingo by DyerTyme at TPT

I love these clipboards with storage for outdoor scavenger hunts! They’re perfect for bringing pencils or another way to mark the finds on the scavenger hunt.

Bug Hunt Book with Insects from the Safari Ltd. Insect TOOB and Insect Puzzles

Bug Hunt Book with Insects from the Safari Ltd. Insect TOOB and Insect Puzzles

Bug Hunt Book with Insects from the Safari Ltd. Insect TOOB and Insect Puzzles

Bug Hunt is another great book from the Backpack Explorer series.

Free Printable: Insect/Arachnid TOOB Printable Puzzles by Pinay Homeschooler Shop at TPT to go with insect figures from the Safari Ltd. Insects TOOB. (Note: There are figures in the TOOB that aren’t actually insects, such as the spider. I only used the insects for this activity.)

The 4-piece printable puzzles can be adapted for a variety of ages. Younger children could find the insects that are hidden in the room to match just a few puzzles. Older children could use many puzzles and have the task of sorting the pieces before assembling the puzzles.

3-part cards are also easy to use in a scavenger hunt. Simply hide the part of the card that’s appropriate for a child’s level (such as the word label for children who can read or the picture for toddlers and preschoolers who don’t read yet). 

Sand Writing Tray for a Summer Scavenger Hunt Theme

Sand Writing Tray for a Summer Scavenger Hunt Theme

Sand Writing Tray for a Summer Scavenger Hunt Theme

Free Printable /p/ for pool font cards and “oo” in pool phonogram cards (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber). They come in print, D’Nealian, and cursive. 

You’ll see a variety of simple letter writing trays in my previous unit study posts. I often used the wooden tray from the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shapes. You can use whatever tray or container work best for you, though.

I typically now use this lovely spelling/alphabet tray from FamilyTreeWW on Etsy. I like it for writing more than one letter or spelling words. (Note: That sand tray is currently unavailable, but you’ll find lots of other options for Montessori sand trays on Etsy.) I found some colored sand in 12 colors on Amazon that I started to use instead of salt or colored salt. I love it because it’s so soft and feels great! 

If you would like help with introducing phonetic sounds, introducing objects with sounds, or beginning phonics in general, check out my DIY Beginning Montessori Phonics with Preschoolers.

I have a post and video on how to introduce words starting with phonograms, even with very young children.

Matching Watermelon Alphabet Cards to Grooved Letter Tiles

Matching Watermelon Alphabet Cards to Grooved Letter Tiles

Matching Watermelon Alphabet Cards to Grooved Letter Tiles

Free Printable: Watermelon alphabet cards (part of my subscriber freebies, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber). 

I love the Amazing Child Mini Grooved Letter Tiles: Lower Sassoon Case with Tray and Stylus! They can be used as a sort of movable alphabet for CVC words, although I’m using them with individual letters for children learning their phonetic sounds. There’s a little sand tray that comes with the set as well.

Here, the watermelon alphabet cards are hidden, and children find the watermelons that matching the letter tiles.

The alphabet cards in print and cursive are easily adaptable, depending on the child’s level. They can be used for a variety of activities, such as matching letters with sandpaper letters, matching print to cursive letters, or movable alphabet word building.

Although you wouldn’t use this printable for a farmers market scavenger hunt, it was inspired by the thought of one!

Here are some free farmers market scavenger hunt printables:

Summer Secret Code CVC Words andS Blends

Summer Secret Code CVC Words and Blends

Summer Secret Code CVC Words and Blends

Free Printable: Summer Secret Code CVC Words and Blends Freebie by KC Kindergarten at TPT (For older children, I like that this printable uses a secret code for each picture rather than the beginning sound of the picture. It gives an extra challenge for older children who need more practice reading. My 3 elementary-age grandkids can all read well, but it’s a fun idea for kindergarteners and reluctant readers. 

Finding and Counting Daisies Math Activity

Finding and Counting Daisies Math Activity

Finding and Counting Daisies Math Activity

We had a similar activity using acrylic snowflakes for our winter scavenger hunt unit!

Free Printable: Scavenger hunt number cards 1-30 or however many you choose to use (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).

Free Printable: You’ll find free Montessori number cards on TPT by Owl Key Curriculum or The Learning Ark Montessori. I used the ones from The Learning Ark Montessori.

I used dried daisies, which I laminated and placed around the room. You could use any natural object. The child (or children if playing cooperatively) could find as many daisies as possible and then identify the number using golden beads and the symbol cards. If you have more than one child playing, each child could change the number when adding another daisy to the layout. If the children are able, they can exchange 10 for a 10 card when playing the game.

There are so many different activities you can prepare using the math cards! This is just one example. You’ll find many ideas in our previous units.

Summer Riddles Scavenger Hunt

Free Printable: Summer Riddles by Happy Baby Gawn at TPT

I placed the printable and scissors on the tray for the child to cut out and prepare. My elementary-age grandkids often love to prepare their own activities. Of course, with younger children, you can print and cut out the objects on each page.

I would lay out the pages with the clues and hide the answer images for the children to find.

Summer Scavenger Hunt Activities on Another Shelf

Ocean and Beach Metal Inset Designs

Ocean and Beach Metal Inset Designs

I love the plastic insets from Alison’s Montessori for home use, but they’ve been discontinued. Alison’s Montessori does have the traditional metal insets, of course. And I found some inexpensive wooden insets on Etsy that look like a great option for home use. There are also DIY insets you can make for home use. My grandkids love the metal inset design cards from MindfulMontessoriMe.

Now, we’re having fun with MindfulMontessoriMe’s Montessori Metal Inset Designs – Beach and Ocean Themed on Etsy. They aren’t free, but they’re a great extension to work with the metal insets! These aren’t exactly a scavenger hunt except that the child has the find the shape that’s needed to make the design.

Printables for a Summer Scavenger Hunt

Printables for a Summer Scavenger Hunt

This uses an organizer I love. It’s classified as a bookshelf, but it’s perfect for printables for elementary-age kids. 

The printables aren’t free, but they were almost free if you purchased the Spark Curiosity Mega Bundle in June. Otherwise, most or all of the printables will be available for purchase on Etsy.

Free Montessori-Inspired Summer Scavenger Hunt Pack

Montessori-Inspired Summer Scavenger Hunt Pack

Montessori-Inspired Summer Scavenger Hunt Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

More Summer Resources

Summer Science 

Montessori-Inspired Summer Pack

Don’t miss our themed monthly packs! You’ll get  the link and password for the Living Montessori Now subscriber library with the current pack and all the past monthly packs if you subscribe to the Living Montessori Now weekly newsletter!

Free Summer Printables and Montessori-Inspired Summer Activities

If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout June and July, see my June Themed Activities for Kids and my July Themed Activities for Kids. 

I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Deb - Signature

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