Thomas Jefferson GooseChase: Engaging Scavenger Hunt Challenges

In a classroom with many different learning styles and needs, GooseChase is one of the most exciting, engaging ways to differentiate for all students. They are able to choose from 30 missions with different difficulty levels and point values to compete in a digital scavenger hunt related to the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Students submit their completed tasks by taking pictures or videos through the GooseChase app on a mobile phone.

Challenges are related to:

Election of 1800

Marbury v. Madison

Barbary States and the Embargo of 1807

Louisiana Purchase

Lewis and Clark Expedition

With this activity, students have so much fun, they forget they are working hard! Some of the challenges include finding modern court cases where the Supreme Court used their power of judicial review, creating a merchant protest chant for the Embarbo Act, and recording Napoleon explaining why he chose to sell the Louisiana Territory. Students may also choose to have a video of ESPN covering the Hamilton Burr Duel, or creating a newspaper article about the duel. They can choose to use their technology skills to create a tour using Google Tour Builder of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. With 30 different challenges to choose from, the needs of all students will be met. And they definitely get excited for the competition.

Included with this product:
* Detailed instructions for how to sign up for a free teacher account on GooseChase, create a game, and run the game with your students.
* 30 missions that you can choose from when creating your game.
* Clear student directions for signing into and participating in the game.

GooseChase offers a free account that allows you to run one game at a time with five teams. There is also an option to purchase an educator's account which allows you to run numerous games at once with more teams.

GooseChase is one of the my students' favorite activities. I have used it in the classroom to review material as well as a way for students to learn new information. We have also used GooseChase during class field trips. My principal has even used GooseChase for staff development. I cannot recommend any program more than GooseChase; it is definitely a staff and student favorite! A teacher who purchased a different GooseChase product even commented, "Wow!! What have I been missing with this website/app?? This activity led me to discover a new platform I can integrate into my classroom!"

However, although this scavenger hunt has been designed for GooseChase, it could be very easily used without using the program. You could choose to have the students submit the assignments directly to you, instead of through the application.

Created by Harper's History