X Marks the Spot: Classroom Map Hide-and-Find

In pairs, one student hides a beanbag in the classroom or a small gym and marks its spot with an X on a floor plan; the partner must find it using only the plan. Students practice matching a map to real space and paying attention to detail.

How to play

1. Take 3 minutes to show the floor plan on the board: point out the door, windows and desks, and orient it to the room together.
2. Pair students up and give each pair a floor plan, a pencil and a beanbag. Half the class faces the wall with eyes closed.
3. The other half hides their beanbag (under a chair, by the trash can) and marks an X at the exact spot on the plan within 30 seconds.
4. The seeker gets the plan: finding the beanbag in under 1 minute scores 2 points; taking longer scores 1. Then partners switch. Play 4 rounds (8 minutes).
5. In the last rounds, hide two beanbags, marked X and O.
6. Wrap up for 2 minutes: Which detail on the plan helped you most?

Rules

• Always walk; no running or climbing on desks or chairs.
• No hiding in backpacks, drawers or high places.
• Seekers don't peek; peeking makes the round worth 0 points.
• If the X was in the wrong spot, the point goes to the seeker.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: leave wide aisles between desks and use hiding spots reachable from a wheelchair.
• Low vision: use an enlarged plan with tape outlining walls and door, plus brightly colored beanbags.
• Skill level: students who master the game must hide away from the most obvious furniture.

Learning goals

• Identify the room's fixed features on a floor plan.
• Mark an object's location on the plan accurately.
• Move safely through a small space using a plan.

Equipment for a class of 25

• floor plans: 26
• beanbags: 13
• pencils: 13

Teacher tip

Copy a simple top-down floor plan; this makes a great rainy-day introduction to orienteering. Make sure nobody hides things up high or behind anything unstable.

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