Hidden Pictures: The Missing Ingredient to Your Classroom Routine

You may remember getting Highlights magazine in the mail as a kid.  I looked forward to opening it up every month even if it was just for the stickers.

Can you find everything in this picture?

Highlights is alive and well.  In fact, they still publish Hidden Pictures.  If you were anything like me, then Where’s Waldo books were your jam while waiting at the dentist office.

Hidden Pictures are the Where’s Waldo of today.  They provide tons of hidden objects for kids to search for in each picture.  

I often wonder who makes these gems because they are very artistic if you ask me.

I have used Hidden Pictures as my morning work for 6 years now and I can honestly say I don’t think I will ever stop doing it.  

The number one reason why: ENGAGEMENT.

My kids stay engaged for 20 minutes while I can take attendance and set things out for our morning learning.

My students work at their table spot and they are allowed to collaborate with their table mates if they get stuck on an object.  This activity starts the FIRST day of kindergarten (or any K-5 grade).  Kids pick up on the objective pretty fast with a little guidance at first.  It also helps to model how to solve one which I have done with the document camera.

 Hidden Pictures are a great way to keep kids focused and engaged but also at ease when they come in each morning.  There are so many available – you will never need to repeat one unless you want to!