Clue Trail – Light and Shadow Printable Game

Ready to print and play

Preview the two-page game guide

Download 2-page game guideCheck the preview, printing notes and licence before use.

A familiar game in the Light and Shadow theme

Clue Trail adapts Scavenger Hunt with this cue: Find visible picture clues for shadow puppet screen, torch investigation, sun-shadow playground, light pattern table without moving or collecting them. The printable keeps the rules cooperative, removes elimination and gives educators practical ways to adjust movement and participation.

Set up

• Write or draw one clue on each scrap-paper card, then place the cards in visible, permitted locations within the supervised boundary.
• Check every route and exclude storage, kitchen, bathroom, car-park and out-of-bounds areas.
• Pair or group children and show the return point. Use a find-and-mark format rather than collecting objects.

How to play

1. Teams choose a clue and search together inside the marked area.
2. When they find it, they mark the matching picture or tell an educator—clues stay in place.
3. Teams return for another clue and can offer a non-revealing hint to another group.
4. After 15–20 minutes, or after each team has attempted three clues, call everyone to the return point. Count pencils and clipboards, then collect the clue cards together.

Theme variations

• Before placing the clues, write one action on each card: five quiet marches, three high reaches, one five-count balance or trace a large circle in the air.
• Use a map-and-mark version so children can plan an accessible search route before moving.

Include more ways to join

Use close-range clues, high-contrast pictures, a seated clue station or a photographer/map role. Keep teams together rather than ranking finish times.

Safety check

• Maintain line-of-sight and service supervision requirements.
• Do not hide clues near hazards, private spaces, roads, water or climbing points.
• Do not collect plants, animals, food, personal belongings or unknown objects.

Printing notes

The download is a two-page A4 illustrated guide. Page one contains the core game. Page two includes theme variations, participation options, educator checks and a dashed cut-off quick-reference card that can be kept with the game equipment or laminated.