Students at Coronado High School were recently treated to an unusual and exciting challenge: a campus-wide scavenger hunt featuring tiny baby figurines hidden throughout the school. Organized by Ms. Quigley, Spanish teacher, with help from Mr. Ottmer, Outdoor Science and Anatomy teacher, the two hid tiny baby dolls around the school, an event inspired by the Celebration of Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day.
The activity aimed to engage students in a hands-on, interactive experience, while bringing some fun and creativity into the school day. The event, which started when students returned from break, runs through January 30th and involved carefully hiding small baby figurines around the school, with students tasked to find them and report their discoveries. Whoever found a figurine was asked to answer a trivia question and would receive a small prize. The activity was designed to give students a fun, hands-on challenge that sparked curiosity and engagement, especially in Spanish classes.
Epiphany falls on or around January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas, which celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the infant Jesus, and is observed in many Spanish-speaking countries and throughout parts of Europe. One of the more recognizable traditions associated with the holiday is the “King’s Cake,” which contains a small figurine of baby Jesus hidden inside.
The traditions vary by region, but many families who celebrate Epiphany exchange gifts on that day instead of on Christmas. Ms. Quigley explained that “part of learning a language is learning about the culture.” She wanted to give small gifts, similar to the tradition of exchanging presents on Epiphany, and used the scavenger hunt to make the experience fun and engaging for students. Genevieve Speer, Class of 2027, shared that the scavenger hunt “helped [her] understand the culture more” and sparked greater interest in Ms. Quigley’s class.
Organizing the scavenger hunt required careful planning, like mapping out hiding spots to ensure that the game was both safe and engaging. Ms. Quigley coordinated this by herself, explaining that it was designed to help her connect with students while making learning more engaging. She shared that her goal was to “meet some new students who are not necessarily in my classes, since I am new to Coronado, while also engaging my students in a fun activity related to what we are learning about in class.”
The scavenger hunt officially began earlier this month and was scheduled to run for several days, giving students plenty of time to search. All babies were required to be hidden by Friday, January 9th, ensuring that the hunt could unfold smoothly. Mr. Ottmer played a key role by hiding many of the babies in the Tech. Building. He explained that “the goal was to hide them in a way that made them challenging to find but not impossible.” According to Mr. Ottmer, he placed them in tricky but accessible places, avoiding placing them on the floor or too high up so all students could participate.
The scavenger hunt format proved to be popular among students. Mr. Ottmer stated that “it gives students something exciting and different to try…Hands-on activities like this break up the routine of the classroom, helping students feel more interested and involved in what they’re learning.” By combining problem-solving with movement and exploration, the scavenger hunt provided both a physical and mental challenge, allowing students to learn through experience rather than through traditional lectures or worksheets. This type of activity demonstrates the creative ways educators can motivate students while building community within the school.
By turning the entire campus into a playful and interactive learning environment, Ms. Quigley created an experience that students are sure to remember. The tiny babies may be small, but the impact of the scavenger hunt is large and was more than just a search for tiny toys; it was a celebration of curiosity, engagement, and the joy of learning in unexpected ways. Whether students were tracking down hidden babies in hallways or reporting their discoveries to Ms. Quigley, the activity offered a fresh and fun approach to education, reminding everyone that learning can be as playful as it is meaningful.
