Government Scavenger Hunt
Suggested Grades Levels: 3-6, K-2 with adaptations
Overview:
This activity allows students to become familiar with the federal, state, and local levels
of government. Students will use the telephone book as a resource in a government
scavenger hunt game.
Purpose/Objectives:
 To expose students to various governmental agencies at the federal, state, and
national levels.
 To introduce the concept of federalism.
 To familiarize students with the Tenth Amendment.
The Tenth Amendment (Amendment X) to the United States Constitution, which is
part of the Bill of Rights, was ratified on December 15, 1791.[1] The Tenth Amendment
restates the Constitution's principle of federalism by providing that powers not granted
to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution of the United
States are reserved to the states or the people.
The Tenth Amendment makes explicit the idea that the federal government is limited
only to the powers granted in the Constitution. "Each state retains its sovereignty,
freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by
this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled."
Other powers are reserved to the States, or to the people.
Materials & Preparation:
 Telephone books for groups of students.
 “Government Scavenger Hunt” worksheet for students
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Methods:
1. READ – Go over the Tenth Amendment with students and explain what the
amendment means.
2. GROUPS – Divide class into small groups of 3-5 students. Each group should
have a telephone book with full government pages and “Government Scavenger
Hunt” worksheets for each student.
3. ASSIGN – Assign students to complete scavenger hunt worksheets working
together in their groups.
4. DISCUSS – When scavenger hunts are completed, the folowing questions can
be used to guide discussion.
I.
Were you surprised there are so many government agencies? Was there
any agency that you were especially surprised to see listed?
II.
What types of things does the federal government seem to deal with?
The state government? The local government?
III. Why do we have so many different levels of government? How would
this help protect individual freedom? (Introduce the term federalism.)
IV. Why is the Tenth Amendment important?
Government Scavenger Hunt
Name: _____________________________
Write the name of the agency, department, and
phone number for each of the following. Be ready
to tell if the agency was part of the Local (City
and County), State, or Federal government.
 An agency you could call to report poisoned
cottage cheese.
 A number you could call to find out how your
parents could adopt a brother or sister for you.
 Where you might call to find out how to get a
library card.
 Who could tell you how high you may build a
fence in your yard.
 An agency that could tell you where the nearest
homeless shelter is.
 An agency that could send you a film about lung
cancer.
 Where you could call to get you street lights
repaired.
 Who could tell you how to become a mail carrier
 Who you would call to help you get a lawyer if you
could not afford one.
 Who could tell you what kind of chemicals are
required in a public swimming pool.
 An agency that could tell you how to become a
United States citizen.
 Four agencies at the local level no one in your
group has ever heard of.
 Four agencies at the state level no on in your
group has ever heard of.
 Four agencies at the federal level no one in your
group has ever heard of
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Government Scavenger Hunt
Name: _____________________________
Write the name of the agency, department, and
phone number for each of the following. Be ready
to tell if the agency was part of the Local (City
and County), State, or Federal government.
 An agency you could call to report poisoned
cottage cheese.
 A number you could call to find out how your
parents could adopt a brother or sister for you.
 Where you might call to find out how to get a
library card.
 Who could tell you how high you may build a
fence in your yard.
 An agency that could tell you where the nearest
homeless shelter is.
 An agency that could send you a film about lung
cancer.
 Where you could call to get you street lights
repaired.
 Who could tell you how to become a mail carrier
 Who you would call to help you get a lawyer if you
could not afford one.
 Who could tell you what kind of chemicals are
required in a public swimming pool.
 An agency that could tell you how to become a
United States citizen.
 Four agencies at the local level no one in your
group has ever heard of.
 Four agencies at the state level no on in your
group has ever heard of.
 Four agencies at the federal level no one in your
group has ever heard of