Where’s The Hero?

Alyssa Walker

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Hero Hunt Plan

Engage Pre-K learners in an active treasure hunt to discover hidden story heroes around the classroom, practice identifying characters, and sequence simple plot ideas through movement, imaginative play, and sharing.

Early storytelling builds language, creativity, and comprehension. This playful hunt teaches character traits and plot basics while developing listening, speaking, and cooperative skills in a Tier 1 classroom setting.

Audience

Pre-K Class

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive movement-based hunt with storytelling share.

Materials

Hidden Heroes Slides, - Hero Pose Warm-Up, - Find-the-Hero Hunt, - Hero Story Share, - Hero Character Cards (Printed And Cut), and - Stickers Or Positional Markers

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Print and cut out a set of 8–10 hero character cards, each showing a distinct story hero.
Hide the hero cards around the room at child level, ensuring a variety of easy and slightly challenging spots.
Set up the projector or tablet with Hidden Heroes Slides.
Gather stickers or positional markers and place them near the hiding areas for children to mark found heroes.
Familiarize yourself with the flow of Hero Pose Warm-Up, Find-the-Hero Hunt, and Hero Story Share.

Step 1

Hero Pose Warm-Up

5 minutes

Invite children to stand in a circle and demonstrate a strong “hero pose” (feet apart, hands on hips).
Cue the class to freeze in their pose while you name different emotions or character traits (brave, curious, silly).
Encourage kids to change their pose to match each new trait.

Step 2

Introduction With Slides

3 minutes

Display Hidden Heroes Slides and point out that heroes love to hide.
Briefly explain that each hero has a simple story idea (who they are, what they do).
Tell students they will go on a hunt to find these hidden heroes and bring them back to share.

Step 3

Find-the-Hero Hunt

15 minutes

Give each child (or pair) a sticker to place on the slide or chart when they find a hero.
Send children in small groups to search the room for hero cards.
As a child finds a hero, help them read or describe the picture if needed.
Ask them to stick a marker on a class chart or slide thumbnail to show which hero they found.

Step 4

Hero Story Share

5 minutes

Gather children back in a circle with their found hero card.
Invite volunteers to stand, hold up their hero, and tell one thing about them (name and action).
Prompt peers to applaud or give thumbs-up for each story contribution.

Step 5

Cool-Down & Reflection

2 minutes

Lead a brief breathing or stretching activity to settle down after the hunt.
Ask: “Which hero did you like best, and why?”
Highlight one or two strong responses to reinforce listening and speaking skills.

Slide Deck

Where’s the Hero?

Let’s go on a treasure hunt to find hidden story heroes!
Put on your explorer hats and let’s start!

Welcome the children with excitement! Say: “Today we’re treasure hunters on the lookout for amazing story heroes hiding around our room. Are you ready?” Show the bright, sunny background in their favorite yellow and orange colors to set an adventurous mood. Get kids to wiggle their bodies and clap before we start.

How to Hunt

• Walk safely around the room.
• Look carefully for hidden hero cards at child level.
• When you find one, bring it back and place a sticker on our chart.

Explain each step slowly using big gestures. Point to the floor, the walls, and the chart area. Encourage whisper voices and gentle walking. Say: “Walk like a sneaky detective. Look low and look high! When you spot a hero, bring it back here and stick your sticker on our chart.”

Our Hero Chart

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Show them the empty boxes matching how many heroes there are (8 total). Invite a volunteer to come up, pick a sticker, and place it in an empty box after finding a hero. Use bright star-shaped stickers to keep them excited.

Heroes to Find

👤 👤 👤 👤
👤 👤 👤 👤

Point to each silhouette and ask: “What do you think this hero might look like? What powers do they have?” Encourage fun guesses (“Maybe a super chef hero!”). Remind kids these shapes match the hidden cards in the room.

Warm Up

Warm-Up: Hero Pose Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Invite children to stand in a circle and strike a strong “hero pose” (feet apart, hands on hips).
Explain that heroes show different character traits. Call out one trait at a time (e.g., brave, curious, silly, kind).
Ask children to change their pose and facial expression to match each trait and freeze like a statue.
Encourage them to use big gestures and voices to show each trait (“I’m brave!”).
Repeat with 4–5 different traits, celebrating each child’s creativity with a round of applause.

Activity

Activity: Find-the-Hero Hunt (15 minutes)

Split children into pairs or small groups of 2–3 so everyone can move safely.
Give each group a bright sticker (or a small basket) and remind them:
• Walk quietly like a treasure hunter.
• Look low and high, behind books and under tables.
• When you spot a hero card, please pick it up gently.
Have the group bring the hero card back to the “Hero Chart” area:
1. Show your hero to the teacher or a helper and say the hero’s name (or describe what you see).
2. Find the matching empty box on Hidden Heroes Slides or on our chart paper.
3. Place your sticker in that box to mark your discovery.
After sticking, return the hero card to its hiding place for the next group to find.
Continue hunting until all heroes are found or time is up.
Circulate to support reading of names and to encourage quiet, safe movement around the room.