Escape rooms have become a popular trend in recent years, providing a fun and exciting challenge for individuals or groups to solve a series of puzzles and riddles in order to "escape" a themed room. This concept can easily be adapted for the classroom, providing students with a fun and engaging way to learn and practice a variety of skills.
Here are five simple rules to follow when creating an escape room activity for your classroom:
Set a clear goal and theme for the escape room. The goal should be related to the subject matter being taught, and the theme can be anything from a historical period to a fictional world. This will help students get excited and engaged in the activity. Always use a context for the game and let them know what their role and tasks are before they start.
Create a series of puzzles and riddles that students must solve in order to progress through the escape room. These can be related to the subject matter being taught, or they can be more general problem-solving tasks. Make sure to include a variety of different types of puzzles to challenge students of all abilities. Some student favorites are using locks, deciphering secret messages, discovering invisible ink messages or playing online quizzes with clues appearing after they give a correct answer.
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different starting point in the escape room. This will help keep the activity exciting and prevent students from getting frustrated if they get stuck on a particular puzzle. This will require more planning on your side, but it's a great way to involve all the students, especially if you have mixed-ability classes.
Set a time limit for the escape room activity. This will help keep students focused and motivated to solve the puzzles as quickly as possible. You can also provide hints or clues along the way to help students if they get stuck. When giving clues, try to direct them with guiding questions, so that they get to the solution and feel a sense of achievement. No one likes spoilers!
Debrief with students after the escape room activity and distribute certificates. Students love to get a prize for their accomplishments, so make sure you prepare special Escape Room certificates for each of them. You can download some FREE printable examples below. This is also a great time to discuss what they learned and how they can apply their skills in the future.
All in all, creating an escape room activity for your classroom can be a fun and engaging way to help students learn and practice a variety of skills. By following these simple rules, you can create a successful and exciting escape room experience for your students.
Want to become a pro at escape rooms and other game-based learning methods? Check out this teacher training course.
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