If you’re thinking about incorporating an escape room lesson into your classroom, you might be wondering how to get started. While creating an escape room can take some time and planning, the end result is an unforgettable experience for your students. To save time and streamline the process, you can use templates or pre-made escape room kits.
There are different types of educational escape rooms:
- With boxes and padlocks – see here on BreakoutEDU
- Digital only -also on BreakoutEDU
- Digital + paper puzzles – my method. Each group of students needs a computer / tablet. Try out a mini escape room that should take about 10-15 minutes: Find Bigfoot (this version is digital only, but the included documents could be printed for a mixed media version)
If you’re considering creating an escape room lesson for your classroom, the digital + paper method is a cost-effective and flexible option. This method uses a combination of online puzzles and activities, as well as traditional hands-on tasks such as code wheels and jigsaw puzzles.
One of the benefits of the digital + paper method is that it’s free, unlike purchasing a BreakoutEDU set which can be quite expensive at $150. Additionally, this method allows for multiple small groups to play at the same time, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate in all of the puzzles. The digital “locks” also automatically check for correct answers, making it easy to track progress and even award prizes to the fastest team.
Overall, the digital + paper method is a great way to create a well-rounded escape room experience that combines the convenience and interactive nature of online puzzles with the tactile enjoyment of hands-on tasks.
Escape Rooms in Lessons 