ESCAPE! Using MATH
We will be using the Escape Room concept to build our problem-solving skills with math games, puzzles, and riddles to both create and solve “Escape Rooms” during the year.
An escape room is an adventure game in which players are ‘locked in a room’ (real or imagined) and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles and escape within a set time limit. The rooms we will create will be inside shoe boxes or something similar.
The class will divide into pairs to create an escape room in a box.
Each team will spend the first term collecting puzzles, riddles and games and creating an ‘escape room box’ with the following elements:
1)You need to choose a theme—checking out movie trailers can be very helpful and can even be used to start your game (e.g. Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future Matrix) or just ideas of things to escape… desert island, jail cell, caves, maze… )
2)Create a story to go with your theme that will lead to 4 challenges (puzzles, riddles....)...your story should be obvious as soon as someone open's your box.
3)Create a themed shoe box (or similar) to be "unlocked" for your “room”-- BE CREATIVE --- decorate the inside and outside of your box.
4)The 4 challenges need to satisfy 4 different types of "locks". Choose these first so that you can create appropriate puzzles to use. These headings for each "lock" should be written on 4 envelopes.
a) a numerical combination lock with 4 digits
b) an alpha combination lock with 3 letters
c) a directional lock with unlimited N, S, E, W options
d) a key lock with a clue to find the location of a "key"
5)Locks unlock “clues” to lead to the next one—create a chain of discovery. Each new clue should be inside an appropriately marked envelope. Teams will unlock each envelope by figuring out the previous problem... they need to check with Heather to see if they are correct (have successfully unlocked the lock) and ready to move on to the next phase (envelope clue). The answer set should be given to Heather in an envelope with your Team Name on it.
6)The last puzzle should allow the team to find the ultimate “prize” and escape
Escape Room Sites for Tips & Ideas:
http://blog.nowescape.com/101-best-puzzle-ideas-for-escape-rooms/
http://www.realityisagame.com/archives/3109/tips-on-designing-room-escape-games/
http://www.queencityescape.com/top-20-puzzle-ideas/
Math Puzzle & Riddle Sites:
http://www.puzzle.dse.nl/index_us.html
https://www.mathsisfun.com/puzzles/
http://brainden.com/puzzles-riddles.htm
+ Lots of books, cards and games in the classroom
We will be using the Escape Room concept to build our problem-solving skills with math games, puzzles, and riddles to both create and solve “Escape Rooms” during the year.
An escape room is an adventure game in which players are ‘locked in a room’ (real or imagined) and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles and escape within a set time limit. The rooms we will create will be inside shoe boxes or something similar.
The class will divide into pairs to create an escape room in a box.
Each team will spend the first term collecting puzzles, riddles and games and creating an ‘escape room box’ with the following elements:
1)You need to choose a theme—checking out movie trailers can be very helpful and can even be used to start your game (e.g. Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future Matrix) or just ideas of things to escape… desert island, jail cell, caves, maze… )
2)Create a story to go with your theme that will lead to 4 challenges (puzzles, riddles....)...your story should be obvious as soon as someone open's your box.
3)Create a themed shoe box (or similar) to be "unlocked" for your “room”-- BE CREATIVE --- decorate the inside and outside of your box.
4)The 4 challenges need to satisfy 4 different types of "locks". Choose these first so that you can create appropriate puzzles to use. These headings for each "lock" should be written on 4 envelopes.
a) a numerical combination lock with 4 digits
b) an alpha combination lock with 3 letters
c) a directional lock with unlimited N, S, E, W options
d) a key lock with a clue to find the location of a "key"
5)Locks unlock “clues” to lead to the next one—create a chain of discovery. Each new clue should be inside an appropriately marked envelope. Teams will unlock each envelope by figuring out the previous problem... they need to check with Heather to see if they are correct (have successfully unlocked the lock) and ready to move on to the next phase (envelope clue). The answer set should be given to Heather in an envelope with your Team Name on it.
6)The last puzzle should allow the team to find the ultimate “prize” and escape
Escape Room Sites for Tips & Ideas:
http://blog.nowescape.com/101-best-puzzle-ideas-for-escape-rooms/
http://www.realityisagame.com/archives/3109/tips-on-designing-room-escape-games/
http://www.queencityescape.com/top-20-puzzle-ideas/
Math Puzzle & Riddle Sites:
http://www.puzzle.dse.nl/index_us.html
https://www.mathsisfun.com/puzzles/
http://brainden.com/puzzles-riddles.htm
+ Lots of books, cards and games in the classroom