I am a HUGE fan of using escape rooms in the classroom. It’s one of the things my students look forward to the most! So when the world went digital, I knew that I needed a way to continue to use escape rooms in my virtual classroom! Since I started teaching virtually, I’ve found 4 ways that digital escape rooms can be used in the classroom. Keep reading to find out what they are!
As a whole group activity
When using a digital escape room, you can easily share your screen with students and work through the clues together! In a virtual classroom, students can use sites like whiteboard.fi or Classkick to work out the questions from each clue. In a regular classrooms, students can hold up individual whiteboards to show the answer they have found.
Using digital escape rooms as a whole group activity is a great way to introduce students to the way escape rooms work! This way, you are able to model how to think through clues and to get in a whole class review on a topic.
In small group instruction
Small group instruction is a great way to check in on student progress and to practice skills. Often, it can get a little repetitive or it can be difficult to find ideas of what to do in these groups. Why not try an escape room?
Digital escape rooms are perfect for small groups in a virtual classroom. You can use them in a similar way that you do in whole group instruction. But now you can check in with students more easily!
If you are teaching in person, using a digital escape room on individual student devices is another great idea! Have students bring their devices to your small group table and work on their escape rooms with your assistance.
As a math center
Sometimes it feels like we never have enough time for the “fun” math stuff! But what about math centers? Students love centers but it can get tedious prepping them all. Try having your students complete a digital escape room during their center time instead!
The beautiful thing about using an escape room as a center is that it can be done in almost any setting! As long as your students have devices, they can complete an escape room center at home or in the brick and mortar classroom.
In virtual breakout rooms
I think that the coolest part of virtual classrooms is that we can use breakout rooms! One of things I miss the most about the brick and mortar classroom is groups of students collaborating without my help. Luckily, breakout rooms allows us to do that!
To use a digital escape room in a breakout room, share a separate copy of the escape room to each group of students. Then put them into their breakout rooms and watch the magic happen!
Now that you have some ways to use escape rooms in your classroom, all you need it some ready-made digital escape rooms! Click the images below to grab an escape room that is perfect for this time of year!
Don’t need a Thanksgiving escape room, but looking for a different holiday? I’ve created escape rooms for almost all major holidays! Click the image below to find more.
