It can be hard to find new ways to engage students, introduce material, and build a cohesive team environment in the classroom.
As teachers, many of us are generally looking for ways to do each of these things, but it can be tough to come up with new ideas and develop new methods, while also grappling with the demands of day-to-day classroom management.
Digital escape rooms are a great pre-made resource for educators that can help achieve these goals and get students excited about lessons. They can be done anywhere, require teamwork, and offer an innovative way to introduce new material to students.
Check out this post for reasons to use digital escape rooms in the middle school classroom: 10 Fantastic Reasons To Use Digital Escape Rooms.
What are Digital Escape Rooms?
Digital escape rooms are exactly what they sound like – an escape room made for online. Students work together in-person or virtually to solve a series of puzzles and unlock the digital space that traps them. Puzzles can range from multiple-choice questions to ciphers, and the goal is to draw on the knowledge of the group to solve them.
Each digital escape room has a theme that sets the stage for the digital adventure and provides topics for the puzzles that need to be solved. Check out this post, Get Creative & Use Digital Escape Rooms in Middle School, to learn how digital escape rooms keep your students having fun while learning.
Some examples of digital escape rooms include this Back to School Digital Escape Room, this Forensic Science Digital Escape Room, and this Space Digital Escape Room.
2 Peas and a Dog designs all digital escape rooms with student engagement in mind. I want your students to love what they are working on while learning something about a designated topic.
5 Reasons Digital Escape Rooms Add Educational Value to the Middle School Classroom
They are inclusive
It can be challenging to get students engaged in lessons, even if it’s a topic they are already interested in. Sometimes they may be working at different levels, and it can be tough to find ways to integrate everyone into the same discussion or lesson.
This is where digital escape rooms can work well for your students.
The puzzles are distinct – one might require someone who has more visual learning skills, while another is better suited to someone who likes codes and ciphers. The information needed to solve the puzzles varies across a chosen theme, and students can rely on the knowledge and strength of the group to find their way through.
Students working at all levels can be part of the team and work together to help secure the digital escape, which is essential for classroom cohesion and for helping build a team environment where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. Students get to practice teamwork while learning about a topic in a creative way.
They are a great way to introduce new material or reinforce a lesson
It may be challenging to spark students’ interest in new material. There’s a lot to learn when covering new topics – there can be a new vocabulary, new timelines, and new concepts that some students may struggle with.
Introducing new material through a digital escape room, for example, with this Poetry Digital Escape Room, is a great way to get students thinking about new ideas. By allowing them to work through the themed puzzles, they can think about the topic and learn creatively.
The goal is for students to engage with the material and stay excited about solving each puzzle until they ultimately free themselves from the digital space that traps them.
Digital escape rooms also work well for reinforcing lessons and concepts. For example, during middle school science lessons, students can take a break from traditional learning and explore this Grade 6 Flight Digital Escape Room, or this Grade 7 Heat in the Environment Digital Escape Room, to reinforce what they have learned.
Digital escape rooms promote critical thinking skills
To solve the puzzles in each escape room, students must use their critical thinking skills. As with any activity, some answers will come more easily than others. Students will need to think about what they have learned and apply it to the questions and puzzles before them.
As a group, they will have to use reason and logic to find the best possible answer to unlock the puzzle. There are times when they might think they have the answer, but just one letter or component is not correct. It will generally take discussion, careful thought, and attention to detail to go over each part of the answer to find out what might be wrong.
Digital escape rooms help students develop their problem-solving skills, as well as their teamwork skills. Working in a group where students must communicate effectively and respectfully helps lay a positive foundation for classroom communication.
They are a creative break from regular lessons
Everyone needs to try something different sometimes. Teachers and students can both be energized by trying new activities and methods of learning in the classroom. Digital escape rooms are a perfect tool for that.
By giving students a creative space where they can solve puzzles, learn, and have some fun, teachers can create an environment that aims to maximize student learning and enjoyment.
Digital escape rooms can be offered as a reward for good classroom behaviour and can also make a fun end-of-the-week or end-of-the-day activity. Students will look forward to being able to try a new escape room, and it can excite them about new topics and material.
Since all 2 Peas and a Dog digital escape rooms are no-prep, teachers can also reclaim some of their own precious classroom time to catch up on marking or other duties while students work on puzzles.
They can be great conversation starters
As students work their way through each escape puzzle, they will have to discuss options for each answer. Students will have to weigh the possibilities, use logic and factual arguments to make a case for specific answers, and ultimately find a resolution within the group.
Digital escape rooms provide students with an excellent opportunity for discussion, delving deeper into the material they are studying, which can also provide teachers with starting points for discussion after the escape room is complete.
Students can share what they like about the activities and questions, and what they found challenging. There can be engaging discussions around what facts may have surprised students during the escape rooms, and follow-ups about topics they may want to learn more about.
Full Year Digital Escape Room Bundle
This Full Year Digital Escape Room Bundle 2 is designed for middle school students to help reinforce their critical thinking and literacy skills. Transform your classroom with these 11 engaging and customizable digital escape rooms and watch students immerse themselves in the challenges as they collaborate with their peers to solve the mysteries and “escape” from various rooms.
By incorporating these digital escape rooms into your curriculum, you can encourage a sense of community through cooperative learning, while also promoting social-emotional development for your 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students.
Each escape room provides students with an interactive experience for 30 to 60 minutes, delivering both educational content and thrilling entertainment.
Overview:
- 11 Digital Escape Rooms: Explore captivating themes, such as Fake News, Movie Night, Book, Poetry, Canada, New Year’s, Snow, Winter Sports, Earth Day, Thanksgiving, and Pet-Themed. Each room promises an unforgettable experience for your students.
- Detailed Teacher Directions: Easy-to-follow instructions are provided in both text and video formats, ensuring you have everything you need to guide your students through each escape room adventure seamlessly.
- Answer Keys: Access the answers to every challenge, allowing you to assess your students’ progress and provide valuable feedback.
- Student Instructions: Clearly outlined instructions to help your students dive into the escape rooms confidently, ensuring they get the most out of their immersive learning experience.
Topics:
- Fake News
- Movie Night
- Book
- Poetry
- Canada
- New Year’s
- Snow
- Winter Sports
- Earth Day
- Thanksgiving
- Pet-Themed
What Teachers Are Saying About This Bundle:
“The Escape Room activity was a blast! It turned learning into an adventure and kept my students engaged from start to finish. The puzzles were challenging yet achievable, promoting teamwork and critical thinking skills. Highly recommend for a thrilling educational experience!” – Shannon P.
“My students love these escape rooms. They are French-speaking ESL students. They love problem-solving and work in teams to mobilize interaction in English. I love them as they are easy to put on Google Classroom. They can complement an activity or theme, and they are great fillers. I would buy more.” – Diane B.
How To Use Digital Escape Rooms Without a School Google Account
2 Peas and a Dog digital escape rooms are created using Google Forms. Your students do not need a Google account to play these types of digital escape rooms. This blog post, How to Easily Use Digital Escape Rooms Without a School Google Account, can provide you with information on how to navigate this challenge.
To see all 2 Peas and a Dog digital escape rooms, check out Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
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