Escape the Traditional
With BreakoutEDU
Bring Excitement Back to the Classroom
Why Should You Escape the Traditional?
How Does BreakoutEDU Work?
What types of games can I play with my students?
Games are designed for either whole group or small group experiences. You can play "mini" games which only take about 20 minutes, or you can play the full games which take 45 minutes. Some games are designed where the game splits into smaller groups, but then come back together as a large group to solve the last puzzle. Some games work where groups of students work to solve one of the locks on the large box. There are so many possibilities that you can make this work for any class!
Do I Have to Create My Own Games?
There are two types of games that you can use and they can all be found at www.breakoutedu.com/games:
- Published Games: These are on the two main game pages on the site. These games have been tested in multiple classrooms and are ready to go in your room. They'll have a nice picture to go along with them on the site, a short description, the group size and subject, as well as the game designers name in case you need to get in touch with them.
- Sandbox Games: These games are ones that have been submitted by teachers like you but have not been completely vetted by the BreakoutEDU community yet. There are two ways to find the sandbox games. From the the Games page linked above, click "Search Games". On the next page you can use a filtered search by clicking on the top link, "Search All Shared Games", or you can browse a massive Google Drive Folder by clicking "Browse Sandbox Game Folders". This second option has a folder for locks information, professional development resources, as well as a folder for mini games. Check them all out!
CAN I Create My Own Games?
- BreakoutEDU Game Template - This is what you will submit to BreakoutEDU
- BreakoutEDU Game Brainstorm
What Do I Need to Run a Breakout Game?
What Comes in a Breakout Kit?
Tips for Success
LAMINATE EVERYTHING! You may have to run this game with multiple groups of students, and you are more than likely going to want to run it again in the future. By laminating the materials, students can write on them with dry or wet erase markers over and over again. *I have found Expo markers don’t come off of lamination as easily as you would think. I have found it better with the Vis-a-Vis wet erase markers.
Label clues with a BreakoutEDU sticker or something similar so that students know the clue is a part of the game. You want students’ time spent working with the clues, not necessarily searching the entire time. However, I typically make at least one clue harder to find since this also gets students thinking and problem solving.
Since I always have multiple groups playing at the same time, I have a set of clues for each group. So that each group knows what clues belong to them, I put a colored dot in the top corner of the clues. Students are instructed to only take clues to their team table that have their team color on them.
Speaking of a team table: Make sure you have designated a place in your room for each group that is playing. Instruct students to bring all clues to the team table and keep them there.
Have your Hint Cards printed. I typically give each group 2 hint cards for a game. Colored hint cards can be found in the Files section of the BreakoutEDU Facebook group.
Consider sending home a review sheet of any skills that will be included in a game the night before. This ensures the students will have had some recent exposure.
Know the game! You will more than likely give hints during the game. Be sure you understand each part of the game so that you can give appropriate hints.
Understand that sometimes students get lucky and solve a lock before they’ve actually found or solved the clue. For example, I have had groups figure out the word lock just by guessing based on the theme of the game. Or, I’ve had groups find the hidden key for the key lock before they’ve solved the clue on where to look for it. When they get to the clue for that lock, I have to let them keep working, even though I know they don’t need that clue any more.
Be prepared to watch your students struggle. It is imperative to remain detached from the game and offer no help without a hint card. This is the hardest part for me!
DO NOT FORGET TO RECORD LOCK COMBINATIONS!! There is a “Combination Record Sheet” included in this packet. As soon as, or even before, you begin resetting locks for your game record the new combinations on this sheet. This ensures that there is a current record of the lock combinations in case you forget. If a combination is forgotten and not recorded, that lock can no longer be used.
Instruct students to not close locks once they have been removed, especially the directional locks. By keeping the locks open once they're off, it's easier to reset and you don't have to remember the combinations.
Kids love candy and prizes. It’s probably a good idea to have at least a little something in the final lock box. This doesn’t have to cost money. Consider homework passes, iPad time, eat or drink in class, etc.
DON’T SKIP THE DEBRIEF!! I have included some debrief questions in the Google Presentation mentioned above. There is also an Exit Ticket that you can copy and give to your students. This part is just as important as the game itself. This gets the students to reflect on their learning and their behaviors, and develop strategies for the next time they play.
Print signs for an "after photo". There are lots of signs that your students can pose with based on whether they "broke out" or not. Take a snapshot of them with the signs and post to your class website.
Resources for You
- Join the BreakoutEDU Facebook Group! Everyone here is completely amazing, quick to answer any questions, and share lots of goodies! Be sure to check out the "Files" section once you're joined the group.
- Want some really out of the box ideas for clues? Check out Pinterest!!
- How to run a game with only one kit. (I did not create this, so can take no credit!! Unfortunately, this person didn't put their name on it, so I can't give them credit.)
- Breakout Information for Students - This presentation is based on how I typically run my games. Feel free to make a copy and tweak to fit your needs.
- Combination Management Sheet (Found in the FB group)
- BreakoutEDU Resource Sheet - I put this together for teachers who are interested in brining BreakoutEDU to their classrooms. There's links and suggestions here.
Prepared by Lauren Boucher
Twitter: @BoucherLauren