Awe! This was the Best Day Ever in 2nd grade and 4th grade!
Our students where introduced to Breakout EDU. Just in case you have never heard of Breakout EDU, it is an immersive game platform for learners of all ages. In Breakout EDU games, players work collaboratively to solve a series of critical thinking puzzles in order to open a locked box within a given time frame. There are multiple "locks" on the box that students have to solve. The "critical thinking puzzles" are tied to content standards too! Breakout EDU games start with an EPIC story :) to hook the learners.
Since we HAD no snow when we did this activity, I thought it was very fitting to do the Let It Snow Breakout EDU. I tweaked the EPIC story to fit our "snow" situation the week before our Christmas break.
The Story...
I can’t believe it hasn’t snowed yet! It is almost Christmas. Unfortunately, there is a “no snow prediction” by the weather men and women for Christmas this year. I LOVE snow! Don’t you? Lucky for you, I have found a way to make snow for us to play and build with inside. I mean it isn’t REAL snow; but it will feed this lack-of-snow feeling. However, I accidentally locked the directions and ingredients in the box, and I really need help getting them out.
Excited!
The students were so excited! The classroom teachers and myself did a little "prep" work before the activity started. In 2nd grade, we hid the clues, and it worked best for us to divide the classroom into 4 sections. We used masking tape to mark out the areas. We told students everything they needed was within their "area." This was so awesome! Students 100% followed this "rule". When they had a question, and the classroom teacher or myself were in a different "area", they would come right up to the edge of their "area" and lean over to ask us a question. In 4th Grade, we were lucky that the media center was available so two teams worked in that space and the other two in the classroom.
Cross Curricular
I have to rewind a year... I got excited about the concept of bringing gamification into the classroom. I came across the Breakout EDU platform and started doing a lot of research. I followed leads on Twitter and saw numerous examples of what people were using for their Breakout EDU boxes. Of course, you can purchase the complete - authentic Breakout EDU box and locks from their website :), but I saw many educators being creative in what they were using for their boxes. This prompted an idea to collaborate with our Industrial Technology Teacher - Mr. Rowan - in hopes that his students could build us some Breakout EDU boxes using the skills they were learning in class. A win-win! The Industrial Technology students made us 5 boxes with scrap wood and hardware. We are fortunate to have a laser machine too! So our boxes are even personalized! So cool! This gave our Industrial Technology students an authentic audience!
4Cs Gallore
Walking around the room and watching the students interact within their groups was amazing. Students were definitely communicating and collaborating, using critical thinking skills and being creative when they looked for clues and the analytical strategies they were tapping into to open those locks. Our 4th grade students had a few different clues to solve than our 2nd graders to cater to their level of learning. Below is just a taste of the engagement happening during the activity.
It Snowed!
All groups of students broke into their boxes in the allotted time. Another excitement factor in the room! They couldn't wait to read the instructions on how to make snow. I will admit! The final product really did look like snow! To have students become mathematicians too, I put measuring utensils in the box that they may or may not have needed and students had to use fractions to get the correct measurements. A bonus! The snow made the room and halls smell quite nice! The ingredients were baking soda and white hair conditioner. Students were given a time span to work together as a team to decide what they wanted to create with their snow. When time was up, the students went on a "Snow Walk" to see the creations of the other teams.
Conclusion
Writing a snow story centered around their snow creation was the final cross-curricular task the students completed in this "learning journey." Due to time limitations this time around, 4th grade did not do the extended literacy piece.
I'm 100% convinced that my co-teachers in the Breakout EDU would definitely do it again. Our students were talking about what they did all day long and those conversations traveled out to the hallways to other students and teachers as well. I highly encourage you to try a Breakout EDU activity in your classroom. You won't regret it!