Break Out of the Traditional Lesson Plan with #BreakoutEDU

As teachers we all wish for the lesson plan that...

• Gets students out of their seats
• Has them motivated & engaged with the content
• Promotes collaboration
• Allows me to become a facilitator instead of a lecturer
• Values the learning process as much as the learning objective

That lesson is here, and in this post I am going to encourage teachers of all levels, and content areas to try one #BreakoutEDU this year. 

What is #BreakoutEDU?   

Breakout EDU is a teacher-created, clues-based, content-driven scavenger hunt.  

Students use critical thinking and collaboration to open a locked box (or two!).  To get the keys/codes they must correctly solve a series of challenging puzzles.

While www.breakoutedu.com  sells a kit with locks and a box for $100, you can easily create your own kit for under $50.  The best part... There are already some in the district that you can borrow!  Here is my DIY kit that I put together this summer.

My kit has a toolbox, several key/combination locks, a lock box, invisible ink pens and a black light flashlight.  You are more than welcome to borrow it at any time.

So how did I set it up?

I got the framework for my scavenger hunt off www.breakoutedu.com/games*.  Mine was called "The Mystery Box".  The teacher who posted it had all the instructions ready for download, and a short video displaying how to set it up. From there, I adapted it to fit our needs by personalizing the story and creating clues with meaningful content.  Our story about the box was very simplistic.  As it was the first day of school, I created a story with pictures of how our principal found this box in a closet over the summer.  It came with instructions on how to open it, but they were all in Spanish... etc etc.

Each of my classes raced to figure out how to open the box.  It was a competition to see who could open it first.  One class did it the first day, and the other had to brainstorm about the clues overnight and attempt to find the codes again the next day.  

My students were required to reflect on the game in an "Exit-Ticket" fashion.  (#BreakoutEDU suggests oral "Discussion Cards") Both of these practices allow the students to evaluate their performance regarding collaboration and critical thinking, adding closure to the lesson.

So you ask .. "Hey Coach, Where is the Tech?"   

Adding technology to a scavenger hunt such as #BreakoutEDU facilitates & adds variety in design and implementation.  

The Mystery Box involved:

• hidden QR codes that the students scanned for clues
• the use of the Internet for research to answer clues
• a Google Form with data validation 
• With data validation, students HAD to get all answers correct before the form would allow them to submit. The response for a form submission gave them a hint to unlock the box.  Look for next week's post on Google Forms to learn more.

Several SMASD teachers have already executed a #BreakoutEDU like HS Algebra teacher, Mrs. Beck and the Elementary teachers in Tech ShowCase Display #12 .  Mrs. Gornati also plans to have a Thanksgiving Day Breakout this fall.  

Are you ready to earn your #BreakoutEDU badge?  

1. Go to www.breakoutedu.com/games.

2. Search for a game by content area that you can use as is or adapt.

3. Print out resources & watch the tutorial.

OR ...   Say  "Hey Coach!  I want to do a #BreakoutEDU"  and we will help you along the way!

*You may encounter that you need a password to search for games.  You can register on the site for free to get it, or I can email the password to you.  I didn't want to post it here, as they want to keep it away from the students who could find the clues and ruin the fun!

Are you one of the teachers already Breaking Out?  

Tell us about it in the comments below and don't forget to get the badge!