Escape the Room-Thirteen Colonies

Bring the new Escape Room game trend into your Science classroom! No locks and expensive supplies needed!

The game can be played in either an escape room style or Amazing Race style. You may see as you play that you may want to adjust it to what fits the needs of your classroom. The students should be set up in groups. The game pieces included can play up to any number groups. Each group will receive the same supplies. The teacher will be the “gamemaster.” The students will receive a set of tasks. Once each task is completed and correct, they will receive a clue to solve the final puzzle. Once all clues are collected, they can begin working on the final task. When they think they have the task completed and correct, they bring the task to the teacher and receive the final piece to break the code.

In the game, the students will be using their knowledge of the thirteen colonies to help Scotty decide which of the colonies he should settle into based on the clues collected throughout the game.

Included in file:

• Teacher instructions

• Blackline masters for game

• Student task documents

Learning Targets:

• Students will be able to describe the political, social, and economic organization and structure of the thirteen British colonies that became the United States.

• Students will describe in which location and environment influenced the settlements and the land use in colonial America.

• Students will identify the natural resources used by the people in the US.

• Students will cite evidence of the economic motivations for European exploration and settlement.

Activity Options:

• Can be used in any number of small groups. I recommend 3-4 students per group.

• Can be done as an escape style game or an amazing race style of game.

• Can be used as a review once content has been taught.

Supplies Needed:

• Large brown clasp envelopes or manilla folders (amount depends of number of groups you choose)

• Mailing envelopes (amount depends of number of groups you choose)

• Copies of game blackline masters

• Solid box or container to put final task in (optional)

• Locks to seal container (optional)

• Computers (one per group) If computers are not available, you can have students research some pre-printed articles or maybe even their notes to find the answers.

• Large timer that all students can see.

• Red and blue colors, glue stick, and scissors (one set per group)

Students need to know the following content before playing:

• Should know the locations of all of the thirteen colonies on a map.

• Should be familiar with the economic, political, and social structures of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.

• Should be familiar with natural resources found in each of the colonies.

• Should be familiar with citing evidence to explain an answer.