I recently trialed out a revision activity inspired by the idea of an escape room. The motivation came from some great ideas seen around on twitter, with the aim to help consolidate the knowledge of my Year 10 GCSE classes. I was really impressed by the impact it had on students and how it worked well at consolidating student's knowledge as well as engaging students in their revision.
Idea:
The "Revision Escape Room” involved students working together, against the clock, to solve a series of activities which draws upon their knowledge of a particular topic. It was inspired by Russel Tarr (see his blog about it here) but tweaked as I had different resources at hand. This activity could easily turn gimmicky and as such I focused on ensuring that subject knowledge and learning remained central to the task. To complete the task students need to draw upon their knowledge of dates, people, and events on a particular topic.
How it works:
Set up:
Create questions that have either dates, events and people as answers. These are then printed onto card and hole punched so that can be tied to the locks. Write the answers on card or attach them to luggage tags (more durable and lasts longer), then attach these to the key corresponding to the correct lock . Add some false plausible answers to make the task harder and to get students to really think about the answers. 4 number combination locks can be used for date questions as students can enter the year of the event to unlock it (they can also be easily reset and therefore reused, WARNING keep track of the numbers used). Place inside a number of boxes a couple of letters from a key word, that you want them to define at the end of the task. Chain up a the boxes with the locks placed around the chains to prevent them opening. You are then ready to start.
Activity:
Once the class had entered the classroom announce to them that they have a certain amount of time to discover the escape word, and be able define it, only then will they be able to leave the classroom (you decide how long the class will need, you know your classes best). Set a timer which is projected on the board to build tension. Explain that the letters of the key world are locked inside the boxes and they must use their knowledge to gain entry to them. Students then spend the time answering the questions on the locks one at a time. They will need to either enter the correct date to the combination lock questions or match the correct answer key to the matching question lock. During the task allow students access to their books so they can use them if they are struggling.
Hold back some letters from the key word so that you can set extra missions, such as being able to answer some extended questions, complete a quick quiz worksheet, complete a source analysis etc.
Once all the boxes have been cracked students must work together to try and work out the key word, similar to working out the word from countdown (this is the task my students found harder, they were certain the key word was Korea Relation and I had wrongly give them to many letters, it fact it was Operation Rat Killer). Once they think they have it they must inform you and give the correct definition and explain its significance. If its wrong tell them they must go back and try again, if its correct inform they they have earned their freedom.
Adaptions:
- Add an electronic safe with a multiple choice quiz attacked with the answers to the quiz being the code to enter the safe.
- Use 3 number combination locks so that you can test knowledge of statistics.
What you will need:
- Padlocks (a bunch can be bought from pound shops)
- Combination Locks (DIY stores/ discount sores)
- Boxes
- Chains (DIY Stores/ Discount Stores)
- Luggage Tags (Pound shops)
Benefits:
- It tests students' knowledge of key people, dates and events.
- The time pressure from the countdown clock helps to develop their ability to skim read for information
- Students were really engaged in their revision and worked constantly hard. No one opted out.
- Activity was easily replicated for an open evening task, where students had to read through some information to get inside a locked up box and find an historical artefact. Year 10 helpers were able to say that we do this task in lesson and revision which was well received by parents and their children alike.
Ultimately, I know this activity won't be liked by everyone, however it worked for my students and helped them recap and consolidate their knowledge, and is obviously used in conjunction with a wide variety of other tasks.
