Let’s talk about engagement! Escape Rooms are a definite winner in that regard. Here are some things my students have told me about our escape rooms:

“This is the most fun I have ever had in STEM!’ “I loved every part of this. It made me use some thinking.” “We loved that it made us really work as a team.”

This Escape Room begins with a scavenger hunt. I placed signs around the school and each sign also has a clue word. Students fill in their clue sheets as they find the signs. The clue words lead to another word to unscramble and this leads students to the lock code for the first box.

NOTE: This resource has an editable scavenger hunt so you can create your own sign locations and clues.  

There are three boxes and each is unlocked in a similar way. Students solve a puzzle or complete math problems to search for the lock code.

They are so excited when they attempt to unlock those locks!

Don’t worry- I include a way to complete this Escape without using locks and boxes!

Here’s the best part! A STEM Challenge is included!

After completing the Escape Room students grab the materials to make their own bubble wand- following a few rules. These are great to use outdoors in the spring weather!

Are you ready for easy prep? Here is an escape room event that has easy prep- just make copies. No locks, no toolboxes!

Here is the scenario: It is the last day of school. The students discover they are locked in the building. The only way out is to start in one corner and work through a maze as they pass through several rooms. In each room, they will solve a task. When the teacher checks their solution they have earned a checkmark on their school maps and they move on to the next room and task. At the end of the school maze- they have escaped!

What better way is there to have some fabulous afternoons in the month of May with your students completing a STEM Challenge!

The ones we save for this last month of school are just the most favorite ones we ever do.   

First up is Water Slides!   Students use the materials to create a water slide with a ladder and we pour water to see if Lego Man can slip down that slide. Learning about water-proofing the slide is priceless!

Students “purchase” their materials and follow a budget to design and create a boat.

The boat must float and hold weight. We count those pennies in a little bowl one by one and cheer when the bowls are so full we cannot add any more.

#sofun

My STEM Friends at STEM Activities for Kids and I have compiled a list of our favorite end-of-the-year STEM Challenges. Click on the image to take a look at the blog post. I know you will find something your students can try.