How to Run Your ESL Escape Room: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Familiarize Yourself with the Materials
Before you start, take a good look through the contents page and get familiar with the topics. You’ll likely find that many of them align with the themes in the textbook you’re using, making it easy to integrate the puzzles into your lessons.
2. Long-Term Preparation
For maximum convenience and reuse, I recommend printing and laminating a copy of each puzzle, then storing them in a folder. This way, you’ll have easy access to them for multiple classes. Some puzzles come with two playing cards, which need to be printed, cut out, and placed face down on the main puzzle sheet. Additionally, have a clipboard ready for each team so students can take notes on scrap paper while keeping their answers hidden from other teams.
3. On-the-Day Setup
On the day of the lesson, choose a number of puzzles (5-8 should do it, but let’s say 6 for this explanation) that align with the material your students have been studying. Make sure to note the single-digit answer for each puzzle (you can find the answers in the contents page and on the answer keys).
Next, place the selected puzzles on the walls around the classroom, arranging them in order (not necessarily in the sequence students will solve them). Be sure to mark clearly which puzzle comes first and which is last. Students can solve the puzzles in any order, but to win, they need to figure out the 6-digit code, with each puzzle revealing one digit in sequence. For added atmosphere, consider playing tense background music or our on-site countdown timer – it makes the game feel even more immersive!
4. The Action Begins!
Split the class into teams—either pairs or groups of three—and build up the excitement! Tell them they’re about to enter an Escape Room scenario. To create the right vibe, make the experience dramatic—set the scene as if they’re really solving a mystery. Give each team a clipboard with scrap paper for note-taking, and explain the rules:
- Objective: There are 6 puzzles on the walls, and each one will reveal a single digit of a 6-digit code. To win, they must figure out the full 6-digit code and present it.
- The Prize: Once they solve the code, they’ll “escape” the room (or earn a fun prize like stickers or sweets for their team). The better the prize, the more motivated and excited the students will be!
- The Rules: They can touch the laminated puzzles, even temporarily take them off the wall, but they must not write on the puzzles—use the paper and clipboards for that!
5. Monitoring the Game
As the students work through the puzzles, keep an eye on their progress. Offer hints if needed. Keep an eye out for any cheating—especially when it comes to the puzzles with two playing cards. Remind students to stick to the rules and work together to solve the puzzles before the other teams.
6. Follow-Up and Debrief
Once all teams have finished and received their prizes, take a moment to go through the puzzles with the class. Allow the students to explain how they solved each one, and make sure no one has misunderstood any of the material. This is a great opportunity to reinforce the learning and ensure they’ve grasped the key concepts.