Breakout EDU

BreakoutEdu is one of my favorite things I have done this year in school - there is a real buzz around this and from looking at social media and the number of games being added to the Breakout EDU site, it is clear that other teachers are loving it as much as me.

So what is Breakout EDU?

Breakout EDU is based on Escape Rooms, so I should probably really start with "What are Escape Rooms?". These escape rooms are popping up all over the place. These are themed rooms you get locked in and have to solve a series of clues, usually cryptic, to breakout of the room. Throughout the process you have to find hidden clues, unlock various padlocks and more. I have done one with colleagues themed around being taken hostage on a plane, which started with us blindfolded and handcuffed to a bench! We didn't quite solve all the clues for this one. However I recently took my ten year old brother to one, which was themed around being locked in a dead eccentric's house, having to find clues to find his will! Although we were a team of two, including a child, we busted out with a minute to spare:

So what has this got to do with schools? Well, to complete this clues you don't necessarily need a lot of subject knowledge, but what you do need is great communication skills, problem solving, logic, team work, perseverance and you need to be a risk taker. (Oh Hai - IB teachers - also you need many of the ATLs and Learner Profile Attributes!) These are all skills that we want our students to develop. 

​Of course building themed rooms would mean having free space in your schools, lots of money and also would be single use, so not flexible...

​That is where Breakout EDU comes along! Instead of breaking out of a room, you break out of a box!

You can buy a kit from them or you can go buy the individual parts yourself. They even have a site linking to each item on Amazon.

Once you have the kit you can browse their site to see games teachers have uploaded. Each game comes with a description, introduction, a link to all the documents you need to print, as well as a video telling you exactly how to set up the game.

Some of the games I set up for my teachers and their students first are The Spyder Heist (maths), Unlocking Shakespeare (English), Robot Apocalypse (Teaching/ICT/Coding) and Die Brüder Grimm (German/Literature). These are password protected, you get this by filling in the BETA form or you can email/tweet me.

Game Tips

• Run through the game yourself before you first play it. 
• The first time you set up a game it may take a long time. However, when you play the game again, you'll be able to set it up very quickly!
• Some games need lots of print outs, both boxes and all the locks - some require hardly any (Unlocking Shakespeare is a great example of this - it needs the big box, the little box and the word padlock only).
• I have two kits, so instead of having students race against a clock, I have them race against each other. I have the same set up on both sides of the classroom, and tell the groups they are not allowed to leave their side - everything the need will be on their side!
• Sometimes I give the students the boxes, but sometimes I set them up at the front of the classroom, and tell them they can only send one student up at a time. This adds a lot of excitement, as the groups can see how far along the other team are! 
• Students will want to just fiddle with the locks - don't let them!
• You can control the pacing easily by giving out casual hints or suggestions
• If students complete the games really quickly, you can have a long debrief where the students reflect on the process
• Some games are very linear - students have to answer questions in order  - these work best with small groups
• Some games students can solve clues in any order - with students working on different clues at the same time - this works fine with larger groups.
• Take a photo of students with a 'we broke out' sign at the end
• I sometimes put a prize in the box, like sweets, but students aren't driven by this, so it is not too important
• If you have students who don't work so well together, assign them different roles
• Try the games with the teachers! 
• Put music on! I have put on everything from the Indiana Jones Soundtrack, through to a YouTube playlist of 'Instrumental Spy Music'.
• If padlocks reset themselves and you can't find the combination, students are happy to help unlock them
• If boxes break or you don't have enough, improvise! I've even used a plastic wallet, folded it over three times, and put the padlock through the punched holes!
• Dollar Tree / The Pound Shop are your friends!
• Add a bit of drama! This might mean creating a video in character or turning up to the class and playing a role!
• Add Red Herrings! You can add lots of clues to through them off - these can also include clues which give them lots of extra subject information
• Theme it! Make sure you have a fun theme - you can add props to add to the theatricality of this game!

So you want to make your own?
I would recommend trying some of the games first, as this will get you familiar not only with the different style of clues and the game templates, but it will give you lots of inspiration for your own game.   Once you are ready to create your own BreakoutEdu has everything you need, including tips and a template!

It would be even better if you had students create their own games! I recently had a Grade 9 student create one for my Grade 6 advisory class and it was wonderful. This is definitely  a project I want to help facilitate next year!

There's no way your school will let you buy any of this? Then try Digital Breakouts!

Digital Breakouts are websites which contain hidden clues and have an embedded Google Form, where the students enter answers to digital padlocks! These are super easy and quick to make, so you can have students creating these easily. They also require no equipment, apart from a digital device. They can also be done individually, in pairs or very small groups. A quick and fairly easy example to try is the WWII Digital Breakout.

Games I've Created!

• Animal Farm Digital Breakout (Secondary - English Literature)
• Owl Bet You're A Hoot (Elementary - animals and ecosystems)

I also have a game in French (Literature) and another in Spanish (Individuals and Society / Geography and History) which I made with colleagues, which will hopefully be live soon!

Have you run Breakout Edu Games with your students? Do you have any questions or suggestions? Comment below.