Thanksgiving Escape Room - 6th 7th 8th Grade Science Review Activity

The Thanksgiving escape room is an immersive experience for your middle school students. It allows them to demonstrate their knowledge of logic puzzles, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism, atomic mass, biotic and abiotic factors, and metric conversions. If you have not covered these concepts, we have included help cards with each of the puzzles.

A Unique Escape Room Experience:

Unlike many escape rooms, the teacher is in total control on which of the 8 puzzles they want to use and in which order to use them. Each puzzle is independent of the others. This is great for shorter or longer class periods.

This particular escape room is editable to meet the needs of your classroom policies.

The Challenge:

It’s almost Thanksgiving and there are so many things to be thankful for. Unfortunately, one grouchy teacher in your school has decided that Thanksgiving break is going to have to wait. She is concerned that all that pie and turkey will turn your brains to mashed potatoes. Can you prove to this teacher that your brains are plenty strong and that a little cranberry sauce isn’t going to hurt?

She says she’ll happily let everyone go home if you can show her that your thinking caps are in tip-top shape. Solve these riddles and puzzles and show her that your heads aren’t full of gravy! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

What Materials Will I Need?

The escape room can be run in several different ways. The cheapest and easiest method is to use manila envelopes for the puzzles (all directions provided).

For a more authentic escape room each group will need the following:

• One Lockout Hasp
• 2, 3-digit locks
• 1, 4-digit lock
• One storage box that includes a place for the lockout hasp

Both methods will need the following:

• All printed materials from the puzzles chosen
• Manila envelopes (used for each of the puzzles)

Two Options for Online Use

You can assign the “Single Student Digital Version” PowerPoint through email or your school's learning management system. This file has no answers and students solve by reading and answering questions or manipulating images on the slide.

This version can also be uploaded to Google Drive and opened with Google Slides.

• Open Google Slides.
• Go to the File menu and choose Open
• Find the tab on the right called Upload
• Click Select a File on Your Device
• Select the “Single Student Digital Version Digital Version”
• Click Open

If you do make Google slides, the copyright only allows for use with your own students. Do not share the link publicly.

You can also assign or email the Single Student Print Version as a PPT or PDF for families to print at home. Again, the copyright only allows sharing with your own students, not on public websites or school-wide servers.

What's Included in the Product?

- Teacher directions

- Detailed answer key for each puzzle

- NEW for 2020: Single Student Digital Version PPT that can be uploaded into Google Slides

- NEW for 2020: Single Student Print Version in PPT and PDF for families to print at home

- NEW for 2020: Editable Teacher Version PPT

- Digital answer sheet (Google form) that is great for 1:1 or Google Classrooms. Replaces paper answer key if you choose.

- Video challenge to set the mood for the challenge

- 8 unique puzzles with all printable props

- A list of over 50 ideas for prizes

- Reward templates

- 30 unique signs to hold up for the picture at the end (plus, editable template)

Your students will be talking about this one for weeks!