Students in Literacy Studies recently participated in a library-themed breakout activity inspired by a breakout from
BreakoutEDU.
In August, World Languages & Cultures teacher Kristine Jimenez shared the BreakoutEDU materials she'd received in a DCG Foundation Grant, and after trying to revise an existing Breakout to fit our DCG Middle School library, she graciously offered to help write a breakout for *our* school. A BIG "thank you" to Mrs. Jimenez--she was instrumental in getting our breakout ready!
First step? Choosing what kinds of locks to use and creating clues with embedded combinations. In the end, we used five locks and provided corresponding clues.
Based on the information students received in their packets or found around the library, they would have what they needed to open two different number combination locks, a padlock with key, a color-code combination lock, and a directional lock.
A brief introduction day gave students a quick overview of the activity & its many purposes:
• to share and work as a team
• to work together & think critically about possible lock combinations
• to test their ideas
• to problem solve should initial combinations not open locks
• and ultimately, to open the box.
During the introduction, students also could see the box itself and the locks to be used with the activity.
Finally, the big day arrived and once in teams, students began their work. Without a doubt, this activity is one of the most engaging things students have done in the library!
Several groups were able to break out (or specifically, break *in* to the boxes after determining all combinations for locks. Always group members were excited, and we often heard exclamations of "We did it!"
More Breakout activities to follow! With the success of our first time out, it's likely we'll be trying another physical Breakout like this one! At least one digital Breakout is in the works, too, so stay tuned!
