Gold Rush Escape Room

Are you studying about Westward Expansion, the Oregon Trail, or The California Gold Rush? This Escape Room and STEM Challenge was created just for you! It is all about the Gold Rush and includes some fabulous tasks for students to tackle, followed by an amazing STEM Challenge.

An Escape room is a puzzle game in which students solve riddles and puzzles and find clues to finish tasks. In this Escape Room students solve puzzles to open locked boxes.

NOTE: This Escape Room resource is available in money-saving bundles!

• Escape Room Mega Bundle
• Gold Rush Reading and Escape Room Bundle

Students will be involved with completing three tasks. Each task leads to clues to open a locked box.

For the first task, students will have a reading passage that tells about some of the events, tools, and uses of animals in the Gold Rush. Students will respond to True-False statements and collect alphabet letters for each response. Those letters will spell out the word that is the first clue. The clue eventually leads to the lock code for Box 1.

For the second task, students will use a graph that shows one lucky gold seeker’s results over a three week time period. Students will respond to questions about the graph and find alphabet letters for each response. Those letters will spell the clue word for the lock code that opens Box 2.

For the third task, students will find places on a map of the Oregon Trail and the California Trail. They will fill letters into clue boxes as they locate each spot on the map. The letters in the clue boxes will spell the last clue for the lock code for Box 3.

BUT there is MORE! After unlocking all three boxes students are ready to try a STEM Challenge. The task is to build a raft that will float and hold weight.

So, what do you need? You will need three number locks for this Escape Room. Directions are included to use this set without these locks! You will also need three boxes. This can be a plastic or metal tool box, but any box will work- even a cardboard box! Directions and photos are included for how to set up the boxes and locks or how to use a version without locks. You do not need 3 boxes and 3 locks per group! It’s three boxes and three locks for the entire class.

Included in the Escape Room file of this resource, you will find:

• Table of contents
• 4 pages of tips and tricks for setting up everything
• For Box 1- 2 pages of teacher directions, Gold Rush information cards, reading passage in two levels, and the box labels. Answer Keys included.
• For Box 2- 2 pages of teacher directions, graph sheet in two levels, and box labels. Answer Keys included.
• For Box 3 – 2 pages of teacher directions, map sheet, a practice map sheet, and box labels. Answer Keys included.
• Photo-Style Teacher’s Guide with a step-by-step section showing how to solve the task.

In addition: hint cards for each task, an alternative locking system (made of paper), STEM Challenge information section, certificates to award students completing the task, BONUS posters of life on the trail, black and white versions of all posters and pages provided in color.

STEM Challenge

Students build a flat bottom raft and then test its ability to float and hold a little bit of weight. You will love the easy prep for this challenge and the problem solving that occurs when the rafts begin to sink. Get ready for cheering or groaning as the rafts are tested!

The challenge file specifically includes:

• Cover
• Teacher Overview
• 3-page Teacher’s Guide
• Criteria cards in 2 versions
• Lab sheet with sample answers
• 2 pages of photos
• Scoring rubric
• All forms are editable

Check the preview to see everything!

NOTE: The Escape Room event can be completed in 30-45 minutes. The addition of the suggested STEM Challenges will add an extra class session of at least 45 minutes.

NOTE: YOUR PREP for the Escape Room includes:

• Printing box labels, Gold Rush Info cards, Reading Task sheet, Graph Task sheet, Map Task sheet
• Copying the task sheets for each team
• Laminating the Box labels and Gold Rush cards and cutting these apart
• Preparing the locked boxes

There are optional items that can be printed and copied: certificates and posters

YOUR PREP for the STEM Challenge includes:

• Gathering materials (straw, craft sticks, and tape)
• Copying the lab sheet and criteria cards
• Preparing a water bin (a dishpan works great)

For more Escape Room resources click below:

• Land Forms
• Sharks
• Skeletons
• Space Shuttles
• Spiders
• Volcanoes
• Weather
• Winter Sports
• Back to School
• Halloween
• Sports
• Christmas
• Pirates
• Escape Room Mega Bundle

*****************************************************************************

Be the first to know about my new discounts, freebies and product launches!

All you have to do is follow my store. Look for the green star next to my store logo and click it to become a follower. It’s that easy to receive email updates about Teachers are Terrific!

 *****************************************************************************

Keep in Touch with Teachers Are Terrific!

Blog

Instagram

Pinterest

Facebook

Thank you so much,

Teachers Really are Terrific!