Tips for a Successful Breakout

Prizes

After all of their hard work breaking into the boxes, it can be anticlimactic for students if there isn't some kind of a reward inside the box. Here are some ideas of prizes that you could hide inside the box.

chocolate or candy
a prize related to the theme of the box, such as Dollar Store kazoos for a music themed activity.
class coupons to be redeemed later (homework pass, sit with a friend, etc.) Here's one example of some printable coupons.
fun worksheet (coloring, word search, etc.)
class currency

stickers
pencils, erasers, bookmarks, or other class supplies
QR code or url that takes them to a fun website
QR code or url that takes them to a message from the teacher telling them what a great job they did.
QR code or url that takes them to a Flipgrid where they record a video reflecting on their experience.
inexpensive prizes from Dollar Tree or from websites like OrientalTrading.com or amazon.com.

New to Locks?

Many students have never used a lock or are unfamiliar with the various locks in the kit. When introducing the activity, it is helpful to show each lock under the doc cam and explain where they should line up the characters on the lock once they have a guess as to the combination, and that they need to pull apart to open.

QR Code Reader

You may need to scan a QR Code for some activities. I recommend this QR Code Reader since it's easy to use. Just share the link in Google Classroom with your students. Students click on Scan, and will need to Allow the camera. For very young students, you might set up some Chromebooks with the QR Code Reader website already open for them.

If students have access to iPads or smartphones, they can use the camera on their device to scan a QR code as well.

Scratch paper

Provide scratch paper or a whiteboard and dry erase markers for students. They may need them to figure out the clues. Also some activities may require that the students use the dry erase markers on the laminated materials.

Tips for Students

Read all directions and clues. Then reread them as many times as needed.
When looking over the clues look for patterns, things that repeat, bold print, words in all capital letters, etc.
Don't be scared to take a chance or make a guess. Have a growth mindset:)
Work with your team.
If you solve a puzzle, let your team know.
Use your Hint cards when you need them. Agree as a team when you want to use one.

Blacklight

When setting up your activity, check that the flashlights work. It's best to do this the day before your activity in case you need more batteries. Your school site will need to order more batteries when needed.

Time

Setting up a Breakout activity can take a lot of time. Here are some time estimates to help with your planning.

Prepping an activity from scratch for the Breakout Kit can take anywhere from 3-8 hours. This includes searching for and finding an activity, carefully watching the video and taking notes, printing, laminating, cutting, and organizing your clues into bags so that the activity is easy to set up later. Even though it takes more time to laminate things, it saves time later because you and others can reuse the activity.
Setting the locks can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Give yourself an hour so you're not stressed. Sometimes you may need extra time to troubleshoot if the person before you didn't set the locks correctly.
When searching for Breakout Activities in the Platform, it usually states that they take about 45 minutes. I would give students at least an hour. However, working on the clues may be a bit exhausting for students if you spend more than an hour on it. I would suggest working through the clues together if time is running out, or splitting it into a 2-day activity.
Hiding clues in your classroom- Make sure to give yourself about 5 minutes to hide things before your lesson while students are not in your room.

Prepping Materials

Read through the activity and watch the video carefully. The video will help you know how many of each of the materials you will need to print out.
Take some notes to better facilitate the activity. You could write down the lock combinations, info about which clues open which locks, which materials go in which box, and notes about anything that needs to be hidden around the room. Print out your notes and keep them with the rest of the materials for the activity. Doing this also helps you be ready to give students hints.
Actually test out all of the clues to see if the answer matches the combination that you wrote down. A few mistakes have been found on the website where, for example, the video gives a different combination than the written description.
Laminate materials for reuse.
Organize materials for easy set up. For example, put each different set of clues in ziplock bags, envelopes, or whatever works for you.
Label the activity envelope or container in which you are keeping the materials with the activity name and grade levels it applies to.
Keep adding to a collection of prepped games for the staff to borrow.

Labeling keys

You may want to label the boxes, the key lock, and the keys associating with each lock so that you can keep track of which key goes to which key lock. For example, label a box as Box 1, and then use a sharpie or label-maker to put a 1 on a key lock and it's associated keys.

Make sure to replace any labels that come off or rewrite the numbers when they fade.

Save Digital Copies

If you like an activity, you may want to save the online materials, as well as your notes about the activity, in Google Drive.

If you take good notes, you won't have to read through the activity or watch the video again on the Breakout platform next time you use the activity.

It might be good to have a Shared folder or Shared Drive where teachers can collaborate.

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