Breakout of the Library Presented by Kimberly Rose

“Breakout” of the Library Presented by: Kimberly Rose National Board Certified Teacher-Librarian Brouillet Elementary roseka@puyallup. k 12. wa. us All handouts may be obtained at: http: //rosekimberly. webs. com/classes/classhome. html

Today: v. What is Breakout EDU? v. Breakout EDU Demo: Little Red! v. School Applications and Use (with a little bit of Public Library/other settings) v. Types of Games v. Kits v. Buy a kit? v. DIY? v. Best Practices v. Show-and Tell v. Some of the materials v. Breakout EDU website v. Questions: 5 -10 minutes

**Disclaimers** v I am NOT a trainer for Breakout EDU v I do not own any official Breakout EDU kits

What is Breakout EDU? v Basically, the school version of an Escape Room! (For some reason, they frown on locking students into rooms…) v Technically, I think it should be called “Break IN” because you’re unlocking locks to get into something! v Usually designed to take 45 minutes, but can be modified to take as much/little time as you wish…

Why play these games? v Games require: v. Content Knowledge v. Critical Thinking and Creativity v Problem Solving v Observation v. Team cooperation and communication v You mean, like social skills? v Yep – those elusive soft skills! v. Literacy Skills v. Math v Patterns v Actual math v Allows students to “fail forward” v. An unsuccessful attempt to open a lock forces the player to try again! (and … they seem to LIKE it!) v. Shows them that the teacher doesn’t always have the answer v. I’ve considered games where I didn’t know the answers to certain locks…

What skills were used to play the game “Little Red”?

School Library Planning Timing How much time do you have? {30 minutes, including check out} Will you be running it multiple times in one day? {Sometimes 5 or more times} How much time do you have to reset before the next group? {Only 5 -10 min. – during checkout} Multiple Games Are you doing multiple games in the same week? • When are your classes? • Do you have enough materials/time to reset? • NOTE: Try not to do multiple games in the same week unless you have the same class for the game all in a row! • Resetting the boxes can be a challenge! Timer With sound? Without sound?

School Library Planning Capacity How many boxes do you have? {6 boxes} • Does each group get a box and/or folder? {6 tables – 1 box per table} • One "class box" and each group has one lock How many in each group? Physical Space restrictions to use Only materials at tables? Things around the room? How will you restrict access to areas you don’t want players in? How will you stage the room? Are there any pieces that need removing before the start?

School Library Planning Electronics Will you use computers? • One Note - password protected pages Flash drives? QR codes? Digital video/audio? Does it work on your equipment? Other resources World Book Online Destiny Library Catalog Search skills Make sure you know the lock codes! Cheat sheet with the codes on them?

Public Library Planning Capacity Physical Space Target Audience Registration or Drop In How many in each group? In Library or Meeting Room Restrictions to use Will you set age limits?

What happens if they don’t finish? v It is OK! Reinforce the teamwork skills used v Keep track of the locks off at a table v Numbered list v Password tracking sheet (see right) v Restart at the same point next week… v If they have a password tracking sheet you could have them just re-enter the passwords

What do you put in the box? v Sometimes candy (“Reindeer Games” game before Christmas) v Many students don’t work for candy…and I don’t want them to get used to “getting” something v “Let It Snow” game before Christmas – recipe for homemade “snow” v A sign – “You Saved Grandma”

How do you find the games? v Go to https: //platform. breakoutedu. com/home v Or…go to http: //www. breakoutedu. com Click on “Learn More” Click on “Games” at the top v Sign up for a FREE account v OR…purchase access to MORE games for about $75 per log-in v You can search for games/topics v Over 300+ FREE games v 100+ subject packs of games v Specific content areas v All games include: v v Instructions Printables Links Set up videos v Digital Content Creator v Tool for creating custom digital games v Yes, actually creating your OWN games!

What kinds of games are there? Physical Games v Little Red (2 nd) v Shot Heard 'Round The World (5 th) v Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (6 th) v Reindeer Games (2 nd-6 th) v Let It Snow (2 nd-6 th) Digital Games v. Note: If your district is like mine, they may have the digital parts blocked under the students' log in. . . v You can work around this by printing the materials and having the students ONLY enter the lock codes online. v <DO NOT have answer keys!> v. Catch the Bus (1 st) v. Soar's Escape (1 st) v. Into the Lion's Den (3 rd)

http: //www. librarygirl. net/2017/03 /breakoutedu-on-budget. html Kits – to buy or not to buy?

Build Your Own Kit

Where do you buy materials? v. Lowe’s or other hardware stores v. Especially directional locks v. Fred Meyer v. Amazon v. Dollar Store v. Great for starting out v. Thrift stores v. Boxes and other containers v. Notes about locks v. Purchase ones with override keys if possible v. Word locks v Letters WILL rub off (clear nail polish)

v Working with locks v. Locks won’t open: Best Practices v I tell students that just fiddling with the locks is CHEATING! v If you think you have the combo, but the lock won’t open, check with me. Sometimes the locks are ornery. v. Lock Management v Reset all locks to default code (and make a master list of what the code is!) v Have students immediately lock the lock and spin the combination v Basket for unlocked locks?

v. Setting/Resetting the room v. Space for team to work v Pads of paper and pens v Remember to remove used paper during reset v Space to spread out clues Best Practices v. Use participants for clean-up! v. Make sure you know what order the clues go in to make sure things are reset properly v Flow-chart – Clue 1 leads to Clue 2 leads to Clue 3 (lock code) v. Backup/Plan B v Something breaks/destroyed/written on v Not working as practiced

v. Game Management v. Keep notes on what did and/or didn’t work v 1 copy (original) v 1 copy with MY changes (and grade/year) v …and possibly things to try the next time Best Practices v. Update plan immediately following if you plan to use again v. Protecting your pages (especially color ones) v Sheet protectors v Tell them “only write on the lined notebook paper” (…but this doesn’t always work}

v Breakout. EDU Official Timer: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=_Igu. XWr 7 v. U 8 Other Resources v DIY Wooden boxes v My original pattern was on a blog called “Help Me, Mr. Stern” but the site appears to have been hijacked… v Many videos on the Internet… v David Gessner (who made my boxes) might be able to make more… v He is looking to make boxes in sets of 10 or more, but you are welcome to ask him about the quantity you’re looking for… v Check with him for pricing v Contact information: v Cell – (512) 934 -3205 Email: davidgessner@gmail. com

Let It Snowmen around the room Elf Help Shot Heard ‘Round the World Cipher instruction Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s library Pencil pouches hidden (if more than one = only get ONE of them) Show-and-tell Cheat-sheets for recording codes

Breakout EDU Platform: https: //platform. breakoutedu. com Let’s look at the website Elf Panic: https: //platform. breakoutedu. com/g ame/digital/elf-panic-4252 Soar’s Escape (1 st): https: //sites. google. com/view/soars escape 2/home

Questions? Ideas? Concerns

Thank you for coming! Kimberly Rose National Board Certified Teacher-Librarian Brouillet Elementary roseka@puyallup. k 12. wa. us All handouts may be obtained at: http: //rosekimberly. webs. com/classes/classhome. html