Description:
Turn your classroom into an escape room as your students learn about China through a series of challenges.
Suggested Course: Seventh Grade Social Studies
Objectives:
Students will be able to describe the impact of communism in China in terms of Mao Zedong, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and Tiananmen Square.
Students will be able to explain how the mountain, desert, and water features of Southern and Eastern Asia impact trade and affect where people live.
Students will be able to explain how specialization encourages trade between countries.
Students will be able to describe Confucianism.
Students will be able to explain why international trade requires a system for exchanging currencies between nations.
Students will be able to explain how literacy rates affect the standard of living.
Students will be able to explain how Chinese economic system answers the economic questions of 1-what to produce, 2-how to produce, and 3-for whom to produce.
Task Options:
Option 1: Teams complete all 8 clues in one 90-minute class period or two 45-minute class periods. Challenge can take place at the beginning or end of the unit.
Teams of 3-4 students will work on one clue at a time. The team recorder will write down the answer on the handout. When the team solves a clue, the leader will raise their hand. The teacher will check the answer and make sure the team has reset the clue before moving on to another clue. Each group will be given 3 hint tickets, so they can ask the teacher a question if they get stuck. Teacher can use the stamp to keep track of hint tickets or right answer on handout.
Option 2: Teams complete one clue a day (about 10-15 minutes) over the course of the unit.
Teams of 3-4 students will work on one clue at the beginning of a class period. The team recorder will write down the answer on the handout. When all teams have solved the challenge then the teacher will review the answers with the whole class as a way of starting off the class period.
Option 3: Teachers can choose to have the students, especially those who struggle with reading, complete only the first part of each clue. It should take about 5 minutes a clue or 40 minutes.
Teams of 3-4 students will work on one clue at a time. The team recorder will write down the answer on the handout. When the team solves a clue, the leader will raise their hand. The teacher will check the answer and make sure the team has reset the clue before moving on to another clue. Each group will be given 3 hint tickets, so they can ask the teacher a question if they get stuck. Teacher can use the stamp to keep track of hint tickets or right answer on handout.
I love incorporating escape rooms and digital break outs in the classroom! This makes it much more engaging and motivating. Setting up with different options makes it easy for teachers to plan depending on their schedule. Your clues really show a variety of information and the pictures will allow students to identify different aspects of the rise of Communism. I think it is crucial to show how this way of running the country affects all areas of life and with this fun game, students can use their problem solving skills to get a sense of what life was like during this specific time period.