Lunar Cycle Science Escape Room

“You and your classmates were visiting the NASA space museum in Florida. Several of your classmates decided to try their luck in the Apollo space simulator. There was a computer malfunction and the simulation door has sealed itself shut. There is a limited amount of time before the tour bus leaves and your classmates cannot get out! You frantically look around and notice there is an override code. For safety reasons, only a select few have the knowledge needed to gain access. Can you and your classmates use your knowledge of lunar phases to gain access to the NASA codes needed to manually override the lock?”

Standards Covered:

NGSS MS-ESS1-1 – Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons
TEKS 8.7 B – Demonstrate and predict the sequence of events in the lunar cycle

Students will need to have an understanding of the lunar cycle including the phases of the moon in order to be successful with this escape room. They will also need to be able to predict past and future moon phases and know the approximate time it takes to change from one phase to the next.

How it works:

Unlike many escape rooms, the teacher is in total control on which of the 8 puzzles they want to use and in which order to use them. They are designed using modules, with each puzzle independent of the others. There are several ways to play the games, so the teacher will need to decide which approach is best for their students. You have the option to do as many or as few of the puzzles as you choose, in any order. This is great for differentiating, and for shorter or longer class periods. We recommend 5-6 puzzles for a 40 minute class period.

Break up the class into teams of 2-4 students
Play the challenge video provided
After deciding how many puzzles to use, give each group a separate manila envelope. Using manilla envelopes is the least expensive option. You can also use locks and boxes. Locks are not required to run this escape room, but it can provide a more authentic experience. A lockout hasp will save you from needing to buy multiple boxes per group.
The remaining puzzles stay in a different area where students can check them in and out
Start the timer!
The teacher will check their codes by the students writing them down on the provided answer sheet, or use the digital lock using Google Forms. More details on how to use this electronically are provided.
Once the students have solved the puzzles, they will open the last envelope containing their prize!

Materials Needed:

The escape room can be run several different ways.
1. The least expensive option is to use manila envelopes for the puzzles. All the directions are provided. Each group will also need:

All printed materials (included)
Mirror or reflective surface (cell phone camera would work)

2. For a more authentic escape room, each group will also need the following, instead of manila envelopes:

Included in your purchase:

Teacher directions
Editable templates for the teacher to modify
Detailed answer key for each puzzle
Student answer key
Digital answer key (Google Form) that is great for 1:1 or Google Classrooms. Replaces paper answer key if you choose, but not necessary
Video challenge to set the mood for the challenge
8 unique puzzles with all printable props
A list of over 50 ideas for prizes
Reward templates
30 unique signs to hold up for the picture at the end (plus, editable template)

You can purchase the Lunar Cycle Escape Room here.

More science escape room products are being released. A completed bundle of 36 different escape rooms, covering a wide range of standards and concepts will be finished by August 2018. You can purchase the bundle at a 30% discount, and receive access to each escape room product as it is released!

Teachers are sharing their ideas and experiences using hashtags #keslerscience and #scienceescape on Twitter and Instagram, and on the Kesler Science Professional Learning Network on Facebook. See you there!

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