Locked in a classroom with a little less than an hour to figure their way out, students in advanced chemistry classes at Starr’s Mill High School work in teams to find answers to problems, which will give them clues to solve a puzzle containing the numbers to the combination that will open the lock and set them free.
Teams quickly solved the problems, but using the solutions to find clues to the puzzle proved to be more challenging. After solving a sequence of problems, teams moved from a classroom to a dark chemistry lab where clues were hidden under chairs, in cabinets, on the floor, in beakers, basically anywhere. They were constantly reminded that time was running out while a video message from the “Gas Master” was taunting them, saying that they would not be able to unravel the riddle that held the key to their escape .
It sounds stressful, but the students were absorbed in figuring out their escape, and that is exactly the outcome teacher Robin Huggins had hoped for when she purchased the Escape from Chemistry workshop with the $273 grant she received from the Fayette County Education Foundation.
“The escape classroom was a unique teaching tool to get our kids excited about stoichiometry. They used their chemistry skills, but they also needed teamwork, logic and problem-solving skills to figure out the clues and escape! Many students let their competitiveness show as they raced to unlock clues and escape the chemistry classroom. We are grateful to the Fayette County Education Foundation for funding this activity and others like it to enhance our science teaching,” Huggins says.
Teacher Michelle Barron facilitated one of the last classes to attempt the Escape from Chemistry activity. Some teams before them had made it out before time was up, others had not. Would teams in this class be successful?
“They will need to work together as a team or else they will not make it. Those who have demonstrated true teamwork are the ones who have made it out,” Barron says.
Unfortunately, none of the teams from this class escaped, but over the course of the implementation of the activity, five teams from other classes solved the combination and unlocked themselves from the room. Whether the students made it out or not, teachers at Starr’s Mill High say the activity was an effective way to engage students in chemistry and get them to understand the importance of teamwork.
Students seem to agree. Scout Harris said, “I enjoyed the escape room because it allowed me to work with my group and learn from my mistakes. We were able to learn from each other in a fun way, like helping each other problem solve.” Fellow student Jack Tucker agreed, adding “The escape room was really fun, and it let me learn in a new and interesting hands on environment. It was very helpful, and I hope I can do something like this again soon.”
The Fayette County Education Foundation offers teachers the opportunity to apply for grants to fund educational programs and activities such as the “Escape Chemistry Class” workshop at Starr’s Mill High. Teachers can request up to $500 during the grant window, which runs May through August with grants awarded in September of each year.
The Foundation is a nonprofit organization solely dedicated to supporting the teachers and students of the Fayette County Public School System. Anyone needing more information about grants or how to donate to the Foundation, can contact the school system’s public information officer, Melinda Berry Dreisbach, at berrydreisbach.melinda@mail.fcboe.org.
