Have you always wanted to do a classroom Escape Room but felt overwhelmed?  I understand that setting it all up and the logistics can be overwhelming especially if you are analytical.  I wanted to lay out the Animation Themed Escape Room that I created below.

Before creating an Escape or Breakout room, I purchased a lot of stuff I didn’t need, read a million articles, and then tried to use a free one listed on the website Breakout.edu.

The website didn’t work and the puzzles didn’t make sense even with the answer keys.  I finally created my own from scratch and will share not only the escape room but how to create your own!  If you are a teacher and have a wish list check the Best Places to Share Amazon wish lists.

This post contains affiliate links.

Animation Themed Escape Room

Students are pretty smart so I am going to share the puzzles and how to set it up but I will not be sharing the combinations except for only teachers.

1. Set up your locks.  If you are a teacher, email me for the combinations.
2. Set up your classroom breakout room.
3. Lock your door to your classroom and direct students to another room before entering. After all, your classroom no longer exists and now it is a new realm. 

Print off Puzzles:

Right-click and print.

What you need:

Multi-lock Hasp

Locks:
Get two wheel locks one that is black and one that is another color

One Directional lock

One Key Lock

3 code combination lock

2 Safety Boxes

Cipher Wheel

Invisible Ink Pen with Flashlight (The flashlight fits in the Geo Caching items to hide it!)

Coke Can Safe or Clean Empty Coke Can

Rock for hiding keys

Dry Erase markers if you laminate puzzles. Colored Pencils if you do not laminate.

TIPS: Make your puzzle last! Laminate all the puzzles. Including the answer keys, combinations steps, and where to start, and place them in a Storage Bag to use year after year!

SETUP:

1. Print all game pages. Set all locks to the right combinations.
   1. The Story: For the Teacher to read first.
   2. The Letter Puzzle
   3. Cipher Puzzle Test
   4. Color Wheel Puzzle
   5. QR Code Puzzle
   6. The Sticky Note Rock Puzzle
   7. The Mystical Maze Puzzle
2. Take the QR Code Page and Cut it in half and then ONLY one one side cut it in half again.
3.  
4. 
   
5. Place the key in the hidden rock.
6. Take the Letter Puzzle from Mr. Everett and with the Invisible Ink Pen circle the line with the quote “Line up the A’s and turn 3 spaces to the right.”
7. Put the black light flashlight in the Coke Can and set it out.
8. In the SMALLER Safe Box place the cipher wheel.  The sticky note about the Rock Puzzle in it. One Piece of the cut-up QR Code.  Use the 3 Digit Combo Lock for this small box. (It will be the first one they open by using the letter.)
   
   
9. In the LARGE Breakout box. Fill it with your favorite candy and rewards along with the WE DID IT pages!  Use the Multi-Lock Red Thingy and put both Wheel Locks and the Key Lock on it. Add the directional lock on it.
10. Around the room hide the other 2 QR codes.  The Quiz.  The Rock with the Key.  The Color Wheel Puzzle. The Mystical Maze Puzzle.

Story to Read Before Starting:

STORY:

Title: “The Animator’s Escape Room” STORY. (TO BE READ BEFORE STARTING.)

Welcome to “The Animator’s Escape Room” a one-of-a-kind adventure that dives into the enchanting world of animation! You and your team of aspiring animators have been chosen to enter the Mystical Realm Imagination Studio created by the legendary animator, Mr. Everett to help him find his Magical Animation that disappeared after a former employee, Ms. Jergis, archived his work without permission out of jealousy and placed a lock charm on it before disappearing forever.

Rumor has it that once an animation has been archived that it is almost impossible to unlock it.  The Animation held its own magic that would bring joy and wonder to anyone who experiences it. However, Ms. Jergis, made it almost impossible for only one person to unlock it.

Your mission, should you choose to accept the challenge and enter the Mystical Realm Imagination Studio and work together to find Mr. Everett’s magic film before time runs out and all of the magic will go away and the studio will be locked forever.

Your team will be timed and only be given an hour to work together to decipher the hidden clues, solve puzzles, and unlock the film. 

Do you accept the challenge? If you do say, “Yes, Mr. Everett.”

Gather your team, enter the Mystical Realm Imagination Studio, and let the art of animation guide you through an unforgettable experience! The clock is ticking, and the fate of the animation world rests in your hands. 

Tips on How to Create Your Own Room Tips:

Choose a group of locks and make them different.  This will help students distinguish which combination and puzzle works with each lock.  The Wheel Locks work if you have multiple ones work because you can do letter and number variations on the wheel.

You will want one or two lock boxes,  a lock hasp, and 1-2 Toolboxes or Ammo boxes that you can lock up.

Create a puzzle for each lock after you see the combinations.

Create various puzzles.  Leave some out and have them work on all the main lockboxes.  Insert clues needed in another lockbox that must be solved before answering all the puzzles!  Several puzzles should be tied to each other making sure the teams work together.

You can get or make lots of puzzle ideas online based on your content.