Two back-to-school escape rooms for ELA

Looking for an engaging, yet common-core-aligned activity for back-to-school time? Check out these digital escape rooms!

The first couple of school days are always a toss-up, aren’t they? 

Sometimes, I can get through a quick get-to-know-me activity. Sometimes, I get through a question-answer session. Sometimes, everything goes wrong (technology already doesn’t work, class is delayed due to missing kids, etc.) and I get NOTHING DONE!

So, what is the best way to start the school year?

I don’t think there is a RIGHT way. I know, for myself at least, I try to avoid going over the syllabus during the first day or two…simply because that is what all of my fellow teachers do…and let’s be honest…it is pretty boring stuff!

Instead, I want to jump into my English curriculum without fully overloading the students. I want to have some fun while also having the luxury of walking around and getting to know my new students during the day.

So, I created some escape rooms specifically for this time of year. I love them because they challenge the students but also allow me time to go through the roster, check in with different kids, make connections, and take mental notes about who seems to work well together.

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DIGITAL ESCAPE ROOMS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

Figurative Language (Back-to-School Digital Escape Room)

Get the students to collaborate right away with this figurative language escape room. It is a ready-to-go option and will give you a solid idea of what your students know in figurative language. All you have to do to start is share the link with students and let them go from there!

This escape room includes the following tasks:

• Figurative language sort
• Figurative language school supplies
• Riddle me this – decoding activity
• School buses on the go
• Piece it together – puzzle activity

Reading Comprehension (Back-to-School Digital Escape Room)

Allow your students to show you what they know with reading comprehension while ALSO actively engaging in some friendly competition.

This escape room includes the following tasks:

• Nemo’s first day – chronological order
• Where do I sit? – reading comprehension
• Riddle me this – decoding activity
• Football friends – plot structure
• Piecing it together – puzzle activity

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself…

Whatever you choose to do during these first couple of days of school, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. The first days are essential in that you are learning names and making connections with your students, but the activities themselves don’t have to be super complex.

So, give yourself some grace and enjoy them!

For more back-to-school activities, check out this blog post!