From Boring Lectures to Learning Adventures
Why I Transform My Classroom Into an Escape Room
Let’s be honest, teacher to teacher — we’ve all been there.
You’ve spent hours planning the perfect lecture. The slides are beautiful. The notes are thorough. You’re passionate about the content… but halfway through class, you look up and see blank stares, drooping heads, and students sneakily checking the clock (again).
That’s when I realized: It wasn’t my content — it was my delivery.
My students didn’t need more information. They needed an experience.
The Shift: From Worksheets to Wow
That’s when I started experimenting with classroom transformations and escape rooms — and honestly, they changed everything.
When my students walk into the room now, they’re met with music, props, and a story instead of another lecture. Suddenly, they’re not “learning history.” They’re living it. They’re solving mysteries, decoding clues, and uncovering evidence that brings the content to life.
My room becomes an active, buzzing with collaboration and curiosity — and guess what? They remember everything.
What It Looks Like in My Classroom
In my Escape the Machine: Breaking Free from Boss Tweed’s Grasp, students become investigators uncovering corruption in Gilded Age New York. They literally calculate (yes, with math!) how much money Boss Tweed stole from the city. It’s U.S. History meets financial literacy — and it’s unforgettable.
Then there’s my Space Race Escape Room, where students become Cold War “agents” racing to outsmart the other side and launch their mission first. Every clue pushes them to think critically, connect events, and work together under pressure — just like the real race to space.
And here’s the best part: these experiences are cross-curricular by nature. You can blend math, science, writing, and history seamlessly because the storyline ties everything together.
Both of these escape rooms are available on my site if you want to see what that looks like in action:
👉 Escape the Machine: Breaking Free from Boss Tweed’s Grasp
👉 Space Race Escape Room: Cold War Collaboration Activity
My Secret Planning Partner: AI 🤖
Now, I know what you’re thinking — “Jaclyn, how do you find time to create all this?”
Here’s the truth: I don’t do it alone.
I use AI tools like ChatGPT to help me brainstorm themes, design puzzles, and write storylines. It’s like having a creative co-teacher who’s always ready with a new idea.
Here’s one of my favorite prompts to get started:
“Create a classroom escape room with three puzzles to review [topic]. Each puzzle should increase in difficulty and include a collaborative element where students must work together to unlock the next clue.”
It’s a total game-changer for busy teachers who want creativity without the burnout.
Teach Out Loud Was a Huge Success!
Teach Out Loud was such a success and truly such a joy to be part of. Getting to present to so many passionate educators about escape rooms and classroom transformations was an absolute highlight of my year. Seeing teachers energized and ready to turn their own lessons into immersive learning adventures reminded me exactly why I love this work.
Ready to Build Your Own Escape Room?
If you left the conference inspired — or you’re just now ready to start creating — my Escape Room Starter Kit is the perfect place to begin.
It includes everything you need to create your first classroom escape room with confidence:
✔️ Templates
✔️ Puzzle ideas
✔️ Storyline guides
✔️ Student materials
✔️ A step-by-step structure you can customize for ANY subject
⟡Preorder the Escape Room Starter Kit here⟡:
https://www.mrsrichiecreates.org/shop/p/escape-room-starter-kit-box-preorder
Want Me to Bring This Training to YOUR School or District?
If your team, school, or district wants hands-on professional development in escape rooms, student engagement, or full classroom transformations — I’d love to come present!
I offer on-site trainings, virtual sessions, and conference workshops tailored specifically for secondary teachers.
📌 Book a speaking event, PD session, or workshop here:
https://www.mrsrichiecreates.org/services
