A new “Escape Room” themed summer educational program in Palmerton Area School District is drawing rave reviews from students and faculty.

Each session, students are given a quick tutorial on various subjects and foundational skills that will help them solve puzzles and crack codes throughout the games. Students work collaboratively and are given challenges that they must “think outside the box” to complete four or five tasks to unlock.

“The program is running for six weeks for two sessions per week,” said Kim Seiler, a Palmerton Junior High School social studies teacher who runs the activity along with math teacher Melissa Hoffman. “We initially planned to run the program for only eight sessions, but because students were so enthusiastic and the administrators were supportive, we extended the program for four more sessions.”

The program is open to any Palmerton students in grades 6-8 and between 8-10 students have participated in year one.

“At times students are cyphering codes, working with color, directional and shape locks as well as using higher order thinking to ‘break out’ of the room,” Seiler said. “Students have also moved about the school. For example, we played a ‘Floor is Lava’ escape room where they had to use the elevator to get away from the lava after cracking math problems and codes.”

The kits and materials for the sessions come from Breakout EDU, a standards-aligned game platform allowing teachers to hit on a wide range of subjects escape room-style puzzles.

“Mrs. Hoffman had used escape rooms in her classroom before,” Seiler said. “Subject content includes science, social studies math and English language arts. It’s been interesting for Melissa and I because we have never actually taught each other’s subjects before. It’s been very good for us as well as the kids.”

Seiler said benefits of the program include positive student engagement, using problem-solving techniques and socializing with various age levels. Students are also getting to meet older students as well as see a new building and feel more comfortable before school starts.

“We hope students will spread the word and our Escape Room program can continue to keep it going throughout the school year,” she said. “We also hope the Escape Rooms will continue to motivate students to learn in different ways, learn to work with others and keep moving forward even when challenged.”