We love the challenge of a Google BreakOut EDU. The object of a BreakOut EDU is to solve several puzzles while working together with other members of your team. Each puzzle unlocks one of the locks on the box. You have 45 minutes to do it, and we were allowed ONE hint per team. If you unlock all the locks within 45 minutes, you win!
Last October, we were successful when we did the TEAMWORK BreakOut with Mrs. Garcia. There are many games to choose from.
This BreakOut EDU was a Valentine themed BreakOut, so Carol the red bear came out to watch the progress. Carol LOVES to watch students working together to solve problems!
Mrs. Minicozzi was there with her enthusiasm and positive attitude! She brought the district's BreakOut EDU box and all the puzzles.
Mrs. Minicozzi started the clock and the teams got started! Some of the puzzles involved finding hidden digits that unlocked a lock.
Other puzzles required graphing and then using the data to come up with a 3-digit number that would unlock a lock. Concepts like even and odd and place value positions were important.
One puzzle required a lot of addition and then some attention to little details. Everything is important when you're trying to solve the puzzles!
One particularly difficult puzzle involved a black light and some clue cards. Students had to think...what do all these clues have in common?
Students worked together on the puzzles. Sometimes, it was frustrating.
Some puzzles were solved and a few locks were opened.
Unfortunately, after 45 minutes, we were not successful.
Our failure gave us an opportunity to reflect about the game. What worked? What didn't work? How did each person handle frustration? Although we would always prefer to win, it is through failure that we grow and learn. As you learn your brain grows new dendrites!
Here are some question to think about as you reflect:
1. As you look back at the BreakOut EDU experience, what did you learn about yourself?
2. What would you do differently next time?
2. What would you do differently next time?
3. What did you miss that surprised you?
4. Without giving away any answers, what tips would you offer a class attempting to solve a BreakOut EDU?
5. How did you keep yourself going when it got difficult?
