Students at Canton Middle recently participated in a Halloween-themed breakout in the media center.  This educational activity is based on the concept of the breakout rooms that many people have seen advertised or participated in, only in this case the students have a box prepared with several different kinds of locks and a certain amount of time to get them open.  Language arts classes gathered enthusiastically into groups and began deciphering their clues which involved reading a story by Edgar Allan Poe, answering a quiz in Google classroom, finding codes from the score feedback, determining directions on a map, solving math equations and other various riddles.  The time limit presented a challenge in itself. Students worked intensely on finding the answers and could not wait to have a go at all the different locks. Meanwhile, teachers enjoyed seeing their students work diligently to problem solve and recognized the potential for critical thinking in future breakout activities.

Submitted by:  Anita Painter, Canton Middle School