How I Game-i-fied a DBQ

Game-i-fication or Game-based learning is "the idea that elements of games--like repetition, failure, and achieving goals--can facilitate real learning" (Education Week). This idea lends itself nicely with an Escape Room type assignment and even better when you pair it with a challenging text. I will show exactly how I created this for an 8th grade class.

Students read and analyzed Stanford's Reading Like a Historian Montgomery Bus Boycott documents. Students read primary and secondary sources which include a textbook excerpt, letters, a diary entry, a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This may be a daunting and challenging task but with an Escape Room activity, you have instantly turned a difficult assignment into a game!

Materials

• Visit and join the Stanford's Reading Like a Historian- (you will thank me later). They have pre-made lessons and documents. Sign up is free!

• Use this pre-made form and be sure to thank Tom Mullaney

• Sign up for Thinglink to link sites, videos, locations

• Use this resource to help you design challenges and "locks"

Students had to summarize the text using emojis. They had to re-read texts to prove claims. They completed a puzzle to reveal Rosa Park's booking number all while trying to prove an essential question.

Visit my activity and let your creativity run wild!

What you will see

Don't be surprised when you see kids working together, using growth mindset and grit to solve problems.