Number Sense Escape Room - Teamwork Activity - Lost in the Amazon

BONUS: DIGITAL VERSION NOW INCLUDED! The digital version of this escape room uses Google Forms™. This provides you with the option to use this escape room for distance learning, or even on devices in the classroom.

As a researcher in the Amazon rainforest, your uncle has one of the most amazing jobs ever! You have been waiting for years to come along with him on a research trip, and you are finally old enough! One afternoon while your uncle is working, you decide to venture out on your own to get some pictures of the rainforest. After all, you have SO much that you want to show your friends when you get home. But minutes soon turn into hours and before you know it you have wandered far away from the research camp and have no idea where you are. You panic. The jungle is a dangerous place! You know that at any time you could encounter deadly frogs, black caimans, or even jaguars. You need to figure out a way to get back to the research camp – fast!

Are you ready for the challenge?

Ready to take number sense to a whole new level? Your students are going to LOVE this “Lost in the Amazon” escape room-style activity where they will crack codes and work together as a team, ultimately overcoming the obstacles and getting back to the research camp.

Your students will be completing six different challenges (or obstacles) in order to get back to the camp. These challenges will be completed as a small group of about three to four people in order to encourage teamwork and cooperation.

When a team has solved a challenge, one member will come to you with the answer and to get the next envelope.

The goal is for each group to complete the escape room, but it is motivating to have teams compete against each other to see who can solve it first.

Below are the six obstacles that students will work through as a team:

Obstacle #1: Get your foot out from under the tree.

When you realized that you were lost, you started to panic, which was a huge mistake! Now you’ve gotten your foot stuck under a fallen tree and cannot get it out. The tree is too heavy to lift off. You tell yourself not to think about all the dangers around you. Instead, you try to remain calm and figure out how to get your foot unstuck.

YOUR TASK: Order the cards from least (smallest) to greatest (largest). The secret message will reveal how you get unstuck.

Obstacle #2: Keep away from the green anaconda.

Finally you got your foot out from under the tree. You stand up and see something that makes you freeze in fear. Directly in front of you is one of the deadliest snakes of the Amazon – the green anaconda. You decide to back away slowly. You’ll take one step back every 4 seconds for 100 seconds. Then you will run. Hopefully this works!

YOUR TASK: On the hundred chart count by 4’s to 100. This will represent the number of steps back you take before you start to run.

Obstacle #3: Survive the night.

It gets dark so early in the rainforest! You will have to spend the night alone and focus on getting back to the research camp tomorrow. As the darkness settles, you hear every little sound around you – monkeys howling, bugs buzzing, leaves crunching. You are terrified! There are nine hours until the sun will rise. You’ll be lucky if you get any sleep tonight.

YOUR TASK: Get through each hour of darkness by getting a letter from the code wheel.

Obstacle #4: Build a shelter.

That was the longest night ever – but you made it! Just when you thought you’d be able to spend the day getting back to the research camp, you see a storm coming in the distance. Rainfall in the jungle is no joke – you’re going to need to build a shelter to keep you dry during the rainstorm that is headed your way.

YOUR TASK: Solve the unknown for each part-part-whole. Then use the code to figure out what you will use to build the shelter.

Obstacle #5: Escape the jaguar.

The rain is over and you begin walking toward where you think the research camp is. As you walk, you recognize some of the surroundings. This is a good sign! You must be close to the research camp! But just then you hear a rustle in the trees ahead and stop dead in your tracks. It’s a jaguar and it is huge! You crouch down and stay completely still, hoping that it won’t see you.

YOUR TASK: To escape the jaguar, put the puzzle together. Then look at the numbers along the top and figure the rule.

Obstacle #6: Unlock the gate.

After waiting a few minutes for the jaguar to get far away from you, you begin the journey back to the camp. Surroundings are looking very familiar and finally you get to the gate! Now you just need to enter the gate code and you’ll be back with your uncle inside the research camp!

YOUR TASK: Order the task cards from least (smallest) to greatest (largest). Then draw the symbols in order to form the gate code.