students complete a secret mission to decode interesting ... escape...reveal interesting facts about...

Students complete a secret mission to decode interesting facts about the War of 1812.

Think Tank Copyright 2018

War of 1812 Escape RoomThe War of 1812 Escape Room will take students on a secret mission around the classroom! This escape room has students decode interesting facts about the War of 1812. The War

of 1812 Escape Room has students walking around the classroom breaking codes. Students are given a secret code name and sent on a secret mission to save American sailors. The

codes include ciphers, Morse code, cryptograms and a final 4 digit code based on the decoders/clues.

Each clue and code is different. The codes require students to think differently to decipher or decode them. Some codes are easier than others. Some codes require critical thinking to determine what a letter/symbol stands for. Each code will reveal interesting facts about the War of 1812. The use of secret code will keep your

students engaged while competing to find the final code. Students can report the final code to you. If you wanted to, you could purchase a 4 digit lock that you program, but it is

not necessary at all! No props needed!! This is a NO PREP, PRINT & GO Activity! Students are sent on a “secret mission” and given a back story

to ignite their active learning skills. They are given a code name which makes them feel as if they are part of the secret mission. Students practice hands-on, practical problem

solving skills all while learning about the War of 1812. Your students will be inspired to think outside the box!

The best age range for this resource is 8+. Please look at the preview to determine if this resource works for your age group. Younger students may need some help with some of

the more difficult codes. You can use the pre-labeled clues or you can challenge older kids to choose/find the

decoder that works for each of the clues. A set of labeled and non-labeled decoders are included for differentiation. A “How to Decode” puzzles is also included.Once your students try one of my escape rooms, they will beg for more!

This activity is for all types of learners, especially kinesthetic.In addition to learning or reinforcing the subject matter, my escape rooms encourage

teamwork and critical thinking. As a “timed” challenge, students will be engaged from beginning to end.

New Feature: This escape room now includes 12 fun, colorful signs to take class pictures with at the end of the mission. Signs include “Puzzle Master”, “She did all the work”,

“Genius”, “We did it”, “I Escaped” and more! Hang the pictures in your room, send them in a parent newsletter or share them on social media ☺

An answer key and easy to follow teacher directions are provided.Time needed: 30-60 minutes


Teacher Directions1. Print a 3 page packet for each student (pages 5-10).

2. Print the four “decoders” and hang them around the room. Leave enough room for students to gather around the decoder. Print in color and laminate if possible. You may choose to print the labeled decoders (pages 21-24) for your younger students or the non-labeled (pages 11-14) decoders to challenge older students. If you choose to work in groups, print out a set of decoders for each group. The labeled (numbered) decoders specifically tell students which decoder to use for each of the four clues.

3. Read the Top Secret Mission to your students which is on the first page of their packet. Tell students they have ____ minutes to solve the case, decode the clues and figure out the final 4 digit code. (Use your judgment on time, 30-60 minutes is best.)

4. Help students create their code names. Directions are in their packets.

5. You can choose to let them work alone or together as a partner/group activity. I love to have the students work together with a partner to promote collaboration.

6. The only advice I give my students is… “Complete the decoders in any order. If too many students are gathered around Decoder #2, go to the next decoder or clue. If you get stuck, move on and come back to it. Give yourself time to process the puzzle. You may not understand it at first and that is OK, these puzzles are meant to challenge you!”

7. That’s it! Sit back and relax while students learn about the War of 1812 in a fun, active, engaging activity! Students can complete the decoders/clues in ANY order.

8. You may choose to reward the top teams to bring you the final code if you would like. A competition always makes for more engagement. Students will not be able to figure out the final code without first decoding all the clues!

9. If students do not finish, no worries…they still learned about the War of 1812!

10. Hold up the “I survived” signs and take a class photo for fun to display in the room, in a parent newsletter, social media (with permission, of course) etc. ☺


Student DirectionsIt does not matter what order you decode the War of 1812

clues.

Visit each decoder and decipher interesting facts about the War of 1812.

You may NOT turn in the 4 digit code unless all clues have been decoded.

You may NOT turn in the 4 digit code until you have filled in the “Four things I learned…” on the last page.

Use each clue to summarize what you learned but your answers MUST be in your own words!


TOP SECRETYou are among a select group chosen to carry out a secret mission. Your mission,

should you choose to accept it, is a top secret presidential investigation.

The Case:The British navy was running out of troops. In order to get more people to fight on their behalf, they began raiding American ships. Once they stopped and boarded the ships they forced Americans sailors to join the British navy. They believed that all of

the Americans were once British so they should be willing to help the British.Britain placed illegal trade restrictions on the United States. They also provided armsto Native Americans to fight Americans expanding westward. For multiple reasons the

United States was ready to declare war.Congress must officially declare war but President James Madison had enough. He could not let another day go by allowing the British to bully his country. President

Madison has the power to send troops into battle even without an official declaration of war. He couldn’t wait for Congress to make the decision.

In order for Madison to provide military action he must provide his Secretary of Defense with a secret four digit code. They use codes in case anyone intercepts their

message.The president begins to enter the code but his Vice President pushes his arm away and

is physically stopping him from entering the code. The Vice President believes they should let Congress do their job. In the meantime, hundred of American soldiers have been forced to join the British and Native Americans are harming anyone that comes

their way. The president is not willing to lose any more lives.Madison needs your help getting his Vice President to back down. Your job is to find

the 4 digit code and help the president enter the code and send the alert.You will use a code name and solve the puzzles by decoding clues. Your code name is your favorite breakfast food PLUS the first letter of your FIRST name found below.

My Code Name is _____________________________________________________________

A= Avalanche F= Fire K= Knight P= Peacemaker U= Undercover

B= Bolt G= Goblin L= Lightning Q= Quest V= Virus

C= Cyclone H= Hurricane M= Magic R= Racer W= Wind

D= Daredevil I= Ice N= Ninja S= Storm X= eXplorer

E= Energy J= Jet O= Oasis T= Thunder Y/Z= Zip


Clue # 1 • The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great

Britain.• The War of 1812 settled issues that were left unresolved during the

Revolutionary War. It is sometimes referred to as the "Second War of Independence."

• The war was fought from 1812 to 1815 on both land and sea.• During the War of 1812, more soldiers died from disease than from

battle.• At the time, Britain was at war with France. Britain tried to interfere

with trade between America and France. • Both the British and the French thought American ships were

providing the other side with weapons, supplies and food.• Britain placed trade restrictions that the U.S. felt were illegal under

international law. • America declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812.

• The United States was under the leadership of…


• There were several factors that led to the War of 1812.• Britain allied with Native American tribes to prevent the United

States from expanding west.• The British refused to allow trade between the United States and

Europe.• Over half of the British forces were Canadian volunteers because

most British soldiers were fighting Napoleon. Military leader Napoleon Bonaparte was trying to conquer Europe.

• The British needed more soldiers to fight the French. They captured U.S. ships and forced sailors to join the British navy. This

was called impressment. • A wooden American naval ship, the U.S.S. Constitution, earned the

nickname of “Old Ironsides” and never lost a battle.• When the War of 1812 began the British had 600 ships and the…

Clue # 2


________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

..- -. .. - . -.. ... - .- - . ...

--- -. .-.. -.-- .... .- -..

. .. --. .... - . . -.

Clue # 3


_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

• The first U.S. attack was on a British colony in Canada. U.S. troops were inexperienced and easily defeated by the British.

• Things began to turn around in 1813 when Americans claimed victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.

• Native American leaders allied with the British in hopes of gaining land for the tribes. William Henry Harrison led the American army to

victory in the Battle of Thames.• In the south, Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek Indians at Horseshoe

Bend, Alabama.• In August of 1814, British forces landed in Maryland and burned

America’s capital to the ground, including the White House. • In the Battle of Baltimore, British ships bombed Fort McHenry for 25

hours. Eventually, U.S. troops forced the British to withdraw. • Francis Scott Key, a young lawyer, watched the battle from a nearby

ship. When the smoke finally cleared he saw the American flag still flying over the fort. He wrote a poem which read, “our flag was still there.” His famous lines later became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

• During that time the American flag…

Clue # 4


________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

• The British knew they couldn’t continue fighting the War of 1812 and fighting Napoleon.

• In December of 1814, the U.S. and Great Britain signed a peace treaty called the Treaty of Ghent. The war was officially over when Congress

ratified the treaty in February 1815.• No boundary changes resulted from the War of 1812.

• Word of the treaty did not reach Louisiana for weeks. The greatest battle, the Battle of New Orleans, occurred 15 days after the treaty was

signed. • The war’s end brought about an "Era of good feelings" to the United

States. The new nation had battled the world’s greatest military power and stood its ground. A sense of pride and Patriotism swept the country.

• When the war had finished, 1,600 British and 2,260 American troops had died.

• Both Britain and the United States spent…

433331 32343311243111 52424531 53421313424333 11431313412454

4 Digit Code

_________

_________

_________

_________

First number of code :The number of stars on the American flag during the War of 1812 MINUS 6.

Second number of code :The number of ships the U.S. had at the beginning of the war MINUS 11.

Third number of code :What number is represented by

“ _ _ _ . .” ?

Last number of code :What number is the letter “N” in clue #1?

Four things I learned…Write a 1-2 sentence summary from each clue. You must use complete

sentences and your OWN words.Clue 1 ____________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________Clue 2 ____________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________Clue 3:

Clue 4


A = N =

B = O = 19

C = P = 8

D = Q =

E = R =

F = 6 S = 9

G = T = 21

H = 14 U = 12

I = V =

J = 17 W =

K = X =

L = Y =

M = 26 Z =


1 2 3 4 5

1 D B E C

2 K H I/J F

3 P N O M

4 T R Q S

5 Z X V W


Clue # 1 Answer • The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great

Britain.• The War of 1812 settled issues that were left unresolved during the

Revolutionary War. It is sometimes referred to as the "Second War of Independence."

• The war was fought from 1812 to 1815 on both land and sea.• During the War of 1812, more soldiers died from disease than from

battle.• At the time, Britain was at war with France. Britain tried to interfere

with trade between America and France. • Both the British and the French thought American ships were

providing the other side with weapons, supplies and food.• Britain placed trade restrictions that the U.S. felt were illegal under

international law. • America declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812.

• The United States was under the leadership of…


• There were several factors that led to the War of 1812.• Britain allied with Native American tribes to prevent the United

States from expanding west.• The British refused to allow trade between the United States and

Europe.• Over half of the British forces were Canadian volunteers because

most British soldiers were fighting Napoleon. Military leader Napoleon Bonaparte was trying to conquer Europe.

• The British needed more soldiers to fight the French. They captured U.S. ships and forced sailors to join the British navy. This

was called impressment. • A wooden American naval ship, the U.S.S. Constitution, earned the

nickname of “Old Ironsides” and never lost a battle.• When the War of 1812 began the British had 600 ships and the…

Clue # 2 Answer


________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

United Statesonly hadeighteen

Clue # 3 Answer


_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

• The first U.S. attack was on a British colony in Canada. U.S. troops were inexperienced and easily defeated by the British.

• Things began to turn around in 1813 when Americans claimed victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.

• Native American leaders allied with the British in hopes of gaining land for the tribes. William Henry Harrison led the American army to

victory in the Battle of Thames.• In the south, Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek Indians at Horseshoe

Bend, Alabama.• In August of 1814, British forces landed in Maryland and burned

America’s capital to the ground, including the White House. • In the Battle of Baltimore, British ships bombed Fort McHenry for 25

hours. Eventually, U.S. troops forced the British to withdraw. • Francis Scott Key, a young lawyer, watched the battle from a nearby

ship. When the smoke finally cleared he saw the American flag still flying over the fort. He wrote a poem which read, “our flag was still there.” His famous lines later became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

• During that time the American flag…

had fifteen stars and

stripes

Clue # 4 Answer


________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

• The British knew they couldn’t continue fighting the War of 1812 and fighting Napoleon.

• In December of 1814, the U.S. and Great Britain signed a peace treaty called the Treaty of Ghent. The war was officially over when Congress

ratified the treaty in February 1815.• No boundary changes resulted from the War of 1812.

• Word of the treaty did not reach Louisiana for weeks. The greatest battle, the Battle of New Orleans, occurred 15 days after the treaty was

signed. • The war’s end brought about an "Era of good feelings" to the United

States. The new nation had battled the world’s greatest military power and stood its ground. A sense of pride and Patriotism swept the country.

• When the war had finished, 1,600 British and 2,260 American troops had died.

• Both Britain and the United States spent…

one hundred five million dollars

1 2 3 4 5

1 D B E A C

2 K G H I/J

F

3 L P N O M

4 T R U Q S

5 Y Z X V W

4 Digit Code Answer

_____9____

Four things I learned…Write a 1-2 sentence summary from each clue. You must use complete sentences and your

OWN words.Clue 1 ___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________Clue 2 ___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________Clue 3

Clue 4

_____7____

_____8____

_____5____

First number of code :The number of stars on the American flag during the War of 1812 MINUS 6.15-6=9(found in clue #3)

Second number of code :The number of ships the U.S. had at the beginning of the war MINUS 11.18-11=7(found in clue # 2)

Third number of code :What number is represented by

“ _ _ _ . . ” ?

Last number of code :What number is the letter “N” in clue #1?


________________________________

survived the War of 1812

Escape Room!

________________________________


Escape Room!

________________________________


Escape Room!

________________________________


Escape Room!


A = N =

B = O = 19

C = P = 8

D = Q =

E = R =

F = 6 S = 9

G = T = 21

H = 14 U = 12

I = V =

J = 17 W =

K = X =

L = Y =

M = 26 Z =


Clu

e #

1


Clu

e #

2


Clu

e #

3

1 2 3 4 5

1 D B E C

2 K H I/J F

3 P N O M

4 T R Q S

5 Z X V W


Clu

e #

4

How to read aPigPen Cipher


How to read a Polybius Cipher

1 2 3 4 5

1 D B E A C2 K G H I/

JF

3 L P N O M

4 T R U Q S

5 Y Z X V WThink Tank Copyright 2018

How to decode a cryptogram

BASIC SOLVING TECHNIQUES:Fill in as many letters as you can. Once you determine a letter, you can use that letter over for every entry. For example: If you know the word

is “THE” and the “H” is represented by the number 22, then every number 22 will be an “H”.

•Scan through the cryptogram looking for single-letter words. They’re almost always an A or I. •Scan the numbers: The most frequent number is probably E. It could also be T, A, or O. •Pencil in your guesses. Be prepared to erase and change your guesses!•Look for apostrophes. They’re usually followed by D, S, T, M, RE or LL.•Look for a repeating pattern. They may be common letter groups, such as SH, TH, RE, CH, TR, ING or ION.•Try to decode shorter words first.

• The most common two-letter words are OF, TO, IN, IS, and IT.• The most common three-letter words are THE, AND, FOR,

WAS and HIS.• The most common four-letter word is THAT.

**Just enough letters will be given for students to determine letters in other words ☺


the


ALL


GENIUS!


#WEDIDIT!

Thi

nk T

ank

Cop

yrig

ht 2

018

#WEDIDIT!

#WEDIDIT!

PUZZLE

MASTER


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