5 Ways to Use a Think Outside the Bag Kit in Any Subject

You don’t need a pre-made escape room to create big classroom excitement. You already have everything you need — your lessons, your worksheets, your activities. The Think Outside the Bag Kit just gives you the tools to lock it up, hide it, and make the reveal unforgettable.

We’ve even made a one-page printable for you. Use it as a quick reference for turning any lesson into a hands-on mission your students will love.

1. Puzzle Stations - Divide your classroom into stations, each with a clue, question, or mini-task. As students work through each station, they earn the right to move on. It could be solving math problems, matching vocabulary words, or putting historical events in order. The lockable bags from your Think Outside the Bag Kit keeps the “next step” secure until they’ve cracked the code.

2. Code Breakers - Every answer can become a key. Turn correct responses into numbers, letters, or words that make up a final combination. Maybe it’s the sum of three math problems, the first letter of five vocabulary answers, or the year of a key historical event. The fun isn’t just in getting the right answer — it’s in figuring out how the answers fit together.

3. Hidden Messages - Sometimes the thrill is in spotting what’s been hiding in plain sight. You can highlight certain words in a reading passage, create an acrostic from a list of answers, or tuck clues into a diagram. Students love that “aha!” moment when they realize their lesson material is part of a bigger puzzle.

4. Team Missions - Split your class into small groups and assign each group a different part of the overall challenge. One group might be working with a cipher, another decoding a math equation, another solving a logic puzzle. They can’t open the final lock until every team’s work comes together — a built-in lesson in collaboration.

5. Timed Challenges - Add a countdown clock for instant adrenaline. It could be 30 minutes to open all the locks, 15 minutes to crack a specific code, or a race to beat the other half of the class. The time pressure keeps students focused and makes the moment the lock clicks open even more satisfying.

The beauty of the Think Outside the Bag Kit is its flexibility — you can use it with any lesson, any subject, and any grade level. You bring the content. The Think Outside the Bag Kit brings the tools to make it interactive, memorable, and just plain fun.

Want a quick reference?

Download your free “5 Ways to Use a Think Outside the Bag Kit” PDF and keep it handy for your next lesson.