Escape the Music Room (Vanishing Violin) – An Unlock the Box Activity Set

The activities included in this Escape the Music Room (Unlock the Box) set is highly engaging and a great way to utilize critical thinking (logic) and knowledge of musical instruments/families. It’s an exciting way to review the four instrument families at the beginning of the year, after a unit, during Music in Our Schools Month or at the end of the year! The mission for this set asks students to help find the missing object (violin). This set is designed so that students work together in four separate teams trying to solve all of the puzzles/clues however you could provide a complete set of activities to each group. A PPT is included with video links for the mission(you need access to either YouTube or SafeShare) OR you can use the paper copies. Each activity solved (four are included) reveals a combination lock code. Hint cards (with rhyming clues) are included for you to help coach/guide your students to success as well as a tracking sheet.

You can determine how many minutes your students have to accomplish the tasks for this mission (based on how long you meet with your class). The mission should be completed anywhere from 30-45 minutes (depending on the age/skill level of your students). I have added 30 and 40 minute countdown timers (as PPT Slideshow) as well as Google Links. To access everything in this file you will need the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, PowerPoint and a Google account.The musical skills students will need to know for this version of “Escape the Music Room” include: 1) identifying characteristics of string, woodwind, brass and percussion families (i.e. materials instruments are made from, how sound is produced) OR reading an orchestra seating chart, 2) identifying members of the string, woodwind, brass and percussion families, and 3) identifying/matching instrument names with their corresponding pictures.

Specific skills addressed in this set include:

♬ note names/values (whole, dotted half note, half, quarter, single eighth, single sixteenth, barred eighth, barred sixteenth notes – 1 optional version of a worksheet includes ti-tika)

♬ treble clef (names of lines and spaces)

♬ meter (2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and 5/4; students place bar lines in appropriate places)

♬ identifying/recognizing music symbols (whole, dotted half note, half, quarter, single eighth, single sixteenth, barred eighth, barred sixteenth notes, treble clef, bar line, final bar line, repeat sign, staff and time signature)

Included:

✔ specific detailed list/pictures of materials needed

✔ step-by-step prep work (such as codes to set on your locks, instrument pictures to place in lockbox, circling certain letters & a word to reveal the final clue via UV flashlight, etc.)

✔ step-by-step directions (with pictures) of how to play

✔ PPT Presentation with video links (YouTube & SafeShare) for The Mission

✔ PPT Presentation with Google links for 40 and 30 minute counters (with audio)

✔ PPT Slideshow (plays automatically when clicked on) for 40 minute countdown timer

✔ PPT Slideshow (plays automatically when clicked on) for 30 minute countdown timer

✔ 2 worksheet versions and styles of Activity 1 (Describe That Instrument or Concert Hall Stage Area) to allow for learning capabilities and differences

✔ Activity 2 – Crack the Code (easy chart version)

✔ 4 versions of Activity 3 Puzzles (8, 12, 18 and 24 piece versions)

✔ Activity 4 – (Don’t You Just Love the Violin?)

✔ hint cards with printed rhyming clues to help your students; different styles and format available

✔ answers for all the worksheets

✔ signs that say “We Escaped the Music Room” (great for a photo op!)

✔ color and B&W options

✔ brag tags (in color and B&W) – great to hand out for those classes who successfully complete the mission

✔ 2 versions (1-circle the facial expressions; 1-fill in answers) of a reflection

You can always do this activity without the actual locks -simply have your students show their “code answers” on the worksheets to you before handing them the next task (worksheet). If you want…you can purchase the following additional items (I purchased all of mine from Amazon and each ranged anywhere from $5-10.):

1-toolbox or tacklebox (that locks can be attached to)

1-hasp lock (all of the other locks will be attached to this)

1-5 letter “word” lock

1-4 digit number lock

1-directional lock

1-padlock with key

1-UV (ultraviolet) marker to circle letters

1-UV (ultraviolet) flashlight

1-bottle of hand sanitizer (to hide the key under, behind or around)

Camera or phone (optional) – to take photos

This is PACKED with items and information to help you be successful and to “lighten your load.”