Digital Art - Illusion Art - Writing - Narrative to matched the escape room they have created.children can create their escape rooms based on their own passions / interests - Invite in people from local escape rooms to talk with the children - Movement link with collaboration and orientation - solving mini challenges.

Wonder

Fish in a Tree

A Long Walk to Water

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief.

(see Google doc for descriptions)

Supplementary texts of short stories, biographies, events - NZ context:

• Tūi Street Tales - Seven short stories set in NZ. European Fairy-tale genre with a modern NZ context.

• Dame Whina Copper / The Maori Land March 1975

• The Springbok Tour Protests 1981

• The Rainbow Warrior Sinking 1985

• Sir Peter Blake / The America’s Cup Wins

• Jean Batten

• Sir Edmund Hillary & Mount Everest

• Kate Sheppard

🔹 Strong Contemporary Themes

• Wonder by R. J. Palacio

  • Themes: kindness, bullying, empathy, resilience.

  • Great for vocabulary: figurative language, shifts in narration.

  • Sparks discussion: How do we treat people who are different?

• Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

  • Themes: learning differences, identity, perseverance.

  • Comprehension focus: character motivation, metaphors ("fish in a tree").

  • Relatable for students who struggle academically or socially.

🔹 Historical Novels for Empathy & Perspective

• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

  • Themes: courage, justice, friendship, prejudice.

  • Vocabulary challenges: historical terms, figurative expressions.

  • Discussion-rich: What does it mean to be brave?

• Once by Morris Gleitzman

  • Themes: survival, truth, innocence vs. harsh reality.

  • Short, powerful chapters — excellent for whole-class read-aloud and comprehension pauses.

  • Gives space for discussion of perspective and voice.

🔹 Survival & Adventure (Engages Reluctant Readers)

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

  • Themes: survival, problem-solving, inner strength.

  • Excellent for cause-and-effect comprehension and technical vocabulary (nature, survival).

  • Great “what would you do?” discussion prompts.

🔹 Magical Realism / Fantasy with Depth

• Skellig by David Almond

  • Themes: hope, illness, mystery, friendship.

  • Rich in figurative and symbolic language — fantastic for vocabulary study.

  • Encourages inference and discussion about belief, healing, and imagination.

• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

  • Themes: grief, truth, acceptance.

  • Poetic language, symbolism — excellent for close reading and rich vocab work.

  • High discussion value: facing fears, what makes a story true?

• Survival in Extreme Environments

  • Challenge: How could humans survive on Mars / in the deep sea?

  • Task: Research conditions (temperature, oxygen, pressure, food) and design a model or presentation of survival solutions.

  • STEAM link: Engineering a habitat, math for resource calculations, art/design for visualisation.

• Bridge of Straws

  • Challenge: Build the strongest bridge using only straws and tape.

  • Science link: Forces and materials.

  • Reflection: What made it challenging? How did you adapt your design?

⚙️ Technology

• Coding a Maze Escape

  • Challenge: Program a robot (or Scratch sprite) to escape a maze in the shortest number of steps.

  • Extension: Add obstacles, time limits, or traps that increase difficulty.

• App for a Problem

  • Challenge: Design an app that helps people face a real-world challenge (e.g., staying active, saving money, learning languages).

  • Focus on user needs, problem-solving, and creativity.

🎨 Engineering + Arts

• Egg Drop Challenge

  • Challenge: Create a container that protects an egg from breaking when dropped.

  • Engineering: Material choice and design.

  • Arts: Presenting your design visually with labelled diagrams.

  • Reflection: How did you overcome the challenge of limited materials?

• Musical Instrument Build

  • Challenge: Build a working musical instrument from recycled materials.

  • Science: Sound and vibration.

  • Arts: Creativity in design and performance.

📏 Mathematics

• Tower of Numbers

  • Challenge: Build the tallest tower possible using 20 playing cards (no tape/glue).

  • Link to geometry and balance.

  • Reflect: Which mathematical shapes are most stable under pressure?

• Escape Room Maths

  • Challenge: Solve a series of puzzles to unlock a “final code.”

  • Incorporates fractions, measurement, and problem-solving.

  • Links directly to your idea of creating classroom escape rooms.

🌍 Integrated Project

• Design a Challenge Course

  • Task: In groups, design a physical or mental “challenge course” (like a mini Survivor obstacle or puzzle station).

  • Science: Balance, forces.

  • Technology/Engineering: Safe structure design.

  • Art: Layout/design.

  • Maths: Measurements, scaling.

  • Reflection: How do humans respond to challenges physically and mentally?

Make a 3d city based on 3d shapes that they make. The students then create the city on a big cardboard base, add in grid references

People in people in history, sports people, people with additional needs

Great question! If students are exploring the concept of challenge, they’ll benefit from reading across a range of texts that highlight what a challenge is, how people respond to it, and the different forms it can take. Here are some directions you could take:

1. Personal Challenges

• Stories or biographies about people overcoming obstacles (e.g. Helen Keller, Malala Yousafzai, Bethany Hamilton).

• Accounts of children or teens facing difficulties (illness, moving to a new country, bullying, learning difficulties) and showing resilience.

2. Physical Challenges

• Adventure or survival stories (e.g. climbing Everest, crossing deserts, explorers, endurance sports).

• Fiction with characters tackling dangerous or demanding situations (Hatchet, The Explorer).

3. Moral and Ethical Challenges

• Texts where characters face tough decisions about right and wrong.

• Historical accounts (e.g. people resisting injustice, civil rights movements).

4. Social Challenges

• Stories about fitting in, standing up to peer pressure, or navigating friendship conflicts.

• Accounts of communities working together to solve a shared problem.

5. Cultural / Global Challenges

• Articles or stories about climate change, poverty, or endangered species—issues that require perseverance and innovation.

• Refugee or migration stories that show resilience in the face of upheaval.

6. Growth Through Challenge

• Inspirational speeches, poems, or short texts about perseverance, grit, or growth mindset.

• Fables or myths where the hero undergoes trials before success (e.g. Hercules, Māori legends of Māui).

7. Everyday Challenges for Kids

• Managing time, trying a new skill, learning from mistakes, building confidence.

• Texts that normalize failure as part of learning.

The Great Marble Challenge - Connected 2014 level 4 - What’s the Evidence? (science connection)

Robot Challenge - School Journal Level 3 October 2013 (STEM focus)

Ask Eddie - School Journal Level 2 April 2013 (challenges for Māori)

1. Build the Tallest Tower – Using only straws, paper, or blocks.

2. Design a Superhero – Draw and describe their powers.

3. Story Chain – Each child adds one sentence to make a group story.

4. Nature Art – Create art from leaves, sticks, or stones.

5. Invent a New Game – Kids create their own rules and test them.

1. Random Acts of Kindness – Who can do the most in a day?

2. Compliment Chain – Everyone gives a compliment to someone else.

3. Helping Hand Challenge – Find a way to help three people today.

4. Gratitude Wall – Write or draw what you’re thankful for.

5. Include Everyone – Create a plan to make sure no one is left out.