What makes an escape room a science escape room? Well this was the same question I was asking myself when my favorite neighborhood bookstore – Village Books – asked if I could put on a Science Escape Room author event for them.
First, I knew I needed to go buy some locks – combination locks and keyed locks. Then I started to brainstorm science experiments that could be used as clues. It turns out there are several we have done here on She Loves Science over the years that were perfect! You can make your own science escape room too!
1. Hidden Message with Invisible Ink: Buy a few easy puzzles, write a clue with invisible ink, then have a UV flashlight help lead to the next clue. This is the invisible ink pen we used on Amazon!
2. Acid / Base Color Change: Blend up some red cabbage and water and you have an easy pH indicator for the scientist to guess which mystery liquid should be added to it to turn colors. Hint: vinegar will turn red cabbage juice pink and laundry detergent will turn it blue!
3. Recovering a Key with Magnets: Fill a solo cup with water, beads, and a key. Then cover the top of a solo cup with packing tape and cut out a small hole large enough to get a key out. Use a magnet to try and fish the key out without getting the magnet wet or turning over the cup! (this was also a great motor skills challenge!)
5. Blowing up a Balloon with Carbon Dioxide: Write the next clue on a balloon and then have the scientists use the balloon filled with baking soda and bottles filled with vinegar to blow up balloons like this.
6. Use a Magnifying Glass: Write the next clue so little that you need to use a magnifying glass to read it! (Now they’ll know what it feels to be over 40 like me! 😉)
7. Nature Clues: If you can take your Escape Room outside, use clues found in nature like Fibonacci ones.
8. Hidden Messages: This is one of my favorite ones that you can’t see in the daylight but you can see at night with a flashlight!
9. Clues inside Science Books: What’s more fun that science clues hidden inside books? Hint: The year Halley’s Comet returns to Earth is a great number for a combination lock. Send your scientist looking for the answer in the back of Halley Harper; Science Girl Extraordinaire: Summer Set in Motion!
To make the Science Escape Room a bit more challenging for older scientist add a few ciphers to the clues like these:
1. Highlighting or Underlining letters: Underline a few letters to form the next clue like this.
Q: She sells seashells by the seashore.
A: The next clue is found where everyone eats (in the kitchen!)
2. Morse Code: Use Morse code to find the next clue
3. Backwards Writing: Use a mirror help with this next clue like this.
4. Popping Balloons: Blow up a few balloons in varying colors and have an earlier clue lead to the color balloon with a clue inside it!
5. Solve a Science Riddle: like these to lead to the next clue.
6. Phone passcodes: Have a clue solve the passcode to unlock your phone. Once your phone is unlocked have your home screen picture be where the next clue is hidden.
7. Pinball maze: (UPDATED 2024): I found these amazing gift card holders on Amazon and thought they would make an amazing addition to unlocking a clue! Check them out here.
To be honest, the challenging work of making your own escape room is the logic behind hiding and solving the clues in order. If you are interested in purchasing a already solved and packaged Halley Harper Escape Room please contact me here. Until then – have fun figuring out how to escape from science! 😉
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