education Archives - Teacher's Brain

Unlock Learning with These Fun Escape Room Activities for First Grade

July 18, 2025 teachersbrain education, Teaching Tips

If you’re looking for a way to get your first graders excited about learning while also sneaking in essential ELA and math skills, look no further, this Escape Room ELA and Math Bundle for First Grade is a total game-changer!

These printable escape room activities are packed with mystery, teamwork, and skill-building fun. Whether you’re trying to spice up your weekly centers, celebrate a holiday, or need something engaging for a sub day, these ready-to-use challenges are a hit with both students and teachers.

What’s Included in the Bundle?

This bundle includes nine themed escape room activities that cover everything from sight words and reading comprehension to math, word building, and even a back-to-school icebreaker. Each escape room features printable clues, puzzle pieces, “locks,” and even a fun YouTube hook video to grab your students’ attention right from the start.

All you need to do is print, prep the envelopes, and you’re ready to go. Most teachers report needing just 40–45 minutes of prep time—totally doable even during a busy week!

Why Teachers Love It

🧩 Cross-Curricular Fun – You’ll reinforce important ELA and math skills while your students feel like they’re playing a game.

🎉 High Engagement – Students work together to solve clues, building not just academic skills but also collaboration and critical thinking.

📚 Versatile Use – These activities are perfect for holidays, review days, or just when your class needs something a little extra fun.

And the best part? Students feel so accomplished when they “escape” and earn their certificates!

A Little Teacher Tip…

Try splitting your class into small teams and giving each one a set of clues. Set a timer, play some suspenseful music, and let the problem-solving begin! This setup works beautifully for observations or fun Fridays.

Whether you’re a fan of escape rooms yourself or just want to bring something fresh into your classroom, this bundle is an engaging way to reinforce key skills and create memorable learning moments.

👉 Click here to grab the Escape Room ELA and Math BUNDLE for First Grade!

Let the learning (and escaping) begin!

Looking for more escape room fun? Check out my post here!

5 Reasons Educational Escape Rooms Keep First Graders Engaged

April 25, 2025 teachersbrain education, Teaching Tips

If your first graders are getting wiggly during lessons, it might be time to shake things up! Educational escape rooms are a fun, hands-on way to review key ELA and math skills—and they might just be the secret to keeping your students focused and excited to learn. If you’re looking for escape room ideas or educational escape room activities for your elementary students, you’re in the right spot!

Here are five reasons to give them a try in your classroom!

1. They Turn Learning Into an Adventure
Escape rooms are packed with puzzles, clues, and surprises that turn everyday lessons into exciting challenges. Students are eager to participate because they feel like they’re part of a game—not a worksheet.

2. They Reinforce ELA and Math Skills in a Fun Way
These activities are a sneaky way to review important first grade standards. From solving math problems to reading clues and following directions, students are practicing key skills while having a blast.

3. They Build Teamwork and Social Skills
Working together to “escape” encourages students to listen, take turns, and communicate clearly. It’s a great way to build classroom community while practicing real-life social skills.

4. They’re Easy to Prep with the Right Resource
Don’t let the idea of escape rooms overwhelm you. This Escape Room ELA and Math Bundle for First Grade includes everything you need. Just print, prep, and go! The challenges are designed specifically for first graders, making it simple to use right away.

5. They Work in So Many Classroom Settings
Whether you use them for centers, early finishers, Fun Friday, or whole-group review, escape rooms are super flexible. They’re a great way to break up your routine while keeping learning meaningful.

🎉 Ready to make learning feel like an adventure with escape rooms?

Grab the ELA and Math Escape Room Bundle for First Grade and bring the fun to your classroom today!

👉 Want more ideas for using escape rooms in your classroom?
Check out this helpful post: Escape Rooms in the Classroom: Tips for Fun and Educational Adventures

How to Turn Any Lesson into a Game

December 6, 2024 teachersbrain education, Reading, Teaching Tips

Engaging young learners can sometimes feel like a challenge, but there’s one strategy that never fails: turning lessons into games! Games not only make learning fun, but they also encourage participation, foster teamwork, and help students retain information better. If you’re looking for fun games for the classroom, I’m here to help.

Here are a few simple ways to make your lessons fun and playful learning experiences with games:

1. Add a Competitive Twist

Kids love a friendly competition! For example, during a math lesson, turn solving problems into a relay race where teams take turns solving equations. Award points for each correct answer and celebrate the winning team with a classroom cheer or small prize.

2. Use Movement to Energize

Incorporate physical activity into lessons. For a phonics game, tape letters around the classroom and have students hop to the correct one after hearing a sound. Movement-based games keep students engaged and help them burn off extra energy.

3. Gamify Daily Routines

Everyday classroom routines can become games too! For example, during cleanup time, challenge students to beat the clock or compete to see who can sort materials the fastest. You can even track their progress over time for a class reward.

4. Create Mystery Challenges

Add an element of mystery to your lessons! For example, during a reading activity, create a treasure hunt where students need to find clues (words or phrases) in their books to solve a puzzle. This encourages critical thinking while keeping the excitement high.

5. Leverage Ready-Made Educational Games

Don’t have the time to make all of these fun games? I understand! You can save time and energy by using pre-made resources that are already designed to turn learning into a game. These tools are perfect for reinforcing skills without extra prep on your part.

For instance, my Phonemic Awareness Activities, Games, Assessments, and Posters resource includes engaging games that help students develop those crucial foundational literacy skills. Whether you’re teaching rhyming, syllables, or beginning sounds, these activities will keep your students entertained while they learn, pinky promise!

By incorporating games into your lessons, you can transform even the most challenging concepts into enjoyable and memorable learning experiences. If you’re ready to gamify your classroom and make phonemic awareness practice effortless, check out this resource today—it’s a game-changer!

I hope you love these quick games to play in the classroom. What are your favorite ways to play in the classroom? Let me know in the comments! For more classroom activity ideas, check out my post on how to make writing fun here!

5 Fun New Year’s Activities to Start the Semester Strong

November 23, 2024 teachersbrain education, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips, Winter

The New Year is the perfect time to reset and inspire excitement for the semester ahead. As our elementary students return to the classroom, creating a mix of engaging and reflective activities can set a positive tone for learning. If you’re looking for New Year’s activities for kids or New Year’s crafts, you’re in the right place!

Here are five fun New Year’s activities for your K-2 students:

1. Resolution Writing Craftivity

Kick off the year by helping students reflect on their goals with this fun and interactive craft! The New Year’s 2024 Activities Resolution Writing Craftivity is a hit with young learners. Students can write their resolutions, practice handwriting, and create a festive craft to display in the classroom. I love this activity because it encourages goal-setting while giving students a sense of accomplishment.

2. Create a Time Capsule

Help students capture memories by creating a New Year’s time capsule! Include drawings of favorite moments from the previous year, current handwriting samples, or a small item that represents them. Seal the capsules to open at the end of the school year—it’s a great way to reflect on personal growth!

3. Countdown Math Challenges

Turn New Year’s into a math opportunity with fun countdown-themed challenges. For example, practice counting backward from 10, work on simple addition or subtraction problems, or create a math game where students solve problems to reach midnight on a classroom clock.

4. Make “All About Me in the New Year” Posters

Let students express their hopes and dreams for the upcoming year. Provide templates with prompts like “This year I want to learn…” or “My favorite thing about school is…” This creative project can double as a classroom decoration.

5. New Year’s Movement Break

Shake off the winter break energy with a New Year’s-themed movement activity! Play music, and have students perform actions like “jump like fireworks” or “freeze like a snowflake.” Incorporating movement helps students transition back into the classroom routine.

Each of these activities creates opportunities for fun, reflection, and growth. If you’re looking for another easy, engaging way to jump into the new semester, don’t miss this New Year pennant activity! It’s a fantastic way to start the year on a positive note!

What are your favorite ways to bring in the new year with your students? Let me know in the comments!

If you want more holiday fun, check out my post here!