Using Differentiated Instruction in the Teaching Profession
Slaughterhouse Five
The Pigpen Cipher Code was used as part of the novel breakout box to solve the clue on the back wall. The code was on the wall all semester long so that the students were not aware it was part of the game. It can be a simple message that can be part of the game or a "decoy" (as it was used in my activity) giving students the chance to use their critical thinking skills.
As part of the beginning package of information, students were given a crossword puzzle focusing on the novel (the crossword puzzle was a little time consuming but the questions and answers covered notes that were taken / discussed in class). Because this was a clue to the code to one of the locks on the box, students did not have to complete the entire puzzle as long as they were able to find all the answers that contained spelled out numbers to unlock the lock.
As part of the clues to unlock another lock on the outside of the larger box, students were given six - seven playing cards. There was a clue on the envelope to help students figure out the year that was needed to solve the clue.
The directional lock was the hardest to create. I used the white board in the back of the room where all the dates were written out with a clue on the box. Students were to use the ultraviolet light to find the correct directions on the board. However, there were some "decoy" directions as well so students needed to use their notes to find the correct date with the correct set of directions for the lock.
Another important aspect to the novel was how many times Kurt Vonnegut wrote the phrase, "So it goes" in his novel. He used it 106 times, which is also his platoon number. This is one of the clues to open the 3-digit lock. The number 106 was displayed all around the classroom in various ways. Students were to look around the room (without opening anything) to figure out the code. Students were to collaborate with each other to solve it.
These are just a few different ways to be creative in organizing and creating your breakout box activities. Here are a few examples:
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tape clues to the bottom of boxes
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use snote.com to create a hidden phrase that can be used to lead to another clue or to solve a lock
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use an extra book or copy a page from a book to leave inside one of the boxes. You can underline, circle words, or use the invisible ink pen for a clue or code.
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use a quote from the novel (printed on paper) or several quotes that were discussed in class or famous quotes that students would remember where it was in the book. The page can lead to another clue or (what I did was use the quote and the page number was to solve one of the locks).
