RSD2 ALERT: Reading and Media Literacy
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      • Research: Big Plans
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      • Research: What Lincoln Said
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    • Read Alouds >
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      • Habits of Mind >
        • Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations
        • Creating, Imagining, Innovating
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        • Managing Impulsivity
        • Metacognition (Thinking about Thinking)
        • Persisting
        • Questioning and Problem Solving
        • Responding with Wonderment and Awe
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        • Taking Responsible Risks
        • Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision
        • Thinking Flexibly
        • Thinking Interdependently
      • Math Read-Alouds
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      • U.S. Government in Storybooks
  • Reference
    • Atlas of Science Literacy
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    • Etymology Dictionary
    • Fallacies
    • The Federalist Papers
    • Philosophy >
      • Stoicism
    • Project 2061: Science Literacy
    • Real World Research Connections
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  • Music
    • Mr. D. Celebrations
    • Adventure Music
    • Chrome Music Lab
    • Classical Music
    • Fantasy Music >
      • Wild About Harry
    • Historical Eras in Music >
      • Colonial Era Music
      • Georgian Music
      • Federal Period Music
      • Greek Revival Music
      • Victorian Era Music >
        • Italianate Music
        • Romanesque Revival Music
        • Gothic Revival Music
        • Second Empire
        • Queen Anne Music
      • Stick, Shingle, Arts and Crafts Music
      • Prairie Style Inspired Music
      • Early 20th Century Revivals >
        • French Revival Music
        • Spanish Revival
        • Tudor Revival
        • Mediterranean Revival
      • Art Deco Music
    • Journaling Music
    • Literature-Music Connections
    • Mystery Music
    • Science Fiction Music >
      • Star Wars
    • Stage Musicals >
      • Blue Man Group
      • Hamilton!
    • WeVideo Safe Music Tracks
    • World Music >
      • Ancient Egypt
      • Arabic Music--Southwest Asia
      • Indian Music--South Asia
      • Persian Music--South Central Asia
      • Russian Music
  • Imagery
    • The Physical Universe
    • The Living Environment
    • The Human Experience
    • The Designed World
    • The Life of Strength and Grace
    • The Life of the Mind
  • Languages
    • Language Learners
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    • Language Pronunciation >
      • Pronunciation: Getting Started
      • Arabic Pronunciation
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      • French Pronunciation
      • German Pronunciation
      • Italian Pronunciation
      • Japanese Pronunciation
      • Korean Pronunciation
      • Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation
      • Russian Pronunciation
      • Spanish Pronunciation
  • Breakout!
    • Breakout EDU Overview
    • Breakout EDU Coaching
    • Breakout EDU Timers
    • Breakout EDU Tools and Templates
    • Spaceteam!
    • Codes and Ciphers >
      • Caesar Shift and Wheel Ciphers
      • International Maritime Signals
      • Hidden Writing
      • Morse Code
      • Pigpen Ciphers
      • Substitution Ciphers
      • Vigenere Polyalphabetic Cipher
      • Semaphore Flag Signals
      • Signals and Noise: The Importance of Taking Note
    • Breakout Puzzle Pages >
      • ALERT Architecture Breakout >
        • Breakout ALERT Architecture 1 >
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Logic Alpha >
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Logic Bravo
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Logic Charlie
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Logic Delta
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Logic Echo
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Logic Foxtrot
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Logic Golf
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Logic Hotel
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Gallery
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Geoguessr
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Quotes Alpha >
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Quotes Bravo
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Quotes Charlie
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Quotes Delta
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Quotes Echo
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Quotes Foxtrot
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Quotes Golf
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Quotes Hotel
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 1 Taking Note Alpha >
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 1 Taking Note Bravo
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 1 Taking Note Charlie
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 1 Taking Note Delta
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 1 Taking Note Echo
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 1 Taking Note Foxtrot
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 1 Taking Note Golf
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 1 Taking Note Hotel
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Timeline Alpha >
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Timeline Bravo
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Timeline Charlie
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Timeline Delta
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Timeline Echo
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Timeline Foxtrot
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Timeline Golf
            • Breakout EDU ALERT Architecture 01 Timeline Hotel
        • Breakout ALERT Arch 2 >
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Arch 2 Gallery
        • Breakout ALERT Arch 3 >
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Arch 3 Gallery
        • Breakout ALERT Arch 4 >
          • Breakout EDU ALERT Arch 4 Gallery
      • ALERT Engineering Breakout >
        • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Magazine
        • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Cover Art
        • Breakout EDU Engineering Cryptarithm
        • Breakout EDU Engineering Alpha Asteroids >
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Bravo Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Charlie Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Delta Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Echo Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Foxtrot Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Golf Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Hotel Asteroids
        • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix >
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix Alpha
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix Bravo
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix Charlie
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix Delta
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix Echo
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix Foxtrot
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix Golf
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Good Advice Matrix Hotel
        • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Word Lock >
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Alpha
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Bravo
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Charlie
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Delta
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Echo
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Foxtrot
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Golf
          • Breakout EDU Engineering eGFI Hotel
        • Breakout EDU Engineering Key Roman Engineering Accomplishments--Alpha >
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Key Roman Engineering Accomplishments--Bravo
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Key Roman Engineering Accomplishments--Charlie
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Key Roman Engineering Accomplishments--Delta
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Key Roman Engineering Accomplishments--Echo
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Key Roman Engineering Accomplishments--Foxtrot
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Key Roman Engineering Accomplishments--Golf
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Key Roman Engineering Accomplishments--Hotel
        • Breakout EDU Engineering Ubiquest--Alpha >
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Ubiquest--Bravo
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Ubiquest--Charlie
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Ubiquest--Delta
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Ubiquest--Echo
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Ubiquest--Foxtrot
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Ubiquest--Golf
          • Breakout EDU Engineering Ubiquest--Hotel
      • SPARK 3 American War Independence Breakout >
        • Breakout EDU3 AWI The Art of Independence Page
        • Breakout EDU3 AWI GeoGuessr Challenge
        • Breakout EDU3 Alpha Asteroids >
          • Breakout EDU3 Bravo Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU3 Charlie Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU3 Delta Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU3 Echo Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU3 Foxtrot Asteroids
        • Breakout EDU3 Alpha Time Traveler >
          • Breakout EDU3 Bravo Time Traveler
          • Breakout EDU3 Charlie Time Traveler
          • Breakout EDU3 Delta Time Traveler
          • Breakout EDU3 Echo Time Traveler
          • Breakout EDU3 Foxtrot Time Traveler
        • Breakout EDU3 Alpha Logic Puzzle >
          • Breakout EDU3 Bravo Logic Puzzle
          • Breakout EDU3 Charlie Logic Puzzle
          • Breakout EDU3 Delta Logic Puzzle
          • Breakout EDU3 Echo Logic Puzzle
          • Breakout EDU3 Foxtrot Logic Puzzle
      • SPARK 4 Westward Expansion Breakout >
        • Breakout EDU4 Westward GeoGuessr Challenge
        • Breakout EDU4 Westward Expansion Victory Page
      • SPARK 5 American Civil War Breakout >
        • Breakout EDU5 Alpha Asteroids >
          • Breakout EDU5 Bravo Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU5 Charlie Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU5 Delta Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU5 Echo Asteroids
          • Breakout EDU5 Foxtrot Asteroids
        • Breakout EDU5 Alpha Time Traveler >
          • Breakout EDU5 Bravo Time Traveler
          • Breakout EDU5 Charlie Time Traveler
          • Breakout EDU5 Delta Time Traveler
          • Breakout EDU5 Echo Time Traveler
          • Breakout EDU5 Foxtrot Time Traveler
        • Breakout EDU5 ACW Emancipation Proclamation
        • Breakout EDU5 ACW GeoGuessr Challenge
        • Breakout EDU5 ACW Gettysburg Address
        • Breakout EDU5 Alpha Logic Puzzle >
          • Breakout EDU5 Bravo Logic Puzzle
          • Breakout EDU5 Charlie Logic Puzzle
          • Breakout EDU5 Delta Logic Puzzle
          • Breakout EDU5 Echo Logic Puzzle
          • Breakout EDU5 Foxtrot Logic Puzzle
        • Breakout EDU5 ACW Chess
      • SPARK 2 European Exploration Breakout

Breakout EDU Coaching

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Preparations

Before Every Breakout Session:

  • Organize your desk or work area so everyone can enjoy the challenge.
  • You will need your Chromebook.
  • You will need to put all food and drink away to avoid spills and messes.
  • You should place all of your personal papers and books into a neat, stable stack or inside desks so clues, locks, keys, or other mystery objects are not hidden or lost.
  • Unless there are directions on the sheet or from the teacher, please do not draw or mark on cards, papers, or puzzles included in the Breakout challenge; these will be used by other classes, so marking clues may steal their joy of discovery (or give them an advantage, making them appear smarter and quicker than you in solving the puzzle)

Scanning now . . .

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Get a QR scanner to explore website links
during Breakout EDU challenges:
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​Review the details to ensure you are getting the app you need, then "add to Chrome."
If your school technology procedures or settings do not allow you to add apps,
use the "Search" bar with the letter of the box and Breakout topic instead.



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Frequent Frustrations: The Directional Lock

As exciting and unusual as it is, student teams often become frustrated with the directional lock portion of some challenges. Some tips--
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  • Review the short video below
  • Remember to press or squeeze the shackle ("U"-shaped piece) into the lock body twice before trying a new combination series.
  • Some sequences may be long and complex. Using scratch paper to lay out the sequence may help.
  • ​The spring that returns the center knob to the neutral position may catch, leaving the knob off center--extra effort to nudge it back to center may be detected as a push in the opposite direction. Squeezing the shackle twice and starting the sequence again may help.
  • Narrating your actions aloud using slow and deliberate motions may help: "Left, Left, Up, Up."
  • Follow the "Rule of Threes": make three attempts, then graciously give a teammate an opportunity to succeed. By the same rule, you should ensure teammates have their three attempts free of shouted advice or interference.
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Frequent Frustrations: Ciphers and Hidden Writing


During the challenge, there may be QR code links or puzzle activities where you may complete the task but it is not clear what you should do next. Be on the lookout for other information or graphics on the map, page, web page, or card. This may be in cipher form or in hidden writing.



Hidden Writing: While most of the puzzles or challenges can be solved with persistence and careful observation, from time to time additional clues or shortcuts may be revealed if you shine a little (ultraviolet) light on the subject (cards, maps, pages of text), or highlight a portion of the web page. For some puzzles, a hint in the form of an image of a lighthouse or scenes of illumination from popular science fiction or fantasy stories may tip you off to light it up! 
 
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Nothing to See Here . . . Or Is There?
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​Pig Pen Cipher: Any time a friendly pig or alien being is trying to communicate with you, chances are it is a variety of Pig Pen Cipher. Links to cipher-to-plaintext charts and computer programs to help you translate are here:

Pig Pen Cipher

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​Caesar Shift Cipher: Any time a Roman soldier, classical statuary, or a short guy in a toga is saying something, it is likely a Caesar Shift Cipher. A "shift" cipher uses the alphabet you are already familiar with to hide a message.  By rotating two alphabet disks so new combinations of letters line up, a message can stay hidden until the information no longer needs to be secret. Sometimes it is referred to as a wheel or rotation cipher (ROT13 means shift letters by 13, so "ABC" would now be "NOP").  Links to cipher-to-plaintext charts and computer programs to help you translate are here:

Caesar Shift Cipher

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In some challenges, Caesar cipher messages may begin with the standard greeting "Hail Caesar!" This may give you a clue to the cipher key rotation setting.
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Frequent Frustrations: Student Puzzle Designers


        Some students are brave enough to explore creating their own challenges for friends, family, and classmates. This is a path to new skills and appreciation for a well-designed game if students use organization and persistence. Sketching out your initial ideas, planning a series of linked puzzles (where the clue to the next challenge is revealed at the end of the present problem) in a flow chart, and keeping careful notes of lock settings can help you avoid frustration and disappointment.

Brainstorming Sheet

Google Docs Format: View Only, please make a copy before editing

PDF Format:

breakoutedu-brainstormingdocument.pdf
File Size: 291 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Word Lock

     The classroom set of 5-letter word locks includes the following 5 discs or rings in fixed positions. We may eventually get access to the Breakout EDU designed locks that have rings that can be placed in different order or substituted. For now, having a word in mind and skimming the possible letters on each disc is a quick way to check whether your planned clue will work for the equipment we have.
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        Creating a Cipher Lock or Language Translation Challenge: We have also created a list of all possible combinations using Scratch programming and are looking through it for useful words relevant to our studies. This list includes all possible combinations, so it is very long, but it may be useful if you plan to encipher your 5-letter word using Caesar Shift or languages other than English for an added level of challenge.

Link to Google Spreadsheet View Only Copy: Please make your own copy before editing

Active Learning Experiences in Resourceful Thinking: Our  Mission

​The Richland School District Two ALERT program for academically gifted students, in association with families, the district and global community, affords each learner unique challenges to inspire the pursuit of highest academic standards by providing rigorous, differentiated curricula that cultivates excellence in leadership and life-long learning.
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Website Updated:
10 December 2019
Webpage maintained by the Active Learning Experiences in Resourceful Thinking (ALERT)  and Scholarly Pursuits Always Reveal Knowledge (SPARK) classes of Richland School District Two, Columbia, South Carolina.
Please direct queries to Mr. Kevin Durden.