Escape Room: Christmas Rescue

Objective: This interactive worksheet is designed as a Christmas-themed “escape room” in which learners take on the role of an elf and must solve four themed puzzles to save Christmas. It teaches them about Christmas traditions and the origins of the holiday in a fun way.

Content and methods: The worksheet follows a linear story in which students take on the role of an elf who must save Christmas. This is done by solving four puzzles that build on each other.

Skills:

Reading comprehension and information retrieval
Logical thinking (deduction)
Mathematical competence (algebra)
Structured working
Critical thinking and problem solving: The entire structure of the escape room requires the application of all the information learned to gradually solve the puzzles and decipher the final code word.

Target group and level: 5th to 7th grade

50 other teachers use this template

Target group and level

5th-7th grade

Subjects

non-subject specific content

Preview

Escape Room: Christmas Rescue

Save Christmas!

I'm on my way to the Christmas village when I see the chaos at headquarters. I want to ask Santa what's going on. There's an envelope on Santa's desk. Strange, there's no addressee.

With trembling hands, I open it. Inside, there is no greeting, no cookie recipe. Just a bright red note with messy handwriting. This is no ho-ho-ho! It's a message, cold and mean. I feel the blood freeze in my veins. Christmas is in danger!

Hello dear Secret Santa!

Wondering where all the Christmas presents went? I have them tucked away in my secret workshop. Without presents, there are no happy children, and Christmas is ruined!

I don't want your milk and cookies. I just want to see if you're clever enough to save the day. That's why you have four tricky puzzles to solve. Solve them all, and I'll tell you where to find the gifts. Fail, and they'll be gone forever.

Good luck… or should I say, Merry Christmas?

(P.S. The world’s children are counting on you!)

A first clue

I tremble as I reread the creepy blackmail letter. I have to save Christmas! I look around the Christmas headquarters—everywhere is chaos. There is wrapping paper and half-finished toys everywhere, and all the elves are running around frantically. Where should I start? I crawl under the desk. Nothing. I look in the cookie jar. Only crumbs.

My gaze falls on the stack of newspapers that were delivered this morning. Stop. There's something colorful in between them. An old article about the origins of Christmas. Why is it here? It must be a sign! Maybe this is the first clue.

Birthday of Jesus: Origin of Christmas

On December 25, many people around the world celebrate Christmas, the birthday of Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, Jesus was born in a small town called Bethlehem. His parents, Mary and Joseph, were there because Emperor Augustus had ordered a census. Many Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent to help people.

Long before Christianity, many cultures celebrated the winter solstice. These days mark the shortest day of the year and were often welcomed with festivals and celebrations. Researchers believe that early Christians placed Christmas on this day to replace other pagan festivals and celebrate the birth of Jesus.

In 336, Christmas was officially celebrated in Rome on December 25. This day was chosen to supplant other popular festivals. Over the years, the festival spread to many countries and is now one of the most important Christian holidays. Christmas reminds us of the birth of Jesus and the hope and love he brought.

The first puzzle

I grab the article about the origins of Christmas and read it quickly. How is this article supposed to help me? Confused, I put it back.

Then I see it: there's a small, folded piece of paper stuck under the article. Written on it in messy ink is: “Puzzle 1: origins of Christmas” I unfold the note. It's a crossword puzzle! Aha! So that's the first puzzle! The questions in the crossword puzzle all relate to the article. Now I'm glad I read it! Let's go, Christmas must be saved!

Let's continue!

I did it! My pencil is almost smoking. I solved all the questions! As I fill in the last boxes, three fields light up in particular. They contain the letters: I, H, A!

But... what do they mean? That's not a word! I look around. Suddenly, I notice two engraved puzzles on the globe. That must be the next step!

Puzzle 1: The Scrambled Sleigh Note 📜

You’ve made it to the first challenge. I left a note on Santa's empty sleigh. It looks like a jumble of words, but if you unscramble these festive words, you'll find a secret message. The first letter of each correct word will spell out where the next clue is hidden. Let's see how you do!

Unscramble these words:

NADYC EANC (A sweet, striped Christmas treat)
YOHLL (A festive plant with pointy leaves and red berries)
CELCII (A hanging spike of frozen water)
LETSIMETO (A plant that people kiss under during the holidays)
RTNHO LPOE (Santa's official home and workshop address)
SLEEV (Santa's little helpers who make the toys)
EDTULIE (Another word for the Christmas season)

Question: Unscramble the words. What secret location do the first letters reveal?

Puzzle 2: The Naughty Elf's Trail 👣

Well done! You found the note in the chimney. It seems I had a little help from one of the workshop elves. Four of them were on duty last night, but only one is my accomplice. Can you figure out which elf helped me hide the presents?

Here are the suspects:

Pip, who wears a green hat and loves making toy soldiers.
Jingle, who wears a red hat and specializes in building train sets.
Twinkle, who wears a blue hat and is the best at crafting dolls.
Sparky, who wears a yellow hat and builds amazing race cars.

Here are the clues to find my helper:

My accomplice was working near the train tracks but does not build trains.
The elf's hat is not the color of the sky on a clear day.
The elf who helped me loves making toys that move but has never made a toy soldier.

Question: Based on these clues, which elf is my secret accomplice?

Notes

Note for teachers

Here is a suggested solution for the text puzzles.

Solution to Puzzle 1: The Scrambled Sleigh Note 📜

This puzzle requires unscrambling each festive word. The first letter of each correct word will then spell out the secret location.

Here is the step-by-step solution:

NADYC EANC (A sweet, striped Christmas treat)
Unscrambled: CANDY CANE
YOHLL (A festive plant with pointy leaves and red berries)
Unscrambled: HOLLY
CELCII (A hanging spike of frozen water)
Unscrambled: ICICLE
LETSIMETO (A plant that people kiss under during the holidays)
Unscrambled: MISTLETOE
RTNHO LPOE (Santa's official home and workshop address)
Unscrambled: NORTH POLE
SLEEV (Santa's little helpers who make the toys)
Unscrambled: ELVES
EDTULIE (Another word for the Christmas season)
Unscrambled: YULETIDE

Now, let's take the first letter of each unscrambled word:

C - H - I - M - N - E - Y

Answer: The secret location where the next clue is hidden is the CHIMNEY.

Solution to Puzzle 2: The Naughty Elf's Trail 👣

This is a logic puzzle that can be solved by using a process of elimination with the clues provided.

Let's break it down clue by clue:

The Suspects:

Pip: Green hat, makes toy soldiers.
Jingle: Red hat, makes train sets.
Twinkle: Blue hat, makes dolls.
Sparky: Yellow hat, makes race cars.

Clue 1: "My accomplice was working near the train tracks but does not build trains."

This clue immediately eliminates Jingle, whose specialty is building train sets.
Remaining Suspects: Pip, Twinkle, Sparky.

Clue 2: "The elf's hat is not the color of the sky on a clear day."

The sky on a clear day is blue. This clue tells us the accomplice does not wear a blue hat.
This eliminates Twinkle.
Remaining Suspects: Pip, Sparky.

Clue 3: "The elf who helped me loves making toys that move but has never made a toy soldier."

This final clue points directly to our culprit. Both remaining elves make toys that move (soldiers can march, race cars drive). However, the clue specifies the elf has never made a toy soldier.
This eliminates Pip, as making toy soldiers is his specialty.
This leaves only Sparky, who makes race cars (toys that move) and is not known for making soldiers.

Answer: Based on the clues, the secret accomplice is Sparky.

I did it!

The globe really was the key! Using the magnifying glass, I decipher two tiny sentences engraved on the poles.

Finally! The solutions reveal the next two magic letters: M, R!

I look around the room. Where could the next puzzle be? My gaze falls on a pinboard full of postcards from all over the world. Santa loves to collect postcards depicting different Christmas traditions.

And lo and behold! A card from Iceland is hanging crookedly. Behind it is a small envelope. It simply says: “Puzzle 3: Traditions of the World.” So this is about Christmas customs! I pull out the envelope, ready for the next challenge!

🎄 Read through the three postcard greetings and memorize the traditions. This will help you solve the following puzzle.

Hanna (Island)

Hi, I'm Hanna from Iceland! Here, Christmas is super special because it lasts 26 days, starting from December 11th. We have 13 Yule Lads who visit us each night leading up to Christmas Eve. They leave little gifts in our shoes if we've been good. It's so exciting! We also have beautiful decorations and almost guaranteed snowy white Christmas. I love walking through the snow-covered streets and seeing the colorful lights. These traditions are rooted in our history and folklore, making the holiday feel magical. I especially enjoy the festive atmosphere in Reykjavik, with music and lights everywhere!

Carlos (Mexico)

Hey, I'm Carlos from Mexico! Christmas here is super lively and fun. We start celebrating on December 16th with Posadas, which reenact Mary and Joseph's search for shelter. It's a big party with singing, dancing, and piñatas. I love the piñatas because they're filled with candies and fruits, and we get to break them open! On Christmas Eve, we have a big family dinner with tamales and other tasty dishes, and then we go to midnight mass. It's all about family and tradition. These customs are important because they bring us together and remind us of the birth of Jesus. I love the joyful spirit!

Yuki (Japan)

Hello, I'm Yuki from Japan! Christmas here is not a religious holiday, but it's still a big deal. We celebrate with friends or as couples, and it's like Valentine's Day! On Christmas Eve, many people eat KFC because it's a tradition that started in the 1970s. We also enjoy Christmas cakes with strawberries and cream. The streets are decorated with amazing lights and displays, which I love because they make everything festive and bright. These traditions are special because they spread happiness and are a unique part of our culture. I really enjoy the cheerful atmosphere and the delicious food!

🎄 Select the correct answer.

Almost done!

Yay! The Christmas traditions puzzle is solved! From Iceland to Japan—I now know every custom! And as a reward, the next three letters appear: S, C!

I look around desperately. Only one puzzle is missing. My gaze falls on the little Advent calendar on the wall. Wait a minute... the last day, December 25, is still closed! That must be it! The last puzzle! I open the calendar and find a cookie recipe—but wait a minute, it's all mixed up! Maybe I can sort the recipe again. To do that, I should go to the bakery—let's go.

🎄 Put the recipe in the correct order.

Cookie recipe

I remember seeing a video—maybe it will help me sort things out!

Rescue is at hand!

The smell of christmas cookies fills the bakery. Happy and motivated, I slide the last tray into the oven. While the cookies bake to a golden brown, I close the Advent calendar door again.

And lo and behold! Now two shiny letters are visible: S and T!

Now I have them all: I, H, A, M, R, S, C, S, T. Nine letters! It must be a solution word.

Solution word

I did it!

My head is spinning! I move the letters around, trying every possible combination. Suddenly... it clicks! The words fall into place, and a broad grin spreads across my face. I've got it!

With trembling hands, I say the solution word out loud. A warm glow spreads throughout the entire Christmas headquarters. The lights flicker, the ice on the windows melts, and the reindeer bells start ringing on their own! The magic is back!

Santa Claus suddenly stands in the middle of the room, his red coat shining brighter than ever. “You did it, my brave elf!” he exclaims, his eyes full of joy.

Now everything is ready! With a loud cheer, we all rush outside—the reindeer are harnessed, the presents are stowed on the sleigh. Together with my elf friends, Santa Claus, and all the restored magic, we can set off and bring Christmas to the world! We have saved Christmas!