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The Owl School of Wizardry: Escape the Polar Express

In this course, learners will earn their place at the Owl Academy of Mystery and Magic as they solve a train-based mystery while unlocking magical rooms.
Dwitney Bethel
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(357)
Class
Play

What's included

1 live meeting
1 hrs 25 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

All Aboard to the North Pole!

Mission: You have been invited by the Owl Academy on a special winter tour. However, once aboard the North Pole Express train, you must solve a history case involving the legacy of Matthew Henson as an African American explorer. You will examine primary and secondary source clues examining debates around his North Pole explorations, as well as solve a series of ciphers and magical puzzles to unlock the special rooms at the Owl Academy. You will come across fantastic folklore and wizarding rooms, where learners will unlock special potions, and engage in historical debate until you unlock all the rooms in this immersive 360° escape adventure. Puzzles will include jigsaw puzzles, ciphers, codes, basic math and geometry, logic riddles, and so much more! 

This class examines what counts as primary and secondary sources to focus on historical accounts of Matthew Henson's life. The class will utilize academic articles and short biographical videos as well. Learners will be provided with the necessary excerpts from newspapers, as well as academic articles. Therefore, no previous knowledge is required for this class. The recommended age group is 11-16, and those under 13 will require parental consent to access the virtual room. Please see "Parental Guidance" section for more details on that.

Learning Goals

Examining what counts as a primary/secondary source, problem solving, reading comprehension, debate concepts, team building, code deciphering, creativity, deductive reasoning and basic math skills
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
The game does not have any graphic or scary elements. COPPA Policy for Thinklink and Youtube: There are video clips embedded in the Google Forms Quiz from Youtube. Safety and privacy are our top priorities. Learners under 13 will need to have Parental Consent when accessing those links on Youtube to comply with COPPA. Students will be provided with a direct code to access the game link, and will bypass any registration or sign-ins for Thinklink as I have a Professional Teacher License through the service to use the platform as a teaching tool. Therefore, learners will not need to provide any information or sign up for the platform themselves. In fact, students will be provided with a link that restricts them from having to share any personal information or sign in, as the game will appear on their screen without an interface. However, parental consent will be required to comply with COPPA. As per the terms of usage, all students accessing the Service are subject to consent provided via their educator or educational institution, as allowed under COPPA, and will require the use of a unique invitation code supplied by their instructor or education institution in order to create an account or access the platform. Any use or access to the Service by anyone under 13 without Consent, is strictly prohibited and in violation of this Agreement.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/i9J102eRSh2zT1Y9PqJI https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/the-legacy-of-arctic-explorer-matthew-henson https://untoldstories.net/1886/08/matthew-henson-explorer-scientist/
Joined April, 2020
4.8
357reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have a B.A. in History and an M.A. in World History, as well as an M.A. in Globalization Studies. I have always had a passion for research and World History, and feel that this course will provide a fun introduction into that world using a CSI themed approach to history! I worked as a teaching assistant for two years during my M.A. in early American history and Peace Studies, including the original 13 colonies, the role of women in the colonies, and early American slavery, including the Underground Railroad into Canada. My research thesis involved the role of freed black men and women in the 1980-1850s, and the ways in which their writings influenced political and social changes. The course will use some primary sources to engage students into the world of the Black History both in the U.S. and Canada! However, no previous reading is required for this experience! 

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
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$21

per class
Meets once
85 min

Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
3-15 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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