The Missing Star (A2+)

Objective & content

A Christmas mini escape game on one A4 page, for teams of 3 or 4 and about 15 to 20 minutes. The star for the top of the Christmas tree is missing, and Grandma's note says it is in a box with a four-number lock. Four boxed puzzles each give one number: a logic puzzle (who has the star?), Christmas maths with emojis, a cracker riddle, and Grandma's short note in the past simple, where pupils work out a time. Pupils read carefully, reason together and agree in English.

Pedagogical guide

The game is short and the reward comes fast: the code takes minutes, not a lesson, and a cracker joke is printed upside down at the bottom of the page. The four puzzles ask for different skills (logic, numbers, a riddle, a short text), so each pupil in a team can lead on one. In the logic puzzle, the first clue is done as an example. Grandma's note (about 60 words) uses the past simple and times ("Three hours later", "One hour after that"), so pupils must read for detail. The teacher key is the small line in the bottom corner of the page: cover it when you photocopy if you prefer.

Suggested procedure

1. (2 min) Make teams of 3 or 4 and give one page to each team. Read the story at the top together.
2. (12 to 15 min) Teams solve the four puzzles in any order and write each number under its puzzle.
3. (2 min) Teams say their code; check it with the key line. The first team with the right code wins. Then everybody turns the page upside down for the joke.

Adaptations

[S] Solve puzzle 1 together on the board, then let teams do the other three. Read Grandma's note aloud.

[A] Set a timer for 10 minutes. Ask each team to explain every number in one English sentence ("Amira has the star, so the number is 1.").

Materials & prerequisites

One copy per team, in colour or in black and white (no puzzle depends on colour), and pencils. Pupils need the past simple of common verbs and the time in hours.