Interactive Escape Room
The Case of the Missing Medallion
A maths investigation in a museum
A priceless medallion has disappeared from the museum. Working as detectives, students solve four pieces of mathematical evidence, collect the digits of a safe code and use the clues to identify the thief.
- Ages 11–13
- Maths
- About 40 minutes
- In pairs
Runs in the browser. No account required.
Maths • Algebra • Data
How the activity works
Students follow a detective story from the first clue to the final conclusion. Each step depends on the maths in the step before.
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Accept the case
Students read the urgent message from the museum and start the investigation.
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Solve the evidence
Four pieces of evidence: a route on a coordinate grid, entry data, a damaged recording and an access report.
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Open the safe
Each solved piece of evidence gives one digit. The four digits unlock the safe with the case files.
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Name the thief
Students compare the clues with the suspects’ case files and justify their conclusion.
Maths and skills
Maths covered
- Coordinates in the first quadrant
- The mean and comparing data
- Solving a linear equation with brackets
- Reading and comparing frequencies
Reasoning and problem solving
- Drawing conclusions from calculations
- Connecting several clues into one chain of reasoning
- Explaining and justifying a decision in writing
- Working together in pairs
Teacher guidance
Short practical guidance is also available in the lesson, under the For teachers button.
What you need
- One device per pair (laptop or tablet)
- No printed materials
- About 40 minutes
Running the lesson
- Students work in pairs and progress is saved automatically on the device.
- Evidence 3, the equation with brackets, is usually the most challenging step.
- If pairs get stuck, use guiding questions rather than giving them the digits or the code.
- At the end, ask 2–3 pairs to briefly defend their choice and the clues they used.
Ready to take the case?
Open the interactive lesson on your students' devices.