Declaration of Independence Escape Room | Civics Game for Grades 4–6
Bring the Declaration of Independence to life with this interactive escape room!
Perfect for grades 4–6, this print-and-go civics activity helps students grasp the big ideas behind America’s founding document through puzzles, code-breaking, and collaborative problem-solving.
As students work through the challenges, they’ll explore the meaning of the Declaration, why independence was declared, and the courage it took to sign it—all while practicing reading comprehension, historical vocabulary, and critical thinking. It’s the perfect way to introduce or review U.S. history leading up to July 4, 1776.
What’s Included
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1 Close Reading Passage (approx. 600 words)
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Challenge 1: 9 Matching Phrase Puzzles
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Challenge 2: 10 True/False Questions
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Challenge 3: 10 Multiple Choice Questions
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Challenge 4: 9 Direct Sentence Clues
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Student Answer Sheet
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Teacher Directions
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Full Answer Key
Topics Covered
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Purpose and meaning of the Declaration of Independence
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Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers
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“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”
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Grievances against King George III
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Role of the Second Continental Congress
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Risks and bravery of the 56 signers
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Why independence was declared
Skills Students Practice
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Reading comprehension
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Vocabulary development
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Cause and effect
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Collaboration & teamwork
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Civics and U.S. History knowledge
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Critical thinking & reasoning
How It Works
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Students read the passage.
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They complete four themed challenges (matching, true/false, multiple choice, sentence clues).
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Each challenge unlocks part of the code.
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When all puzzles are solved, they reach the final solution.
Great for pairs, small groups, or independent work. No prior knowledge required—just print and play.
Why Teachers Love It
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Zero prep required—easy setup, no locks or props needed
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Works for Independence Day, Constitution Day, or U.S. History units
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Aligns with ELA and Social Studies standards
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Flexible: use with small groups, stations, sub plans, or early finishers
Instead of simply reading about America’s founding, let your students experience the drama of declaring independence through this engaging classroom escape room!
Terms of Use
Please note: Purchase of this product is for Personal and Classroom Use ONLY
Not for Commercial Use. Purchase of this product entitles you the right to reproduce the pages in limited quantities for single classroom use only. Copying any part of the product and placing it on the internet in any form (including a personal or classroom website) is strictly forbidden and is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Copyright: Quest Schooling LLC.
After purchase you will receive a link to download the PDF file. All pages are included in the file and can be printed in black and white for immediate use.
Any or all of the pages in the PDF file can be printed and used for students across a wide range of ages/skills, or collaboratively with kids of different ages.
For example, younger kids may focus more on the design and drink recipes for the stand while older kids may also include the business plan and profit margin aspects of the project.
Depending on your student’s needs, there are several pages of scaffolding information, including vocabulary, facts, reading list, weblinks. Scaffolding can be done at any stage throughout the project as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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All projects are digital download pdf files. They can be printed in gray scale or black and white and are ready for your student to use.
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No, the projects are flexible and can be adapted to your student's grade and skill level. Each project includes a list of student activities. you can review them and decide which pages work for your student.
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In project based learning, each student completes both the project activities and a final project. I always offer a choice of final projects to provide differentiation and give students of different skills enough options.
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Most projects include a rubric to help you assess your students work and give your student an opportunity to assess their own work. However, each student's project will be unique to them and be a reflection of their knowledge and skill set. There is no one 'right answer' to a project. The success of a project is largely in the process of doing the project.