♒ Dive into an unforgettable adventure with this Under the Sea Themed Reading Comprehension Escape Room, designed specifically for 2nd and 3rd graders to practice author’s purpose and point of view standards! This immersive experience takes students on a thrilling journey as they read short passages and answer standard-based questions that focus on developing author’s purpose & point of view skills. Their mission: to navigate a stranded submarine back to its home ship from the depths of the ocean, using various underwater landmarks as guides.

Throughout this reading escape room, students tackle four distinct reading challenges, each designed to practice and develop their understanding of author’s purpose and point of view standards. With the help of the Little Explorer Decoder Tool, they’ll unlock secret codes as they successfully complete each challenge, inching closer to bringing the submarine back to the surface. Embark on this engaging, educational deep-sea adventure and watch your students’ reading comprehension skills soar!

⭐This author’s purpose and point of view escape room comes in the following digital and print formats:

• Webscape™ Format – This web-based format provides the most interactive and immersive experience possible. It is self-directed, self-correcting, and contains audio. You can check out my video overview here. You won’t believe how engaging this format is until you try it!

• Google Format – Students complete the exercises in Google Slides. Merlin’s Secret Decoder is a Google Sheet that self-corrects and tells each student when they can continue to the next challenge.

• Printable Format – Students can use any device to scan QR codes to watch the videos. If no device is available, students can skip the videos and still enjoy the exercise. Students use a printable Merlin’s Secret Decoder and answer sheet to decipher the clues and track their answers.

✨ Integrated videos, thematic items, and an “under the sea” storyline come together to engage students while developing and using author’s purpose and point of view reading standards.

*Please note: The Google Slides format includes embedded videos that are hosted via YouTube. The printable version includes QR codes for these videos. If you plan on using the Google or printable formats, please ensure you and your students have access to YouTube. The Webscape version does not require YouTube.

Key Features:

✏️ Digital & Printable Versions – Webscape, Google, and print versions make this reading comprehension escape room perfect for any classroom. The digital versions can be used dynamically in the classroom as a presentation while students complete each reading comprehension question in groups or individually.

✏️ Immersive Experience: Under the Sea backstory, dynamic challenges, and engaging videos provide positive reinforcement and keep students engaged and focused.

✏️Skill Focused: Each reading passage and question set was chosen and written to focus on key skills to improve determining author’s purpose skills.

✏️Scaffolded Challenges: Challenges increase in difficulty as students progress through the escape room.

✏️No Prep/ Low Prep: The Digital version requires NO PREP. The printable version is low prep: Just print the pages, place them in folders, and go. The printable version has the option to incorporate technology and videos through QR codes.

What’s Included:

Author’s Purpose Under the Sea Escape Room – 2nd & 3rd Grade

• Submarine Rescue Letter.
• Challenge #1: Use the topic and key details in each passage to determine the author’s purpose and find the sunken ship.
• Challenge #2: Use the topic and key details in each passage to determine the author’s purpose and find the lost city of Atlantis.
• Challenge #3: Use the topic and key details in each passage to determine the author’s purpose and find the beautiful coral reef.
• Challenge #4: Use the topic and key details in each passage to determine the author’s purpose and find the iceberg.
• Mission Complete Certificate
• Ooops Cards
• Recording Brochure
• Answer Key

Digital Version Links

• Webscape Link for Interactive Browser-Based Experience
• Google Slides Link for Digital Escape Room
• Google Forms Link for Decoding Tool

The Webscape and Google Slides versions are self-grading; however, these versions are created to require critical thinking. Students are NOT told which answers are incorrect to prevent guessing and encourage students to think critically about the clues and their responses.

Take a closer look at what this resource looks like in this video preview.

Please Note: This escape room is similar to the 4th and 5th grade version, but with passages and questions on a 2nd and 3rd grade level.