Radium Girls Themed Escape Room
- Laura Swilley
- Mar 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Radium Girls-Themed Escape Room (Advanced Version)
Based on Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory
Grade Level: 8th Grade ELA
Number of Puzzles: 10
Estimated Time: 60-75 minutes
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Escape Room Storyline:
You and your teammates are factory workers at the U.S. Radium Corporation, just like Grace Fryer and her friends. After discovering the dangers of radium and the company’s lies, you are determined to expose the truth. However, company officials are trying to stop you! You must solve a series of puzzles to gather enough evidence and escape before time runs out.
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Puzzle 1: Character Code Breaker (Character Identification)
Clue: “Our voices are fading—find us before history erases us.”
• Students receive a sheet with character names written in Morse code.
• They must decode at least five characters’ names (e.g., Grace, Irene, Katherine, Mr. Roeder, Mrs. Fryer).
• The correct names spell out the next location in the room where the next clue is hidden.
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Puzzle 2: The Glowing Lies (Theme Analysis)
Clue: “They told us it was safe. But what does the play say?”
• A passage from Radium Girls is cut into strips and placed in the wrong order.
• Students must rearrange the text to reveal a key theme, such as corporate greed or the fight for justice.
• Once the passage is correctly arranged, a highlighted phrase leads them to the next challenge.
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Puzzle 3: The Radium Formula (Historical Context)
Clue: “Find the deadly number.”
• A locked box requires a four-digit code.
• Students must search the room for historical documents that contain key numbers related to radium poisoning.
• The correct code is 1917 (the year Grace Fryer started working at U.S. Radium).
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Puzzle 4: Hidden in the Glow (Symbolism)
Clue: “Not everything that glows is gold. Find the hidden message.”
• Students use blacklight flashlights to reveal a hidden quote written in invisible ink.
• The quote is a key symbolic line from the play, such as “We are dying. And we are fighting for our lives.”
• This leads them to their next puzzle.
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Puzzle 5: The Factory Contract (Persuasive Argument)
Clue: “Sign away your future, or fight for your life.”
• Students receive two versions of a contract: one from the U.S. Radium Corporationand one from the dial painters’ lawyer.
• They must identify the manipulative language in the company’s contract and explain why the workers should not sign it.
• Once they complete their argument, they receive the next clue.
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Puzzle 6: The Poisoned Clock (Critical Thinking)
Clue: “Tick, tick, tick… time is running out.”
• A clock with missing numbers is displayed.
• Students must solve a math puzzle related to how radium poisoning affects the bones over time (e.g., how long symptoms take to appear).
• The missing numbers form the next code.
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Puzzle 7: The Courtroom Battle (Persuasive Speaking)
Clue: “Make your case. The jury is waiting.”
• One student from each team must stand up and deliver a short argument on why the dial painters deserve justice.
• A teacher or “judge” will approve the argument before giving them the next puzzle.
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Puzzle 8: The Newspaper Cover-Up (Media Literacy)
Clue: “What they wrote is not the full story.”
• Students are given two newspaper articles:
• One from the company, claiming radium is safe.
• One from a journalist exposing the truth.
• They must find contradictions and missing facts in the company’s version.
• Once they explain the bias and propaganda, they receive the next puzzle.
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Puzzle 9: The Testimony Cipher (Decoding Evidence)
Clue: “Their words are twisted. Find the truth.”
• A ciphered witness testimony is given.
• Students must decode it using a simple substitution cipher to reveal a critical quotefrom the trial.
• This leads them to the final challenge.
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Puzzle 10: Escape the Factory (Final Challenge)
Clue: “Your voices matter. Unlock the truth and escape.”
• Students are given a final locked box.
• The combination is hidden within the workers’ testimonies from previous puzzles.
• Once the box is opened, they find a letter from Grace Fryer demanding justice.
• They have escaped and won the game!
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Debrief & Reflection:
After completing the escape room, students will discuss:
• How did the puzzles relate to Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory?
• What were the major themes of the play?
• How does this historical event connect to workers’ rights today?
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