Lesson Plan
Choice Quest Lesson Plan
Guide a 5th-grade student with autism through a 30-minute escape-room style activity to identify safe vs unsafe choices in real-world scenarios, aiming to unlock a three-digit code and reinforce decision-making skills.
Building critical safety awareness through engaging, hands-on puzzles enhances independent decision-making, self-advocacy, and confidence for students with autism.
Audience
5th Grade Special Education Student with Autism
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive puzzles guiding safe vs unsafe choices.
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out Choice Quest Scenario Cards.
- Print the Choice Quest Student Workbook for the student to record answers.
- Load or display the Choice Quest Digital Lock Images on a tablet or computer.
- Review correct responses using the Choice Quest Answer Key.
- Familiarize yourself with pacing and support strategies in the Choice Quest Teacher Guide.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Welcome the student and explain the escape-room concept: solve puzzles to unlock a three-digit code.
- Introduce the goal: identify safe vs unsafe choices in each scenario.
- Show the Choice Quest Student Workbook and demonstrate how to mark each choice.
- Confirm understanding by asking the student to describe a safe versus unsafe choice.
Step 2
Puzzle 1: Road Safety
7 minutes
- Present three Choice Quest Scenario Cards depicting road-crossing situations.
- Student identifies safe vs unsafe actions and records answers in the workbook.
- Upon correct identifications, reveal the first digit of the digital lock with Choice Quest Digital Lock Images.
- Offer guiding questions or prompts as needed to support decision-making.
Step 3
Puzzle 2: Online Safety
7 minutes
- Present online interaction scenarios via Choice Quest Scenario Cards.
- Student distinguishes safe vs unsafe online behaviors, logging answers in the workbook.
- Unlock the second digit of the digital lock image.
- Provide scaffolding prompts if the student hesitates or needs clarification.
Step 4
Puzzle 3: Stranger Interaction
7 minutes
- Present real-life stranger interaction scenarios on Choice Quest Scenario Cards.
- Student determines safe vs unsafe responses and notes them in the workbook.
- Reveal the final digit to fully unlock the digital lock.
- Encourage the student to verbalize reasoning behind each choice.
Step 5
Debrief and Reflection
4 minutes
- Celebrate the student’s success in completing the escape room.
- Review each scenario together, discussing why certain choices were safe or unsafe.
- Ask the student to share key takeaways and how they’ll apply them in daily life.
- Provide positive reinforcement and suggestions for practicing decision-making skills further.
Slide Deck
Choice Quest Escape Room
Welcome the student warmly. Introduce yourself and explain today’s activity is an escape-room style game called Choice Quest. Show excitement and set a positive tone.
Today’s Quest
- Learn to spot safe and unsafe choices
- Solve 3 puzzles: Road, Online, Stranger
- Unlock the 3-digit code
Explain the goal: Identify safe vs unsafe choices in different scenarios to uncover a three-digit code. Point at each icon as you mention it.
How to Play
- View scenario cards
- Choose Safe ✅ or Unsafe ❌
- Record in your Choice Quest Student Workbook
- Unlock each digit of the lock
Describe how to play: show scenario cards, decide safe or unsafe, and write answers in the workbook. Remind student of the digital lock image on screen.
Puzzle 1: Road Safety
- Show 3 road-crossing cards
- Mark each as Safe ✅ or Unsafe ❌
- Write answers in your workbook
- Unlock digit 1
Puzzle 1: Road Safety
- Display three road-crossing scenario cards (Choice Quest Scenario Cards).
- Ask: “Is this safe or unsafe?”
- Support reasoning: “Why do you think that?”
- When all correct, click to reveal digit 1 on the digital lock (Choice Quest Digital Lock Images).
Puzzle 2: Online Safety
- Show 3 online-safety cards
- Choose Safe ✅ or Unsafe ❌
- Record in workbook
- Unlock digit 2
Puzzle 2: Online Safety
- Display three online interaction cards.
- Guide student to label safe or unsafe online behaviors.
- Provide hints if needed: “Is it OK to share your name?”
- Reveal digit 2 when correct.
Puzzle 3: Stranger Interaction
- Show 3 stranger-interaction cards
- Mark Safe ✅ or Unsafe ❌
- Note answers in workbook
- Unlock digit 3
Puzzle 3: Stranger Interaction
- Present three stranger-interaction scenario cards.
- Discuss safe responses vs risky ones.
- Encourage student to explain their choice.
- Reveal the final digit when all are correct.
Debrief & Reflection
- Review your answers
- Discuss why choices matter
- Share a key takeaway
- Great job!
Debrief and Reflection:
- Celebrate success unlocking the code!
- Review each scenario: ask why choices were safe or unsafe.
- Ask student: “What will you remember?”
- Provide praise and encourage practice.
Worksheet
Choice Quest Scenario Cards
Road Safety 1
Image: A child looks both ways and crosses at a crosswalk when the “Walk” signal is on.
Road Safety 2
Image: A child runs between parked cars to cross the street without looking both ways.
Road Safety 3
Image: A child walks into the street while texting on a phone and doesn’t notice an oncoming car.
Online Safety 1
Image: A child chats with an unknown adult online who asks for their home address.
Online Safety 2
Image: A child shares a photo on social media set to “Friends Only.”
Online Safety 3
Image: A child clicks on a pop-up ad that appears on a website they don’t recognize.
Stranger Interaction 1
Image: A stranger offers a child candy and asks them to get into their car.
Stranger Interaction 2
Image: A stranger tells a lost child they’ll help find their parents and asks them to follow.
Stranger Interaction 3
Image: A neighbor the child knows waves and asks them to come inside their home alone.
Worksheet
Choice Quest Student Workbook
Refer to the Choice Quest Scenario Cards as you complete each puzzle. Mark your answers and write your reasoning in the spaces provided.
Puzzle 1: Road Safety
Road Safety 1: A child looks both ways and crosses at a crosswalk when the “Walk” signal is on.
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Road Safety 2: A child runs between parked cars to cross the street without looking both ways.
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Road Safety 3: A child walks into the street while texting on a phone and doesn’t notice an oncoming car.
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Puzzle 2: Online Safety
Online Safety 1: A child chats with an unknown adult online who asks for their home address.
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Online Safety 2: A child shares a photo on social media set to “Friends Only.”
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Online Safety 3: A child clicks on a pop-up ad that appears on a website they don’t recognize.
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Puzzle 3: Stranger Interaction
Stranger Interaction 1: A stranger offers a child candy and asks them to get into their car.
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Stranger Interaction 2: A stranger tells a lost child they’ll help find their parents and asks them to follow.
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Stranger Interaction 3: A neighbor the child knows waves and asks them to come inside their home alone.
- Is this choice Safe or Unsafe?
My answer: ____________ - Why do you think that?
Debrief & Reflection
-
What three-digit code did you unlock?
My code: ____________ -
What is one important thing you learned about making safe choices today?
-
How will you remember to make safe choices in real life?
Great job completing Choice Quest! Celebrate your success and keep practicing safe decisions every day.
Answer Key
Choice Quest Answer Key
Use this key to check responses and reveal the three-digit code. Each puzzle’s correct identifications unlocks one digit of the code.
Puzzle 1: Road Safety (Unlocks Digit: 4)
Refer to Choice Quest Scenario Cards.
-
Road Safety 1: A child looks both ways and crosses at a crosswalk when the “Walk” signal is on.
- Correct Answer: Safe ✅
- Reasoning: The child follows traffic rules—looking both ways, using a marked crosswalk, and obeying the signal reduces risk of being hit by a vehicle.
-
Road Safety 2: A child runs between parked cars to cross the street without looking both ways.
- Correct Answer: Unsafe ❌
- Reasoning: Parked cars block visibility. Running without checking for oncoming traffic can lead to accidents.
-
Road Safety 3: A child walks into the street while texting on a phone and doesn’t notice an oncoming car.
- Correct Answer: Unsafe ❌
- Reasoning: Distracted walking near traffic is dangerous. The child isn’t paying attention to cars, increasing the chance of injury.
When the student correctly labels all three, reveal the first digit 4.
Puzzle 2: Online Safety (Unlocks Digit: 8)
Refer to Choice Quest Scenario Cards.
-
Online Safety 1: A child chats with an unknown adult online who asks for their home address.
- Correct Answer: Unsafe ❌
- Reasoning: Sharing personal information with strangers online can lead to real-world danger or exploitation.
-
Online Safety 2: A child shares a photo on social media set to “Friends Only.”
- Correct Answer: Safe ✅
- Reasoning: Limiting posts to known friends reduces the chance that a stranger can view or misuse the image.
-
Online Safety 3: A child clicks on a pop-up ad that appears on a website they don’t recognize.
- Correct Answer: Unsafe ❌
- Reasoning: Pop-up ads on unknown sites can contain malware or lead to phishing scams.
When the student correctly labels all three, reveal the second digit 8.
Puzzle 3: Stranger Interaction (Unlocks Digit: 1)
Refer to Choice Quest Scenario Cards.
-
Stranger Interaction 1: A stranger offers a child candy and asks them to get into their car.
- Correct Answer: Unsafe ❌
- Reasoning: Accepting rides or gifts from strangers is risky; the child should never get into a car with someone they don’t know.
-
Stranger Interaction 2: A stranger tells a lost child they’ll help find their parents and asks them to follow.
- Correct Answer: Unsafe ❌
- Reasoning: Even if someone seems helpful, the child should seek a known adult (police officer, store employee) or rejoin a trusted caregiver.
-
Stranger Interaction 3: A neighbor the child knows waves and asks them to come inside their home alone.
- Correct Answer: Safe ✅
- Reasoning: The neighbor is a familiar, trusted adult. It’s generally okay to enter a known adult’s home—ideally after checking with a parent or guardian.
When the student correctly labels all three, reveal the final digit 1.
Final Code & Reflection
- Three-digit code: 481
Use this code to “escape” the room!
Provide the student with positive feedback, review why each choice was safe or unsafe, and encourage them to practice these decision-making steps in daily life.