The Great Math Heist: Cracking the Code with Fractions & Decimals

Game Overview:
Students are part of a heist team trying to unlock a vault hidden inside a high-tech security facility. The floor becomes the blueprint of the vault, while the walls display security challenges, laser grids, and locks.

To escape with the treasure, they must use teamwork, communication, and math skills to bypass security systems and crack the final code.

Game Mechanics:
Phase 1: Bypass the Laser Grid (Fractions & Equivalent Forms)
📍 Objective: Get past the laser security system by matching equivalent fractions, decimals, and percentages.

The floor displays a grid with different fractions, decimals, and percentages.

The walls project laser beams with math challenges, such as:

"Find a decimal equivalent of 3/5."

"Step on the correct percentage equivalent of 0.75."

"Find two different fractions that are equal to 1/2."

Students must step on the correct floor tiles to deactivate the lasers.

💥 If they step on the wrong tile, an alarm sounds, and they must restart the challenge.
✅ If they succeed, they unlock the vault room for the next phase.

🎯 Lesson Learned: Understanding how fractions, decimals, and percentages relate to each other.

Phase 2: Crack the Lock Combination (Operations with Fractions & Decimals)
📍 Objective: Solve math puzzles to figure out the vault’s 3-digit combination.

The walls display a lock with three missing digits.

The floor has stations with fraction and decimal problems to solve, such as:

Adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.

Multiplying or dividing decimals to get a key number.

Solving a real-world percentage problem (e.g., calculating a discount or tax).

Students must solve the problems correctly and use the answers to unlock each digit of the code.

🔢 If they enter the wrong combination, the vault stays locked, and they must double-check their math.
🔓 If they succeed, the vault opens, leading to the final phase.

🎯 Lesson Learned: Practicing arithmetic with fractions and decimals in a real-world setting.

Phase 3: Escape the Vault! (Problem-Solving & Logical Thinking)
📍 Objective: Use math reasoning to unlock the final exit before time runs out.

The walls display a countdown timer and a series of logic-based math puzzles.

The puzzles require:

Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages to find the correct path.

Solving a multi-step word problem involving ratios or proportions.

Using estimation and mental math to quickly verify answers.

The floor changes color based on correct or incorrect answers—leading them toward the right exit path.

🚨 If time runs out, the vault "locks down," and they must retry the phase.
🎉 If they escape, they win the heist and receive their "math mastermind" badges!

🎯 Lesson Learned: Applying fraction and decimal skills in high-pressure problem-solving situations.

Victory & Reflection:
At the end, students receive a “Math Heist Score” based on:
✅ Accuracy in solving problems.
✅ Teamwork and communication.
✅ Logical problem-solving speed.

A mysterious heist mastermind (displayed on the walls) gives a final verdict:

"You've cracked the vault! Your math skills are unstoppable!" (if successful).

"You almost had it—time to train and try again!" (if they failed).

Students reflect on how fractions and decimals are used in real-life problem-solving (e.g., money, measurements, percentages in sales).