Flipping Our Lid Escape Room | Supports Behaviour & Regulation | Middle & High

Are you battling with dysregulated behaviours? This SEL Flipping Our Lid Escape Room for middle and high school is a high-engagement way to teach regulation that your students will actually love. They’ll experience what it means to “flip their lid” through puzzles, codes, and challenges that bring the brain to life.

Why Every Teacher Needs to Teach Their Class the Concept of ‘Flipping Their Lids’

♡ Empowers students to understand their brains, behaviours, and the challenges of managing big emotions

♡ Gives students buy-in to engage in restorative conversations, take accountability, and reflect

♡ Helps students practise regulation as a core skill in any strong, restorative, trauma-informed classroom management approach

♡ Designed for Grades 6–12 with engaging visuals and puzzles (no babyish tasks)

The GOALS of this Escape Room

• Teach students what happens in the brain when they “flip their lid”
• Support students in recognising dysregulation vs. regulation states
• Reinforce strategies for calming the “Guard Dog” (amygdala) and activating the “Wise Owl” (prefrontal cortex)
• Create authentic, memorable SEL experiences students talk about long after the lesson
• Foster teamwork, problem-solving, and reflecting in a fun, novel way

What’s Included

4 purposeful, puzzle-based challenges that explore Dr Dan Siegel’s concept of ‘flipping our lid’ (emotional regulation)

A powerful student-led scenario to hook your class from the start

Access to a self-checking Google Form — no teacher marking required!

Printable version of every puzzle, plus student instructions and a teacher setup guide

Teacher answer key + a flexible tech-free option included

Why Teachers Love It

• Tackles dysregulation head-on with puzzles that make the brain science approachable and engaging
• Ready-to-use: all materials provided, minimal prep required
• Works as an introduction or extension to the Flipping Your Lid SEL Lesson
• Builds consistency: creates a shared experience and language around regulation

Why Students Love It

• Feels like a game, not another stuffy SEL lesson that has no relevance to their real worlds - puzzles and challenges keep them engaged
• Encourages teamwork and collaboration while learning real skills
• Makes an abstract concept concrete, memorable, and empowering
• Leaves them with practical strategies for getting back in control

This escape room pairs perfectly with the Flipping Your Lid Lesson: first teach the concept, then let your students experience it in action through puzzles, problem-solving, and collaboration. Together, they create powerful buy-in, deeper understanding, and lasting impact.