Gameschooling Math with
Chicken Escape
Throw math fact drills out the window, get Chicken Escape instead!
No, really. Chicken Escape should be one of the math games you need, along with Dragon Times, also published by MathCurious.
Chicken Escape
Publisher: MathCurious
Age: 5+
Players: 2-4
Time: 10-15 mins
Type: card
Theme: farm
Subjects: mental math, speed recall, working memory, strategy, thinking skills, good for ADHD
Amazon Link
Kid rating: 
Adult rating:
This is a sponsored post. I was given a copy of this game in order to review it. As always, opinions are honest.
By now my kids know that mystery boxes usually contain “school” games (BUSTED), so it makes sense that they aren’t always as excited as I am. The tune changed when I told the that Chicken Escape came from the same people who make Dragon Times. (By the way, games are games so please don’t play “school” games only!)
How to Play Chicken Escape
Details: You start with a hand of 6 cards, the remaining cards become the draw pile. Your cards will randomly consist of number cards, character/penalty cards, and target cards. Playing Chicken Escape is simple, combine your chickens to make the number 10 using three or fewer cards. For example, you can play a 6 chicken & a 4 chicken OR you could play an 8 chicken + a 3 chicken – a 1 chicken, the more math you know the more difficult the game gets.
Sounds easy, right? It would be easy if it wasn’t for those meddling farmers and their pesky animals! All along the escape route are plundering pigs, hangry geese, not-so-friendly foxes. And then, there are the farmers.
This video will teach you a whole lot more than I can, I promise. Oh, and if you’re like me, here is a list of reputable Game Tutorial Channels.
(Closed captioning is available for the video.)
Chicken Escape involves lots of fast action draw but can be played slowly as well. Mental math recall skills will improve significantly with regular use of this game.
You know what I just figured out? Chicken Escape is sort of like a competitive card game version of Shut the Box, a game I play nearly daily to relax. Chicken Escape, however, is not Shut the Box so expect some ruffled feathers. (Speaking of feathers, you might want to check out the ornithology game I made!)
In case you’re wondering, this game differs from Shut the Box in that it uses higher numbers, more complicated math, and a higher level of strategy. And those pesky pigs!
What Are My Kids Learning?
•Math operations
•Order of operations
•Working memory
•Strategy
What Do We Love About Chicken Escape?
While the game is rated for ages 5+, there are several challenge variations included in the Chicken Escape instructions. These challenge involve higher numbers, different math operations, and PEMDAS. There is some serious number wrangling in this game.
My 7 year old plays Chicken Escape for addition and subtraction, while my 13 year old plays using the order of operations. He also plays because it’s fun and brings out our competitive streak and he is b.r.u.t.a.l. when it comes to games.
6 year old: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
13 year old: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gameschooling Adaptations & Soft Skills
•Chicken Escape is colorblind friendly. The game is primarily blue, red, and green, however the color of the cards are inconsequential.
•Chicken Escape needs no adaptation for the hard-of-hearing and deaf.
•Reading: Not required
•Anxiety: Chicken Escape can be played quickly or slowly. Other ideas for adaptation include using hand holders, drawing dice dots on cards, & using a 100 chart or multiplication chart.
•Strategy: Is it worth it to play a Mega tomato now or should I try to block an opponent? What will they do next and how can I play around it?
•Dexterity: I recommend hand holders such as Little Hands Card Holder or these Hands-Free Poker Card Holders.
In the End
Would I buy Chicken Escape? Absolutely.
Do I mind playing: Yes, I really do.
Do my kids (1st, 8th, and 10th grades) want to play again: “Sure.”
Meg Grooms (she/her) is a decades-long secular homeschooler, mother of many, writer, Florida ex-pat, and all-around swell gal. Meg & her partner have raised their kids all over the USA, finally settling on Southern California. For now, anyhow.
Meg blogs about Gameschooling, Educational Gaming, and the Gaming Community at Homeschool Gameschool. Meg is available for speaking engagements, workshops, and gameschooling classes. If you’re interested in scheduling a workshop, review, ad space, or just saying hi –> Click here. Happy Gameschooling!
