Activity
Be a Covert Code Breaker!
Who hasn’t dreamed of becoming a secret agent—working on clandestine missions and intercepting secret codes? Here's your child’s chance to work on her code breaking and writing skills while covertly developing her analytical thinking skills, too!
What You Need:
- Pen and paper
What You Do:
QBUN QUM NBY ZCLMN MUNYFFCNY NI ILVCN NBY YULNB?
NBY GIIH.
Real: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Code: U V… A B C…
- Your budding secret agent has just intercepted the above code.
- Ask her if she has any ideas about how to break this code. Have her spend a few minutes working on the code and check her progress. If she broke the code, you really have a future agent on your hands, so skip to step 5!
- This is an example of a substitution cipher. Each letter of the alphabet has been substituted with a code letter. Substitution ciphers can have random orders and patterns that determine which letter was swapped for which. However, in this case, the alphabet was merely shifted. For example, if the alphabet was shifted 2 letters to the right (which it isn't in this case), the code letter A would really mean C, code letter B would really mean D, and so on. With this in mind have your code breaker take another stab at solving the puzzle above. Sometimes it helps to work on the short words first since there are only so many common short words in the English language (notice how NBY is repeated several times!).
- Did she solve it? If not, it's time to give away the key. A key allows a code to be translated back into its original language. The key to this substitution cipher is that the alphabet has been shifted six places to the right. Have your child write out the alphabet as shown below, then fill in the code letters underneath (the first couple letters have been filled in. It helps visually if a vertical line is placed between each letter). She can then use her key to break the code by finding each code letter on the bottom line and substituting it with the real letter above.
- Code broken? Well done. Now it is time to each try writing your own substitution cipher. Have your child write the alphabet again and decide (secretly!) on her substitution pattern. Have her fill the code letters under the real alphabet and use her key to write a secret message. You do the same. Swap messages and try breaking them without the key. When you can't stand it anymore, ask for the key and solve!
- Advanced Code Breaking: If you have a code whiz on your hands, try writing and solving codes where the word spacing is no longer held intact. For example, group the letters in sets of four, so she can no longer use the short words to help break the code. Much more difficult, isn't it?
Related learning resources
Morse Code
Worksheet
Morse Code
Every child loves to communicate in secret code! Learn the Morse Code alphabet with this great printable.
3rd grade
Worksheet
What Is Code?
Lesson plan
What Is Code?
What is code? In this lesson you'll introduce students to the concept of code (a system of symbols used for communication) using both physical and virtual experiences.
1st grade
Science
Lesson plan
Multiply Three-Digit Numbers
Worksheet
Multiply Three-Digit Numbers
Your child can be a code breaker and practice her multiplication skills. Multiply three-digit numbers on this coded math worksheet, and help a math ninja out!
4th grade
Math
Worksheet
Code Cracker
Activity
Code Cracker
These secret code activities are fun, and also provide fourth graders with great opportunities to practice language development and logical reasoning.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Activity
Learn Morse Code
Worksheet
Learn Morse Code
Learn some of the common Morse code prosigns with this fun activity!
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
What is Morse Code?
Worksheet
What is Morse Code?
Decode the history of Morse code with this reading comprehension activity.
3rd grade
Social studies
Worksheet
Morse Code Messaging
Activity
Morse Code Messaging
Teach your child Morse code, and a little bit of history that she'll pick up in a flash!
3rd grade
Social studies
Activity
Color Code the Paragraph
Worksheet
Color Code the Paragraph
In this exercise your students will color code the key components of an example informative paragraph.
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
LCM: Crack the Code
Worksheet
LCM: Crack the Code
Give your students practice finding the least common multiple (LCM) with this fun code-breaking worksheet!
6th grade
Math
Worksheet
GCF: Crack the Code
Worksheet
GCF: Crack the Code
Give your students practice finding the greatest common factor (GCF) with this fun code-breaking worksheet!
6th grade
Math
Worksheet
Nikola Tesla Hidden Code
Worksheet
Nikola Tesla Hidden Code
Nikola Tesla was a smart, smart man. Your preschooler needs maybe 0.3 percent of Tesla's intelligence to find the hidden code.
preschool
Worksheet
Camel Code Addition and Subtraction
Worksheet
Camel Code Addition and Subtraction
Help your 2nd grader crack the code using triple digit addition and subtraction to find out what parts of camels can be used to make some tasty dishes.
2nd grade
Science
Worksheet