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Top Secret! Shhhh! Codes and Ciphers
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Can you figure out what this message says? Do you love secret codes? Do you want to be able to write messages to
friends that no one else can read? In this kit you will get to try some codes and learn to code and decode messages.
Materials Included in your Kit
Directions and template pages
Answer key for all codes in this packet starts on page 8.
1 #2 Pencil
1 Brad Fastener
Tools You’ll Need from Home
Scissors
A Piece of Tape
Terminology
First let’s learn a few terms together.
CODE
A code is a set of letters, numbers, symbols, etc., that is used to secretly send messages to someone.
CIPHER
A cipher is a method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning.
KEY PHRASE / KEY OBJECT
A key phrase lets the sender tell the recipient what to use to decode a message. A key object is a physical item used to
decrypt a code.
ENCRYPT
This means to convert something written in plain text into code.
DECRYPT
This means to convert something written in code into plain text.
Why were codes and ciphers used? Codes have been used for thousands of years by people who needed to share secret
information with one another.
Your mission is to encrypt and decrypt messages using different types of code. The best way to learn to read and write
in code is to practice!
SCYTALE Cipher
The Scytale was used by the ancient Greeks. A Scytale cipher uses a strip of paper for the message and a common object
as the key object. As long as both the sender and receiver have the same key object they can read the message.