Report by students – Nautical Flags

Challenge:

• Create secret messages using the nautical alphabet.
• Create a banner with your name using nautical flags.

You have been working diligently on breaking codes with numbers, colors and symbols.  Now it is time for letters!

Codes have been around for a very long time. Throughout history, world events have changed because of secret messages. Sometimes, however, it is important that only a few people understand the message. In the world of cryptology, codes are used to make messages secret by changing the words into something else. In order for your friends to understand the coded message, they need the key!

Next, you will learn about different codes, how to make codes, and what to look for when trying to break a code. Let’s start with the Polyalphabetic Substitution Ciphers and more Top Spy Secrets.

Try these online secret messages:

• Brain Game: Code Breaking
• Central Intelligence Agency – Kids’ Zone

A code is a system of symbols, letters, words, or signals that are used instead of ordinary words and numbers to send messages or store information. A code is used to keep the message short or to keep it secret. Codes and ciphers are forms of secret communication.

PBS’s zany, math-focused TV show “Odd Squad” is one show many students loved to watch. So, of course PBS designed this playful game, Codebreaker. It looks like any fun computer game, but requires kids to use logic to figure out puzzles and patterns.

PBS also has more to offer for older kids who love Cyberchase. Crack Digit’s Code is another well-designed video game that puts a secret message and a decode side-by-side.

Pigpen – The Pigpen code is easier than it looks and is most students’ favorite. First, draw out the two grids below and fill in the letters. Find out more about this special coding here – Pigpen Code.

Try this online conversion. Just type your message and the script will code your message – Text to Pigpen Cipher.

“The Tricky Wooden Triangle is a solitaire peg game that you jump your own pieces, like a game of checkers until you can no longer make a move. Since you can always move the position of where there is no peg there are thousands of different solutions to this simple yet complex game. The tricky wooden triangle game is very easy to play but only the most witty individuals will master it. Nobody will ever get it right on the first try!This game will always be different depending on which slot you decide to leave blank, from there you will find your self immersed and quite possibly even frustrated with this novel game.” Amazon Description

Play online – Tricky Triangle or  Triangular Peg Solitaire
Solution – Tricky Triangle Solution Video

Each time you jump over a peg, it gets removed from the board. The challenge is to leave only one peg standing!

Additional Resources:

• Game Tips
• Solutions
• Additional Shapes

Last week we played the logic game, Pico Fermi, Bagel. This week we will continue breaking the code using four digits or colors. The game, Mastermind, uses four colors. Here is how to play:

You don’t have the board game? No worries…play online here – MASTERMIND!

Today we will look at the logic that underlies the game “Pico, Fermi, Bagel”.

How to Play:
The the game begins with one person secretly choosing a number with no repeated digits. We will start with a three digit number. Then others attempt to guess the number, and the one who chose the number responds to each guess as follows:

• If the guess has no numbers correct, they respond: “Bagel.”
• For each digit when the guess is correct but in the wrong place, respond: “Pico.”
• For each digit when the guess is correct and in the correct place, respond: “Fermi.”
• When all three digits are correct and in the correct place, respond: “CREAM CHEESE.”

We will play a few rounds of the game together, and then try to solve a couple problems related to the game.

Play this game at home with family or play online here – Pic, Fermi, Bagel or on Scratch – Pico, Fermi, Bagel 

Use your catapult to lob various objects. Measure the distance for each object. Let’s apply Newton’s 2nd Law to our own results.