Send secret messages to your fellow spies and others with a homemade cipher wheel. A cipher is a secret or disguised way of writing — in other words, a code! Ciphers have been used through the ages to send out messages that only certain people can read. Create your own decoder wheel out of cardstock, paper, or a paper towel tube and see if anyone can crack the code!

Suggested Materials
– Scissors
– Cardstock
– Pencil or paper clip
– Cipher Template
– Optional: Cardboard, paper towel tube, markers

Tips and Thoughts:
– Make sure you give the person receiving the message the code to one letter so they know how to figure it out.
– Want to make your own code? Use a blank Cipher Wheel Template
– Remember to change your code every time you send a message! You can do this by rotating the wheel.

Resources
– Video for Younger Students
– Video for Older Students
– Written Instructions

Click here to take this challenge to the next level.

Here’s another way to send secret messages — invisible ink! Using different household items and a little bit of science, it is easy to make an ink that is invisible unless exposed to UV light, heat, or other reactions. Compare different recipes and pick your favorite.

Suggested Materials
– Paper
– Q-tip, paint brush, or toothpick to use as an invisible ink pen
– Lemon juice
– Baking soda
– Water
– White crayons
– Markers
– Lamp

Tips and thoughts:
– Want a double layer of protection for your secret message? Write your invisible message using a cipher wheel!
– Why do some inks become visible only when reacting to heat or UV light or acid? Read about the science behind invisible ink here.
– If you were a spy today, would you trust invisible inks to send secret messages? Why or why not?

Resources
– Invisible Ink with Crayons
– Invisible Ink with Lemon Juice
– Video for Older Students
– Written Instructions

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Try making your own black light!

Challenge your spy skills by creating a “laser maze” in your bedroom or hallway. Using string or streamers and masking tape, you can design and build the ultimate spy game in your home. Put your agility and stealth to the test!

Suggested Materials
– String or streamers
– Tape
– Hallway or space you can walk through.

Tips and thoughts:
– Remember to create a start and end point for your maze.
– How can you make your laser maze more realistic? Create a story for your spy game. What is the maze protecting? Why do you need to reach the end?
– Try adding to your game by creating more obstacles or “prizes” to collect along the way.

Resources
– Video for Younger Students
– Video for Older Students
– Written Instructions

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Need a good hiding place for your top secret spy information? These clever spy hacks will help you get creative when protecting your files (or candy). Create a false bottom in your pencil case, or use a book to hide important documents! There are endless options for creating secret compartments to add to your spy kit.

Suggested Materials
– Small containers such as a glue stick, pen or empty chapstick tube
– Old hardback book
– Scissors or box cutters (adult supervision required!)
– Hot glue or elmers glue

Tips and thoughts:
– What kind of containers make good hiding spots?
– What kind of things would a real life spy need to hide? How will that affect the shape of your secret compartment?
– How can you make sure that your secret compartments go undetected?

Resources
– Video for Younger Students
– Video for Older Students
– Written Instructions

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Keep all of your spy essentials handy and within reach by creating a Spy Kit. Using a pre-made container, like a lunchbox or backpack (or by building your own briefcase using cardboard), build in your own customized compartments for your cipher wheel and invisible ink, sunglasses, secret agent notebook, and other equipment. Now you’ll be prepared for your next mission.

Suggested Materials
– A container for your kit! This can be two pizza boxes, a lunch box, or backpack. Get creative!
– Cardboard and tape to create different compartments in your spy kit
– Post its or notebook for observations
– Pencils or pens
– A good pair of sunglasses or a hat for your disguise
– A magnifying glass
– All of your self created spy gadgets!

Tips and thoughts:
– What qualities make a good spy?
– What tools and other items will you need for your spy kit? Why are those things useful?
– Think about the shape of the items in your spy kit. How can you create a special compartment in your kit to fit (or hide!) those items?
– Want to know more about the life of a real life agent? Check out the CIA Spy kids website

Resources
– Video for Younger Students
– Video for Older Students
– Written Instructions

Click here to take this challenge to the next level.