Classroom Activities:
Computer
Language Arts
Mathematics
Social Studies
Grades:
4- 12
Objectives:
Students will use a binary coding
system to write, translate and analyze messages
Materials:
Cipher
disks, brass paper clasp, paper and pencils. A variation on this activity would be using
signal flags. Have the students make signal flags. The flags were white with red square,
diamond etc... or red with white square, diamond etc... Have the students send their
messages with the flags. one = up, to the right, to the left and back two = down, to the
right and up
This will help students understand how
difficult it was to send and receive signals. Adding to the scenario were sharpshooters
who targeted I signalmen. Other cipher and code activities can be found in Social Studies
or Odds 'n' Ends |
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22 2221 2 111 1
Codes
Background:
Communications is vital to any military operations, but even more
important is keeping the message from the prying eyes and ears of the enemy. In order to
confuse the enemy, ingenious codes and ciphers were developed. These encrypted messages
could be sent by signal flags or telegraph. Once the message was encoded, even if it was
intercepted, it would have little value to the enemy - unless of course, he broke the
code. One type of cipher system was a disk. The cipher disk allowed soldiers to encode
signal flag messages. The numbers on the outer ring were flag movements that represented
letters on the inner ring. By turning the rings to a prearranged setting, signalmen could
change the code at will. Major Albert J. Myer, commander of the U.S. Army Signal Corps,
believed the cipher disk so sensitive, he urged his men to die rather than allow the disks
to fall into Confederate hands.
Method:
Divide your class into teams of 3 or 4. Have
each team put together the cipher disk and write a military message they will encode. One
of the challenges decoders faced were geographic names. A misspelled name could affect
critical information on troop movements and sizes. Pair up teams, one will send the
message the other will receive. Give each team pair a starting point on the cipher disk,
example team pair 1: a = o, team pair 2: a = 9 etc... Each team pair will send and decode
their message, the remaining teams will try to decipher the message. Older students can be
challenged by not have the cipher disk to aid in the decoding. Computer students can
develop a game for writing and decoding messages. |
