Wed. in class I passed back their purple folders since I forgot to after the break on Monday. These are due back on Monday.
NOT empty though........
Wed. in class we tried to cipher Jefferson's Secret Code. It is a bit difficult, but for the most part everyone understood how once we got going. It took a while to set up, so we ran out of time in every class. I told the kids that if they completed the secret code from Lewis and Clark to Thomas Jefferson and brought it back MONDAY in their purple folders they'd get a piece of candy.
They have to have it decoded and the words circled. I did say that siblings could work together.
Here are the directions: (*hint: use the chart paper sheet as a guide when sliding down the cipher sheet!!)
1. In order to code the message, you need a key word. Jefferson and Lewis used the key word "artichokes", so we will use the same (we already did this part).
2. Now you have pairs of letters (look at their chart paper, we have the coded message next to the "C" and already wrote the word "artichokes" the correct number of times, this formed the "pairs" needed). You are ready to use the cipher. Your first pair of letters is "a,j". Look at the top horizontal row of letters (they are bold face). Put your finger on the "a" from the word "artichokes" in that row (again, I had them using the chart paper as a guide as they slid/moved down the paper). Now run your finger down (I had them slide the paper down) the column of letters BENEATH that "a" until you get to the letter "j". Now run your finger horizontally to the column on the FAR LEFT of the page (these are also in bold face). The letter in the far left column, in line with the "j", is "i".
"i" is the first letter in the decoded message. Write it above the letter pair on your graph paper. Repeat this process for all the letter pairs. (again, I had them circle the words they see along the way)
3. Now you have the decoded message without capitalization, punctuation, or spaces. See if you can figure out where the words divide and read the message. You can now read in code!
They do not have to do the bottom part UNLESS they want to. They can make a message for me to figure out. Just reverse the process:
1. Write the coded message they want to say next to the "C's" in the bottom half of the chart paper. No spaces or punctuation.
2. Above the message next to the "A", write the key word "artichokes" as many times as necessary to the end of the message. It is okay to not have to finish the word "artichokes" if your message stops mid-word.
3. Now take out the cipher. Find the "a" in the top horizontal row of letters. Put your right index finger on it. Now find the first letter of your message in the FAR LEFT vertical column of letters. Put your left index finger on that letter. Now move your RIGHT index finger down the letters BENEATH the "a" until you get to the letter that is in the same horizontal row as the letter you are pointing to with your left index finger. This new letter is the coded letter. Write it under the letter pair on your graph paper (next to the arrow).
4. Now you have your own codded message.
Any questions let me know.
Next week we see the fall of Napoleon and talk about the War of 1812. Salt maps are on Wed.
