As a novice in the world of coding, I was looking for activities that made sense to me. Starting where most children start their learning journey, I went back to Foundation skills to look for inspiration.

To understand the abstract idea of something (a symbol) representing something else, I searched for concrete materials, to express the idea. What I found was a ‘decoder’.

This is a simple activity you can do with students to teach some basic principles of coding, without touching a computer :). A good confidence builder, children who believe they know nothing about coding, will be provided with opportunities to be successful. Strong links to History – decoders and deciphers were used, pre-computers, to communicate.

Subject:           Digital Technologies

Year Level:      4-5

 Strand:            Knowledge and understanding

Sub strand:      Representation of data

Data can be represented in different ways (ACTDIK008)

Data is represented using codes (ACTDIK015)

Strand:              Processes and production skills

Sub strand:      Producing and implementing

Select, and safely use, appropriate components and equipment to make solutions

To incorporate the use of computers and digital technologies in this activity, children can be directed to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the USA’s website and engage with their online decoding games. The decoding games build on the same principle the children have just explored with their own handmade decoders.

The use of this resource extends and expands the children’s experience with coding in an historical and real world context.

 

Resource links.

 http://frugalfun4boys.com/2014/04/15/code-activity-kids-make-spy-decoder/

 https://www.teacherlists.com/blog/de-coding-coding/

http://igamemom.com/kids-activities-learn-coding-without-computer/

https://www.cia.gov/kids-page/games/break-the-code/code-1.html

General capabilities: Literacy, ICT, Numeracy, Critical & Creative thinking, Personal & Social capability

Links to other learning areas: History, Maths, Art

 

To make a decoder, you will need: 

• Cardboard
• Coloured pencils
• Scissors
• A compass
• A pencil
• A ruler
• A paper fastener
• A fine tip marker

 Step 1:  Cut out three circles per decoder out of cardboard.  You will need one that is 8cm in diameter, one that is 6cm in diameter, and one that is 4cm in diameter.   Note:  The size of the circles is very important!  If you change the size of the decoder, you will have to change the measurements for marking off the letter sections.

 Step 2:  Colour your circles with coloured pencils, if desired.

 Step 3:  On the largest circle, make small pencil marks on the outside edge.  You should end up with 27 sections. Detail is important in this step! 

 Step 4:  Poke a hole through the center of the largest circle and the middle circle.  Attach them with the paper fastener.  The best way to find the middle of the circle is to use the compass. Then, use the ruler to draw a straight line from the paper fastener to each edge mark.  Again, detail is important.  You really want each of the sections to be equal in size, or your decoder will be difficult to use.

 Step 5:  Write the alphabet on the outside circle and put a ? in the 27th section.  For the middle circle, you can either write the alphabet in order or mix it up. Then add the smallest circle to the decoder.

 To write a message:

First, set the code.   There are several ways to set the code.

1. Set the decoder where the “A” on the outside circle matches the first letter of the day of the week.
2. Use a “code word” with each message and set the decoder where “A” on the red circle matches the first letter of the code word.
3. Or, come up with your own system!

To write a message, find the letter you want on the outside (red) circle and write down the corresponding letter on the middle (blue) circle.

 To read a message, find the letter on the middle (blue) circle, and write down the corresponding letter from the outside (red) circle.

Have fun decoding 🙂