Hack Attack

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Description

Can you crack the hackers’ code to save technology, and use your own code to communicate with others on the mission?

(c) Courtesy of scouts.co.uk
https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/hack-attack/


Resources

Scissors
Split pins
Printed copies of the 'hack-attack-hack-sheet.pdf' file and the 'hack-attack-crib-sheet-and-decoder'.pdf worksheet. Printed on paper or thin card.

Instructions

SET THE SCENE
Give everyone a copy of the hack-attack-hack-sheet.pdf file.
A hacker has attacked, and left behind a coded message. It’s down to the group to create their decoders and solve the puzzle, to save technology as we know it.

MAKE THE DECODER
Give everyone a copy of the 'hack-attack-crib-sheet-and-decoder' worksheet.
They should use the scissors to cut out the two circles on the second page.
Everyone should use a split pin to carefully make a small hole in the centre of each circle.
Everyone should put the small circle on top of the big circle, with the letters facing them. They should line them up so that the holes in the middle are on top of each other.
Everyone should push the split pin through the holes in both circles, and spread the pin so the circles are held together.

SET THE DECODER
Once everyone’s nearly finished making their decoders, the person leading the game should pretend to check their phone, or an envelope they’ve ‘just found’, and reveal that they’ve just discovered a clue: the code is A = A.
[ The person leading the game can be as dramatic as they like when finding the clue, and telling everyone about it.]
Everyone should think about what this clue may mean. Can they figure it out?
[ The clue means that everyone should turn their decoders so that the 'A' on the bigger (outside) circle lines up with the 'A' on the smaller (inside) circle. ]

CRACK THE CODE
Everyone should make sure their decoders are set up according to the clue – spun around so that 'A' on the bigger (outside) circle lines up with the right letter on the smaller (inside) circle.
Everyone should find the first letter of the coded message on the bigger (outside) circle.
Everyone should find the letter lined up with it on the smaller (inside) circle. This is the ‘real’ letter that had been turned into code.
Everyone should write the real letter underneath the code letter that’s on their sheet.
[ The person leading the game may want to help everyone to do the first few letters together. ]
Repeat steps two to four for each letter on the sheet – it’s important to check each letter, and not guess, because guessing might mean you make mistakes.

CREATE YOUR OWN CODE
Everyone should write down the secret message they want to turn into code.
[ It’s best to keep the messages short – three or four words at most. ]
Everyone should spin the smaller (inside) circle around and stop randomly. They should make a note of which letter on the smaller (inside) circle lines up with the A on the big (outside) circle.
Everyone should find the first letter of their message on the inside (smaller) circle.
Everyone should find the letter that lines up with it on the bigger (outside) circle. This is the code letter.
Everyone should write down the code letter on another sheet of paper.
It might be a good idea for people to cross the letters of the real message out as they turn them into code. This will hide the secret message, and help stop anyone getting confused.
Everyone should repeat steps three to five for each letter of their message.
[ Once their messages are turned into code, people should swap secret messages with someone else, remembering to tell them how to set up their decoder. ]
Everyone should follow the steps in ‘crack the code’ to find their friend’s message.
Repeat these steps until everyone has created three messages for their friends to decode.


Tags

  • ceaser
  • code
  • code wheel
  • communicator
  • cypher
  • hack attack

Badge Links

  • Communicator - Code
  • Communicator - Message
  • Skills - Creative
  • Teamwork - Team game