Code Words
Focus
Inferring, decoding
Grouping
Individual
Materials
Code Words Activity Sheets A and B (1 copy of each per student)
pencils, scratch paper, scissors. Optional: calculators
Activity
1. Write the word cryptography on the board. Ask if anyone knows the meaning of the word. If not, give
these hints:
• crypto- comes from the Greek word for hidden
• -graphy comes from the Greek word for writing
Cryptography is the writing of codes or secret (hidden) messages. Ask why codes are important in the
world of computers. (To keep material private when using the Internet, data is often encrypted, or sent
in coded form.)
2. Distribute Activity Sheet A. Explain that the list of words is written in a secret code. Each letter in the
code corresponds to a letter of the alphabet. Students must crack the code to find out what words are
on the list. Luckily, two hints are given. Read the hints at the top of the page. If necessary, help students get started:
• Use the second hint to determine that fmc (Word 1) = six.
• Therefore, the second word on the list must be sixty (the only 5-letter number word that begins
six-). Use these 5 letters to decode other words.
• At the bottom of the page, students can record the known letters for reference.
3. Allow time for students to complete the activity sheet and check their work.
4. Distribute Activity Sheet B. Explain that students will create their own codes and make word lists for
classmates to decode. Suggest that students work on scratch paper and then copy their lists onto the
activity sheet. Instead of number words, students can use categories such as these:
• States, capitals, or countries
• Well-known bodies of water
• Fruits or vegetables
• Sports
• Musical instruments
• Famous explorers
5. When students have completed their activity sheets, instruct them to cut along the dashed line and
exchange their lists for classmates to decode.
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© Vivendi Universal Publishing, its subsidiaries and/or licensors. All Rights Reserved.
Code Words
Activity Sheet A
Can you crack the code? At the bottom of the page, keep a record of the letters as you
decode them. Use these known letters to help decode other words on the list. Hints:
• These are all number words.
• The first number word tells the number of sides on a hexagon.
1. fmc
2. fmcbp
3. btmhbp
4. buqobp
5. buqrxq
6. qmatb
7. qmatbp
8. nshbp-nmxq
9. nsdhbqqo
10. nmnbqqo
11. omoqbp-omoq
12. soq
13. fmcbp-fqxqo
14. fqxqobp-bthqq
Add all the numbers together. Do they equal 530? If so, you have probably cracked the code correctly!
Code Letter
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
Real Letter
Code Letter
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
Real Letter
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
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© Vivendi Universal Publishing, its subsidiaries and/or licensors. All Rights Reserved.
Code Letter
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
Real Letter
Code Words
Activity Sheet B
My Code:
Code Letter
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Real Letter
Code Letter
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
Real Letter
Code Letter Real Letter
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ? !
Hints:
• The topic for the words on my list is ______________________________________.
• The first word on my list tells ___________________________________________.
Words in Code:
1.
__________________________
___________________________
2.
__________________________
___________________________
3.
__________________________
___________________________
4.
__________________________
___________________________
5.
__________________________
___________________________
6.
__________________________
___________________________
7.
__________________________
___________________________
8.
__________________________
___________________________
9.
__________________________
___________________________
10.
__________________________
___________________________
33
© Vivendi Universal Publishing, its subsidiaries and/or licensors. All Rights Reserved.