Lesson 4
Puzzling symbols
In this lesson, students explore how symbols and images can be used to hide information as a form of encryption. Students are introduced to the concept of steganography and examine historical examples of messages that are hidden in plain sight. They then decode rebus puzzles to gain an understanding of how symbols can represent words, sounds, or ideas. Finally, students design and program their own rebus puzzles in Scratch to add the concept of decryption to their existing cipher projects.
Learning objective
Students will create a rebus puzzle that can be decrypted to reveal a hidden message.
Standards
🌐 CSTA Standards
- 2-AP-11: Create clearly named variables that represent different data types and perform operations on their values.
- 2-AP-12: Design and iteratively develop programs that combine control structures, including nested loops and compound conditionals.
- 2-NI-06: Apply multiple methods of encryption to model the secure transmission of information.
🇺🇸 College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework
- D2.Civ.10.6-8: Explain the relevance of personal interests and perspectives, civic virtues, and democratic principles when people address issues and problems in government and civil society.
- D2.His.1.6-8: Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts
- D2.His.2.6-8: Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity.
Multi-lesson projects
Students will use the same project across multiple lessons.
Lesson contents
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Scratch projects
Cipher quest
Student resource
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Multi-lesson project
Students will use the same project across multiple lessons