Spy School 2025 - Elementary Program

 

This is the fourth time I've done a version of this program, and I’ve done it a little differently each time. The first time was an in-person program in 2019 that focused on learning different codes and different methods of hidden messages, plus a “laser” maze for fun. The second time was during the pandemic as a take-home cryptography kit along with a virtual program. The third time was during summer reading of 2024 and had a "treasure hunt adventure" theme with basic instruction of codes and hidden messages and a final treasure hunt complete with riddles, codes, invisible messages, and a treasure map that would lead them to a cache of gold coins they could trade for a prize. 

For this iteration I returned to the original "Spy School" theme, focusing on secret codes and hidden messages, but also including a few other activities. 

Ages: Advertised as for elementary ages (6-11), but actual participants ranged from 4 to 14.

Number: Planned for 10 participants, and had 9 (plus 4 caregivers; adult assistance was needed)

Time: Scheduled for an hour, but ran over at by 20 minutes.

Budget: Roughly $20, as most supplies were already on hand

Skills/Concepts: critical thinking, logic, decoding, observation, chemistry, socio-emotional

Materials:

• paper
• cardstock
• brad fasteners
• yarn
• tape
• scissors
• baking soda
• grape juice
• white crayons (regular, not washable)
• watercolor paint
• milk
• clothes iron
• ironing board, pad, or towel
• paintbrush, small and large
• small cups
• pencils
• stamp pad with washable ink
• invisible ink pens with UV light

In previous versions I led the program in a classroom style, but since people are frequently late to programs at this library I decided to set it up with stations in a more self-directed format. I created cute little instruction manuals along with signage at each station. They created code names and agent number numbers for themselves, practiced a simple substitution code using an encryption wheel and the Pigpen Cipher, experimented with three methods of invisible messages*, did a fingerprint study, matched footprints to a suspect's shoe, built a spy gadget out of Lego bricks, and practiced agility through a simulated laser maze. 

Once they completed all the training activities, they reported back to me and received a mission folder for their first secret mission along with a secret agent pen with UV reactive invisible ink and a UV light in the cap. The mission file included the code name for the mission, a mission objective, a scenario explaining the mission, and ended with a coded message using a numerical substitution code with the key for the code written in UV reactive invisible ink. This message led them to a general location in the library where they had to use their observation skills to locate a message hidden in a book. They were reminded to look for something that seemed out of place  (books shelved in the DVDs, an English book in the Spanish language section, and books shelved backwards).

These messages were coded with the Pigpen Cipher and led them to another location and the final clue. The final clue was written in the UV-reactive invisible ink and instructed them to go to the branch manager’s office and give the password provided to the "undercover agents" at the front desk to gain entry and find the assets they were seeking. In the office they would find our treasure chest which had small prizes like stickers, bracelets, stampers, etc., as well as a selection of prize books; they could pick one book and one toy. I prepared four different missions, dividing them into four teams so they were spread out and not getting in each other's way.

*The three methods of hidden messages we experimented with were:

• Wax Resist - write a message with a white crayon, then paint over with watercolor paint to reveal. The wax in the crayon is hydrophobic, and thus repels the water-based paint.
• Milk - a message written with milk can be revealed using a hot iron. The heat produces the Maillard reaction, which caramelizes and darkens the sugars and proteins in the milk.
• Baking Soda & Grape Juice - a message written with a concentrated baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NAHCO3) slurry can be revealed with grape juice due to the acid-base reaction and change in pH causing a color change.

How It Went
I may have gone *slightly* overboard planning and preparing for this program, spending a fair amount of time on the instruction manuals, folders, and signs; and planning the missions and the clues (but I had so much fun doing it!), and I was really worried no one would show up after all that work. However, I was very relieved to have four families show up for a total of nine kids and four adults, which is a really good turnout for this location! I think overall it went well; there were some hiccups and things that didn’t quite work as I had planned, but everyone completed most of the training activities and they all stuck around to complete their final missions and get their prizes. Though there were some moments of frustration, overall everyone seem to have a good time and weren't daunted by the challenge.

My attempt at making it a self-directed activity did not work very well, however. Participants, adults included, just did not want to take the time and effort to read the instructions included in their manuals or on the signage and still needed me to walk them through and explain everything, so I was run ragged, running from station to station to help people and give verbal instructions and explanations. I think I will go back to my preferred classroom-style instruction for similar programs in the future.  

Some struggled with the coding and decoding, especially with the Pigpen Cipher, and needed a lot of help with that. I also found that the Legos were too distracting and kids tended to just play and build whatever with them rather than making a gadget and then moving onto other activities, so I would probably recommend skipping that or having them make gadgets out of random craft supplies instead of Legos. Some really loved the "laser maze", doing it over and over, and one little boy asked me to time him. I would probably recommend this program for an older age range, say 8-12. For younger kids, I would place less emphasis on the secret codes, and stick to one simple numerical substitution code as those under 8 really struggled with the codes.