This lesson is all about how secret codes and ciphers have been used throughout history to protect important messages and outsmart enemies. Your child will learn how people used clever ways to hide messages—like Caesar shifting letters, wartime machines scrambling signals, and even invisible ink! It’s a mix of history, logic, and storytelling that really gets young minds thinking.

The plan is designed to be easy to follow, even if you’ve never taught anything like this before. Everything is explained in clear steps, with plenty of talking points and creative activities to keep your child engaged. They’ll read, explore, answer questions, and even try out some codebreaking themselves. I’ve included everything you need to support your child’s learning at home, without needing any extra materials. You can explore this topic together, at your own pace—and maybe even create your own family cipher by the end!