Grabber: IfYouWantedToSendAMessageToYourFriendHowWould
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Grabber: ● If you wanted to send a message to your friend how would you do it? ● Is that message guaranteed to be secret? How could you make it secret? Brainstorm: ● What would you have done to send a secret message 250 years ago? Background: During the American Revolution there was a need for both the British and Americans to send coded and secret messages to gain information about each other. This was done in a number of ways through different channels, but the Culper Code and invisible ink are two of the best known methods that were used. George Washington - known as Agent 711 in the Culper Ring - was an important figure in several spy rings whose work helped the “rag-tag” colonials defeat a world power. Because the Continental Army was relatively small in number, many civilians were drawn into the Culper Ring under the guidance of Major Benjamin Tallmadge, known as “John Bolton” or Agent 721 in the Culper Code. Other members of the ring included Anna Strong, who would hang a number of handkerchiefs and a black petticoat on her clothesline to signal which cove Caleb Brewster (725) would be waiting to meet Abraham Woodhull (“Samuel Culper”, 722). Tallmadge also developed the Culper Code Book, a numerical code which allowed the spies to keep their messages and identities secret. Activities: Prepare ahead: Make invisible ink (it takes two-four days for the ink to “steep,” so make sure to prepare this early. https://goo.gl/V5NbR4 Day 1: 1)Introduce students to the Culper Code Book (https://goo.gl/2snAMs) and discuss why certain words/places/people were included and others not included. 2) Divide students into small groups (3-4 students) and lead them through the process of creating their own quill pen and have them practice writing (use brown paper towel and water so they learn how much liquid they have to shake out of the quill). We had every student make their own pen, and then had the groups choose the best pen to write their secret message. (https://goo.gl/V5NbR4) 3) Assign each group a major battle from the Revolutionary War (https://goo.gl/tpckFb) and have them use the Culper Code Book to develop a message about their battle to send to another group. Check the messages for accuracy and allow groups to write the message on the parchment paper (http://tinyurl.com/oldparchpaper). Collect the secret messages and put them in a safe place to dry until Day 2. Day 2: 1) Display the digital breakout site and instruct students to navigate there on their devices (we recommend at least two devices per group, but it can be done with only one device per group). https://sites.google.com/oacsd.com/espionageinamericanhistory/digital-breakout 2) Be prepared to give hints if necessary. Traditionally, each group gets two “Hint Cards,” but you can tailor that to your specific students. You may also choose to set a timer for the breakout - a traditional breakout takes 45 minutes, but because this includes both science and history information, students may need longer, so gauge the time based upon your students. 3) (Depending on the length of your class, you may have to complete this step at the beginning of Day 3). When students have completed the breakout, they will have the formula for the invisible ink regent. Make sure they have the secret message from another group and instruct them to use the regent to reveal the message. They should then use the Culper Code Book to decode the message and identify the Revolutionary War battle indicated by the message. Day 3: 1) Debrief the information. Some questions you may want to use: *What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using spies, codes, and invisible ink to share secret information during wartime? *What kind of information did spies provide to military leaders? What advantages did spying provide military leaders? *How difficult was it to create a message that hinted at something without coming right out and saying it? Resources: https://www.amazon.com/George-Washington-Spymaster-Americans-Revolutionary/dp/ 1426300417 https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Ink-Spycraft-American-Revolution/dp/1594161410/ http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-esp ionage/ http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-esp ionage/spies-dead-drops-and-invisible-ink/ http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-esp ionage/george-washington-spymaster/ http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-esp ionage/the-culper-code-book/ http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2011/07/anna-smith-strong.html https://connecticuthistory.org/caleb-brewster-and-the-culper-spy-ring/ https://www.biography.com/people/abraham-woodhull https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books- and-monographs/the-founding-fathers-of-american-intelligence/art-1.html http://clements.umich.edu/exhibits/online/spies/index-people.html NCSS Curriculum Standards II. Time, Continuity, and Change c. compare and contrast different stories or accounts about past events, people, places, or situations, identifying how they contribute to our understanding of the past d. Identify and use various sources for reconstructing the past, such as documents, letters, diaries, maps, textbooks, photos, and others V. Individuals, Groups, & Institutions d. Identify and describe examples of tensions between and among individuals, groups, or institutions, and how belonging to more than one group can cause internal conflicts e. Identify and describe examples of tensions between an individual’s beliefs and government policies and laws C3 Standards D2.His.1.9-12 Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place as well as broader historical contexts D2.His.10.9-12 Detect possible limitations in various kinds of historical evidence and differing secondary interpretations D2.His.11.9-12 Critique the usefulness of historical sources for a specific historical inquiry based on their maker, date, place of origin, intended audience, and purpose .