Secret Code Ideas

Online Scavenger Hunt Secret Code Puzzles & Challenges

Instructions This document features the description of a series of six secret code tables and challenges which you can embed into your online scavenger hunt. To make it super easy for you, we have tabulated the full code in this document to access all of the alphanumeric characters you need to create your own secret message(s.) You can download most of these code sets from the Resources tab. The key is to pose a question which will cause your group to search for the answer online. We have created a series of sample challenges to illustrate this principle. You may copy & paste these directly into your padlets or, of course, create your own. Follow these steps to compose your own secret code questions: 1. Think of a question that has one definitive answer, eg name, year, equation, etc. 2. Copy or screenshot each unique code (from the tables displayed) or download from the links supplied to represents the letters and/or numerals of your question. 3. Align and paste each tiny image onto an empty page (of your preferred word processing software.) 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the entire question has been coded. 5. Save this file and upload as an image to attach to your padlet dialog box. You are welcome to screenshot each of the six secret messages shared in this document if you think they would be suitable for your event. Note, all of the secret code challenges featured here can be used in an event which adopts a time-limited format. However, for those events which adopt a linear format, be sure to provide clear instructions to help your groups enter their answers successfully (as a password) in accordance with lower/upper/sentence case conventions. As always, reach out to playmeo if you need help. Have FUNN.

Use this table to source each of the letters & numerals you need to compose your secret question in morse code. You can download all individual morse code signals from the Resources tab. Note, you will need to unzip or uncompress the file to access each individual alphanumeric codes. Refer to the next page for a sample secret code challenge.

Source: Public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3902977

(WHAT IS THE CAPITAL CITY OF ECUADOR)

Answer = Quito

You can use the initial of the country represented by the flags of the world to code each of the letters you need to compose your secret question. Note, there are no countries that start with the letters W or X so you will need to construct a question that does not use these letters. The table below features an A to Z of better-known or higher profile countries. Click this link to source and download the flags for every country in the world.

Australia Brazil China Denmark

Egypt Finland Germany Hungary

India Japan Kenya Liberia

Mexico Nepal Oman Philippines

Qatar Russian Federation Singapore Thailand

United Kingdom Vietnam Yemen Zimbabwe

© playmeo – the leading online resource of play and adventure-based learning activities in the world www.playmeo.com Of course, many letters of the alphabet are represented by the initials of multiple country names. Given this fact, consider the following: • Using the same flag to represent a particular letter (in every instance of your question) will make the code easier to solve than using different flags for the same letter; and • Using the flags of lesser-known or lower-profile countries will make your code harder to solve because they will be less recognisable. Below is a sample secret code challenge.

Work together to decipher the code below. Use the first letter for each of the names of the countries represented by the flags to help you solve the problem.

(EIGHT TIMES ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN)

Answer = 920

Use this table of international maritime signal flags to source each of the letters and numerals you need to compose your secret question. You can download all individual maritime signal flags from the Resources tab. Note, you will need to unzip or uncompress the file to access each individual alphanumeric flag. Refer to the next page for a sample secret code challenge.

A B C D E F

G H I J K L

M N O P Q R

S T U V W X

Y Z 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 0

Source: Public domain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_maritime_signal_flags

(IN WHAT YEAR DID APOLLO 13 LAUNCH)

Answer = 1970

You can use the keypad on your phone to develop a secret code consisting of a series of double digit numbers. To compose your code, do this for each letter of your question: 1. Identify the number on your keypad that displays this letter, eg N appears on the number 6, and 2. Note the position of that letter relative to the other letters, eg N is the second letter. Continuing this example, the letter N = 62 in phone code. Refer to the next page for a sample secret code challenge.

91 42 21 81 43 74 81 42 32 61 43 31 31 53 32 62 21 61 32 61 43 23 42 21 32 53 51 21 23 52 74 63 62

Hint: looking at your phone keypad, the first digit of each double-digit numeral above represents that number on the keypad.

Source: unsplash.com

(WHAT IS THE MIDDLE NAME OF MICHAEL JACKSON)

Answer = Joseph

Use this table to source each of the letters of the English alphabet to compose your secret question in braille. You can download all individual braille characters from the Resources tab. Note, you will need to unzip or uncompress the file to access individual letters. Refer to the next page for a sample secret code challenge.

A B C D E F G

H I J K L M N

O P Q R S T U

V W X Y Z

Source: Public domain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Braille

(NAME THE RIVER THAT FLOWS THROUGH MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA)

Answer = Yarra

Use this table to source each of the letters of the English alphabet to compose your secret question in the telegraphy system of flag semaphore. You can download all individual semaphore signals from the Resources tab. Note, you will need to unzip or uncompress the file to access individual letters. Refer to the next page for a sample secret code challenge.

A B C D E F G

H I J K L M N

O P Q R S T U

V W X Y Z

Source: Public domain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_semaphore

(HOW MANY COUNTRIES BORDER GERMANY)

Answer = 9 Note, in the case of password-protected padlets, instruct your teams to enter their answer as a numeral (to avoid confusion.)