Last updated: October 20, 2023
Lesson Plan
To Code or Not to Code, That was the Question.
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Math,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations.
Essential Question
Why did Thomas Jefferson think he and Meriwether Lewis needed a code or cipher?
Objective
Students will be able to explain why Thomas Jefferson thought he and Meriwether Lewis needed a code or cipher.
Background
President Thomas Jefferson and Captain Meriwether Lewis worried about how they would be able to send sensitive messages to one another if needed. So mathematician Robert Patterson designed the following code, or cipher, for them. Using this code would allow them to communicate with one another without worrying about their messages falling into the wrong hands.
Although the necessity for this cipher never materialized, it has survived since it was first designed. And apparently Jefferson and Lewis practiced with the cipher, as this sample message written by one of them was found with a copy of the cipher, "I am at the head of the Missouri. All well, and the Indians so far friendly."
Preparation
Materials
Handouts:
- Coding a Message
- Cipher Grid
- Decoding a Message
- Send a Coded Message
- More Ciphering
Materials
First handout sheet. Coding directions and history.
Copy of the original cipher grid for use when coding.
Decoding a message activity sheet.
Sending an encrypted message handout.
Download Sending a Coded Message
The additional ciphering sheet.
Procedure
- Explain to the students the Cipher Grid used here is a copy of the actual one used by Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis when planning the expedition.
- Note: Other than explaining this important aspect of the planning done for the expedition, all of the activities in To Code or Not To Code are optional and to be used at the teacher’s discretion. These activities include: Cipher Grid, Coding a Message, Decoding a Message, Send a Coded Message, More Ciphering.
Vocabulary
Cipher: a secret or disguised way of writing; a code.