Cryptology

This lesson will help students to understand cryptology. Students will use problem solving skills to encrypt and decrypt messages. By investigating a shift cipher, students will reinforce their understanding of the concepts of functions and transformations of functions.

Author: Elizabeth Busch
Subjects: Computer Science, Mathematics
Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12
CS Domain: Algorithms and Programming
Standards: MA.912.F.2.1 Identify the effect on the graph or table of a given function after replacing f(x) by f(x) + k, for specific values of k.
Materials: Website, https://www.cerias.purdue.edu/education/k-12/teaching_resources/lessons_presentations/cryptology.html
Tags: Cybersecurity, GenCyber, Web Design

OVERVIEW

Activity Overview:

This lesson will help students to understand cryptology. Students will use problem solving skills to encrypt and decrypt messages. By investigating a shift cipher, students will reinforce their understanding of the concepts of functions and transformations of functions.

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Lesson Plan

Overview

This lesson will help students to understand cryptology. Students will use problem solving skills to encrypt and decrypt messages. By investigating a shift cipher, students will reinforce their understanding of the concepts of functions and transformations of functions.

PRE/POST-TEST

What is cryptology? Are codes and ciphers the same? Why should we care about it?

OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to encrypt a message. Students will be able to decrypt a message. Students will be able to describe cryptology.

CATCH/HOOK

The hook will be playing Morse code for students using this website: https://www.mobilefish.com/services/morse_code/morse_code.php

OR The hook will be asking the students to decipher this message: https://sites.google.com/site/codesforscouts/sliding-scale-or-cryptograph

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS

Teacher will introduce and describe how cryptology is used and open discussion for students to share knowledge on the topic.

Students will be split into small groups and directed to the following websites to explore encryption techniques: https://sites.google.com/site/codesforscouts/block-cipher https://sites.google.com/site/codesforscouts/code-stick https://sites.google.com/site/codesforscouts/code-word https://sites.google.com/site/codesforscouts/pigpen http://www.happychild.org.uk/ifs/00001pla.htm http://www.happychild.org.uk/ifs/00003mrs.htm

Class discussion will follow to share out what was found.

Together we will discuss shift ciphers: https://sites.google.com/site/codesforscouts/sliding-scale-or-cryptograph

REVIEW

Students will then be given a message to encrypt with directions to do so using at least 3 different secret codes. Students will write their responses on a separate piece of paper.

STANDARDS

MA.912.F.2.1 Identify the effect on the graph or table of a given function after replacing f(x) by f(x) + k, for specific values of k. FL