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I teach history at an urban high school. Standardized test scores tend to leave room for improvement, especially in reading. So, I'm always looking for ways to increase interest in reading. One "hook" that I've found that seems effective is to have students decipher codes. I made an activity called "code_red" that students seem to really like. The good things seem to be...
To initially grab the students' attention, I asked the question, "What's the deal with the Mona Lisa's smile?" At the end of "code_red", they learn the answer.
My suggestion is to look at the end-product first -- view "code_red" -- and check it out. If it seems useful, then you can take a look at the steps here showing how it was made.
Click the link above or click here if you'd like to download all of the code_red files in zip format (2.4 MB).
- It grabs their natural interest and curiosity. When you see a jibberish message, you can't help but wonder, "What does it say?" For example, take a look at picture 3, what's it say?
- It rewards accomplishment. By dividing the overall task into levels, students get immediate feedback/praise when they solve each code. This helps keep their attention.
- Most importantly, the students must read carefully. They quickly find out that skimming or skipping over the text doesn't work. They often try this quick-fix first, then they go back and actually read.
To initially grab the students' attention, I asked the question, "What's the deal with the Mona Lisa's smile?" At the end of "code_red", they learn the answer.
My suggestion is to look at the end-product first -- view "code_red" -- and check it out. If it seems useful, then you can take a look at the steps here showing how it was made.
Click the link above or click here if you'd like to download all of the code_red files in zip format (2.4 MB).
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Signing UpStep 1Objectives
This instructable has a target audience of other teachers. Specifically, the instructable is designed to show teachers how I made the "code_red" activity using "WoaS" (AKA, Wiki-on-a-Stick). The ambition is to enable teachers to either...
* use the "code_red" reading activity with their own students
* create their own activity using WoaS
A formal learning objective for students using code_red would be:
Using reading, listening, visualization, and problem-solving skills, students will solve 9 coded messages.
The "code_red" activity has 9 levels and a final level. Reading is required for each level, problem-solving is required whenever they "get stuck." The main skills needed at each level are:
1. reading
2. reading, visualization
3. reading
4. reading
5. reading
6. reading, visualization
7. reading, visualization
8. reading
9. reading, listening
final step: reading
* use the "code_red" reading activity with their own students
* create their own activity using WoaS
A formal learning objective for students using code_red would be:
Using reading, listening, visualization, and problem-solving skills, students will solve 9 coded messages.
The "code_red" activity has 9 levels and a final level. Reading is required for each level, problem-solving is required whenever they "get stuck." The main skills needed at each level are:
1. reading
2. reading, visualization
3. reading
4. reading
5. reading
6. reading, visualization
7. reading, visualization
8. reading
9. reading, listening
final step: reading
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What a nice exercise for brain!
Thanks a lot!
I found Morse code most difficult. Everything was amazing!