Schülerlabor Informatik - InfoSphere, Informatik entdecken in Modulen für alle Schulformen & Klassenstufen
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Hunting the Lost Treasure – Hands-on Experience in Cryptography

Treasure hunt – surprisingly different.

In this module, students get to know cryptography in a playful way. Virtually traveling in time, they learn both simple and still up-to-date cryptographic techniques.

Hunting the lost treasure starts in small groups of three to four students: First, the students choose a name for their group and one of our InfoDots as travelling companion. Just a moment later, they find themselves at a foreign place in another time where the first enigma is already waiting for them. Whoever is able to solve this puzzle gets one step closer to the lost treasure.

But we do not want to give the whole story away. Just a few hints: Time and time again on their treasure hunt, the students come across encrypted messages which have to be cracked. In order to decode the messages and encode the appropriate answer afterwards, they use different tools such as the Caesar disc, wooden sticks or magic ink. But those have to be rooted out as well – for example in the “Öcher Bösch”, high up in the Alps or even in ancient Rome.

Everyone who will have found the right key at the end of the time travel will be able to open the treasure chest and discover whimsical stuff in there.

To what extend does this module deal with computer science? Well, it’s all about cryptography. Complex cryptographic techniques are used in everyday life to guarantee security and privacy while transferring data.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attention: This module is suitable for elementary school, middle school and junior high school students. The puzzle selection is adapted to the students’ age.

Educational Stage
Elementary School
Middle School
Junior High School
Required Knowledge
none
Duration
4,0 hours (incl. breaks)
Created by
Erstversion: Michaela Wehling, Kerstin Kamphausen und Nadine Bergner
Tim Ortmann, Dominik Kern und Michael Kockmeyer