Learn how to make and use cipher wheel: At home STEM activity for kids - Parents Toolkit

A cipher is a code used to protect information that is being stored or communicated, so that only people who are allowed to can access it.

With this fun challenge, brought to you in partnership with the Science Museum Group, you and your child can learn how to make a cipher wheel together and use it to send secret messages to one another.

This activity involves cutting out templates, so please supervise your child and help them out when they're using scissors.

Instructions for you and your child to follow…

You Will Need

Pencil for making notes and writing messages
A split pin
Scissors
Cipher wheel templates (you can print these here)

OR make your own cipher wheel with:

Some paper or card
Two round things to draw around, one smaller than the other

Let's get started

Step 1

Cut out the templates if you are using them and skip to step 3.

If you're making your own wheel, draw around the bottom of a glass, bowl, or something else circular. You will need two circles and one needs to be bigger than the other. Cut these out.

Step 2

Once you have your circles, you need to write the alphabet around the outside of both of them. You can check out our templates for inspiration.

You can also write numbers on the other side of the smaller circle. This will let you make secret number codes later.

Step 3

Put the small circle with the letters on it on top of the larger one, lining up the letters. Put the split pin through the centre to secure it.

Step 4

Turn the smaller wheel, so that each letter lines up with a different letter on the larger wheel.

Step 5

Create your secret message. For each letter, write down the letter on the smaller wheel that appears directly beneath it.

Two secret cipher wheels with 2 different encryption methods - one using numbers and one using letters.

Mix it up

If you want to encrypt your messages in a different way, replace the smaller letter circle with the number circle from the template. Now you can encrypt messages with numbers instead of letters.

You could start by making A = 1, B = 2 and C = 3, but once you've practised a little bit, try coming up with your own equation for the cipher, which will make it more tricky to solve.

For example A = 1 x 2 + 1, B = 2 x 2 + 1 and C = 3 x 2 + 1.

Maths in your world

Encryption is used to send emails and information across the internet. Instead of a cipher wheel, a computer uses really complicated mathematics to encrypt the information.

The Science Museum Group is a group of museums in the UK who share objects, stories and hands-on activities to engage more people in science, technology, engineering and maths.