TACK-TILES® Cryptogram
Materials needed: TACK-TILES® Braille
Systems literary version.
Skills targeted: Problem solving, spelling,
Braille reading and writing.
Setup: Write the alphabet on a piece of
paper choose any letter, "t," for instance. Below "t"
write "a." Write "b" below "u,"
"c" below "v" etc. After you write the letter
"g" below "z," the letter "h" must
be written below "a"; "i" below ""b"
etc. until the alphabet is used up. The lower letters form the
cryptographic code.
Write a message on paper to the student.
Write that message again using TACK-TILES®, but substitute
the code letter in place of the message letter.
Procedure: Have the student de-code the
message. If this is a very young or easily frustrated student
you may want to simplify so as not to set a vulnerable ego up
for failure. After substituting "b" for "a,"
etc. you may wish to tell the student that is the key to the code.
The student can then place the correct TACK-TILES® on top
of each occurrence of the code TACK- TILES®, then when finished
he or she may read the decoded message. The complexity of the
code and the number and nature of clues is at the teacher's discretion.
Very complex cryptograms can be done for those willing to study
the art of deciphering.